Orion
"Orion" Fine Handmade Knife
- Size: Length overall: 11.25" (28.6 cm), Blade Length: 6.0" (15.2 cm), Thickness: .200" (5.1 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 1 lb., 1 oz. (482 grams), Sheath: 7.7 oz. (218 grams)
- Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Cryogenically Treated, Hardened and Tempered to 59 HRC
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Hand-engraved
- Handle: Rio Grande Agate Gemstone (New Mexico)
- Sheath: Hand-carved leather shoulder inlaid with Frog skin
- Knife: My Orion design is named for the
mythological hunter and the constellation in our night sky. It took
a very special knife to be named Orion, and this design is befitting
of the well-recognized name. This is a variation of my "Hooded
Warrior' design, with a taste of the counterterrorism curves of my
"Kairos" and some dramatic lines and variants which create a large,
substantial and dominating blade pattern. I made this Orion in 440C
high chromium stainless steel, for the highest corrosion resistance
of any mirror polished martensitic high carbon hypereutectoid
stainless steel, and the beauty and durability of this blade
demonstrates why it is my most asked-for steel. The leaf-shaped
and inspired blade is deeply
hollow ground, for a razor-keen edge supported by a thick, strong
spine. The two-thirds length top swage reduces point profile without
sacrificing strength, and I've fully fileworked the tapered tang
with my "Royale" filework. The blade I heat treated with deep
cryogenic processing, a long, extended soaking time of over 35 hours
at -300°F followed by triple tempering and deep cryogenic
soaking in between for the ultimate in thermal cycling and allotrope
conversion. This is the very best this steel can be; it's hard, it's
tough, it's wear resistant, and it's extremely corrosion resistant,
needing minimal care. The design has a large front bolster area,
with wide quillons to prevent the hand from moving onto the blade,
large finger grooves and a full belly gives plenty of gripping
security, and the near "gun" grip angle of the handle to the blade
offers comfort and relief with a more natural wrist position than a
straight blade and handle. The bolsters are 304 austenitic stainless
steel, with 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel, the same super
tough and extremely corrosion resistant stainless steel used on
nuts, bolts, and fasteners. This is a zero-care stainless steel, and
will simply not corrode in any environment, short of concentrated
acids! Into the polished bolster surfaces I engraved a rolling,
unfurling leaf design, with deep backgrounding for a contrast
effect. The bolsters are contoured, smoothed, and comfortable,
and are dovetailed and bed a pair of beautiful
gemstone handle scales, Rio Grande Agate from our state of New
Mexico. This is a very hard, tough, and durable gemstone, and will
completely outlast the knife and everyone who owns it lasting
indefinitely! The agate is
a cryptocrystalline quartz, with some clear areas, some milky
translucence, some solid colors
of tans, oranges, maroons, and reds, and a few areas of crystal.
This is a striking stone; it's always wondrous to me how these
minerals are formed, in what intensive geologic process over
millions of years. The stone is polished to a bright, glassy luster,
and it's rounded, smoothed and contoured with a seamless fit to the
bolsters and tang. The knife has a balance point at the front
quillon peak, and feels solid and imposing in the hand.
- Sheath: The sheath had to be a special one to
be commensurate with the Orion. I made it in 9-10 oz. leather
shoulder, and designed it with a high back and a revealing low front to
show plenty of the gemstone handle. I hand-carved the sheath for 19
inlays of frog skin, and carefully chose colors to match the colors in the gemstone
handle. The design is the same design on the engraved bolsters,
reflecting the curves of the leaves in the curves of the blade.
I dyed the sheath in burgundy, and hand-stitched the sheath
with a meandering puzzle stitch in black polyester, a special stitch that is random in
design and looks completely different in the front and back. The
sheath is lacquered and sealed for longevity, and is smooth and
polished throughout.
- A substantial and beautiful unique piece; a work of art and
premium design; one I'm very proud of.
Thanks, J. K.!
Hello Jay,
I’m contacting you to give a little review about your Orion knife.
I absolutely LOVE this knife! It appears much better in person than your photos give
credit for. My camera is very bad and doesn’t capture its true beauty at all.
It feels extremely awkward holding my other blades now. They just feel… weird. I love the
intricate and ornate artistic elements on the handle, the blade shape, and the designs on
the sheath. The most important thing is both are much more solid than any blade and sheath
I’ve had before. The entire thing is amazing, and there are no flaws, major or minor, that
I can see. The knife is pretty heavy, but I like the weight to knives if done right. (And
here’s a hint: you did it right!)
There is nothing I have that compares to the extreme quality that this knife has.
I can appreciate art very much, being an artist myself. I appreciate all the work, time,
and effort that is put into any form of artwork. You are an excellent knife maker with
excellent service.
I wish you well on your knife making and for you to be able to work with your passion for
as long as possible. Keep it up and don’t ever stop!
Thank you once again,
-J. K.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos
