"Opere" Fine Custom Handmade Knife
"Opere" Fine Handmade Custom Knife
- Size: Length overall: 10.7" (27.2 cm), Blade Length:
6.25" (15.9 cm), Thickness: 0.139" (3.5 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 9.6 oz. (272 grams) Sheath: 6.3 oz. (179 grams)
- Blade: CPM 154CM high molybdenum powder metal
martensitic stainless steel blade, T4 deep cryogenically treated with
quadruple tempering to 61 HRC
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished
- Handle: Nephrite Jade Gemstone (Wyoming)
- Sheath: Hand-carved, hand-dyed Leather Shoulder inlaid with
green ray skin, nylon stitching, stainless steel fasteners
- Knife: Opere is the Italian
word for works, as this knife is initially designed as a working and utility
knife for the kitchen. However, this is—like many of my knife
designs—a crossover pattern, suitable for a wide range of uses
as well as investment. This is a magnificent custom Opere, made to
my client's specifications, with a premium
treatment and accurate geometry, a very thin, hard knife in premium
materials, for the chef or professional, as well as collection.
- The steel my client chose for his knife is
CPM 154CM, a powder metal tool steel, a high technology steel
known for extremely even distribution of alloy elements and
a uniform microstructure. It's a high molybdenum stainless
steel, and the molybdenum aids in forming nucleation sites
for complex carbide development. The moly also increases the
toughness dramatically, resulting in a blade that's
extremely durable. This allows me to temper the steel at a
higher overall hardness, for great wear resistance as well.
The high chromium and high carbon results in profuse
chromium carbides, increasing corrosion resistance as well
as wear resistance. To bring this steel to its zenith, I
used my proprietary T4 deep cryogenic process in heat
treating this blade; it's a highly detailed, extremely
sophisticated process that takes 35 individual steps and
takes over a week long. The result of this is an incredibly
wear-resistant blade that has extremely high carbide
development, fine grain, and extremely high toughness.
Asperity is reduced; the microstructure development is
superior to any other typical handmade knife, and far above
any factory or manufactured knife. This is, simply put,
154CM Powder Metal steel at its very finest advanced
condition. My client requested a flat grind on this
knife, not one I do often, but beautiful and mirror polished
throughout. This means the blade is thin, tapering from just
over 1/8" thick at the spine of the blade to just under
1/32" behind the cutting edge at the relief. The blade has a
small choil that keeps only the sharp edge at a cutting
board while offering safety to the forefinger, and a good
heel to keep the knuckles off the board. The blade has no
filework for easy and smooth cleaning and comfort and the
tang is fully tapered for balance and handmade beauty. It's
a gorgeous, tough blade ready for many decades of work and
admiration.
- I bolstered the knife with zero-care 304 high chromium, high
nickel stainless steel bolsters, which are contoured, rounded and
finished for a comfortable feel. The bolsters are secured with
zero-clearance peened pins and dovetailed to bed the
handle scales. The rear bolsters
are wide and support the rear quillon that locks the handle
into the hand.
- The handle scales of this knife are
magnificent, highly polished Nephrite Jade from Wyoming.
The handle has a good belly for a comfortable grip and the
Jade scales are some of the toughest (most resistant to
fracture) gemstones I use. I worked them to a high vitreous polish that is
slick and glassy. This
is a handle that is more fascinating the closer and more
intensely it's scrutinized; see the enlargements below. It
requires zero care, maintaining the appearance indefinitely.
I included two sets of enlarged photos below, both with the
photographic reflector and without, showing the depth of the
finish and gemstone without glare or reflection...
magnificent; I love this gem!
- The knife feels extremely solid and
substantial in the hand, with a sure grip in the handle
shape, guidance applied by the front bolster finger groove.
The butt of the knife is heavy and tough; this is one
long-lasting workhorse of a beautiful knife.
This knife is
food-contact safe.
- Sheath: To match the bold color in
the stone, I chose an inlay sheath in hand-carved heavy leather
shoulder with of 9 individual inlays of ray skin, in forest
green. I applied a graduated russet color background with randomized
tooling around the forms. This
is a deep sheath, with a high back, to protect the knife and the
wearer from the cutting edge of the blade. while allowing a low wear
position on the belt. The rear finger quillon
helps pull the knife from the sheath and the drop point makes
sheathing easy and fast. I stitched the sheath throughout with
heavy nylon brown thread, and reinforced the welts and opening with
indestructible stainless steel Chicago screws. The thick, hard sheath is sealed in
multiple coatings of lacquer for
longevity.
- The word "magnificent" keeps coming up for me; a beautiful knife
to honor a great couple, a family heirloom.
Thanks, B. and M. B.!
Jay,
I just received my knife today and I wanted to let you know how excited I was to receive it.
The knife is so beautiful, more beautiful than I could have imagined! It fits my hand perfectly
and I will enjoy the knife for many years to come. I truly appreciate you working with my
husband to create a very special anniversary gift for me. Thank you!
Regards,
M. B.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos