Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

New to the website? Start Here
"Vindicator" push dagger, obverse side view in CPM154CM powder metal technology tool steel blade, 304 stainless steel bolsters, Afghanistan Lapis Lazuli gemstone handle, hand-carved leather sheath inlaid with Elephant skin
"Vindicator" with Lapis Lazuli Gemstone handle

Phact

"Phact" fine handmade knife, obverse side view in 440C high chromium stainless steel blade, 304 stainless steel bolsters, Poppy Jasper gemstone handle, hand-carved leather sheath inlaid with rayskin
"Phact" Fine Handmade Knife
  • Size: Length overall: 8.25" (21.0 cm), Blade Length: 4.0" (10.2 cm), Thickness: .122" (3.1 mm)
  • Weight: Knife: 4.8 oz. (136 grams) Sheath: 4.6 oz. (130 grams)
  • Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless Steel, Cryogenically Treated, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell HRC 60, Mirror Polished
  • Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished
  • Handle: Poppy Jasper Gemstone (India)
  • Sheath: Hand-carved Leather Shoulder inlaid with Red Rayskin
  • Knife: The Phact is a great knife, one that encompasses the medium-small knife classification applicable to steak knives, table knives, small game dressing knives, and utility knives. My Phact pattern is named for a star in the constellation of the dove, heralded as the bringer of good news and good messages. If I associate this name to the knife, I would always consider a steak good news, or even using an elegant knife like this for a typical cutting chore very good news!
    • I used 440C martensitic stainless steel for the blade of this knife; it's my most asked-for knife steels for a reason. It's incredibly corrosion-resistant, at home in any kitchen or eating environment, while being wear-resistant and tough. I've cryogenically treated this blade with advanced processing for high martensite development, and performed multiple tempering for profuse carbide creation. Consequently, the cutting edge sharpness will last a very long time.
    • The blade shape is nearly straight, so close to being straight that you have to look down the line of the spine to see a slight drop. This drop allows an easier sheathing without the point hanging up in the sheath welts. The blade is thin, yet has a good, tight hollow grind for a thin, yet stout cutting edge. The tang is fully tapered for balance, and I left the spine and handle of the knife clean and even (without filework) so that uses such as a table knife would make the knife easy to clean. The knife has a large choil to delineate the start of the cutting edge, and the grind terminations are matched and rounded to allow the spine to support the edge without stress at the ricasso.
    • I bolstered the Phact with zero-care 304 high chromium, high nickel stainless steel bolsters, and they are contoured, rounded and polished for a comfortable feel. The bolsters are secured with zero-clearance peened pins and dovetailed to bed the scales. The front bolster has a wide, flat top even with the spine for applying pressure, and a bit of curve to support the forefinger and prevent it from moving toward the blade in a forward grip. The rear bolster is wide and flat, aiding in balance and filling the palm of the hand for control. It also aids in easy unsheathing.
    • The handle scales are striking Poppy Jasper gemstone from India. While there are several kinds of Poppy Jaspers, this is a rather rare type from India, from old lapidary stock and not commonly available any more. I was lucky to find it and snatched up all I could! It's a hard, tough, cryptocrystalline quartz, with very hard "poppies" surrounded in pink with dark ruby-red centers. The gem is profuse with "blooms" and one wonders at how such magnificent patterns are formed in stone through many millions of years. This jasper is hard and tough, and durable, taking a bright glassine finish. It will outlast the rest of the knife; after all it is rock!
  • Sheath: The sheath for the Phact had to be as bold as the knife, so I made one with full panel inlays of rich red rayskin in medium brown-dyed hand-carved 9-10 oz. leather shoulder. Rayskin is actually interlocking tiny bones in leathery skin, the most durable exotic inlay skin available. The sheath is stitched with brown nylon in a very tight pattern, adding to the stiffness of the hardened leather considerably. The sheath is lacquered and sealed for longevity.
  • An excellent knife in a recognizable form, built in fine and bold materials and finish.

Thanks, A. G.!

Hi Jay,
I opened and held Phact this Christmas morning, and . . . WOW.  I want to write you a proper thank you and detailed impressions of this beautiful piece, but right now I'm a little brain dead after all the holiday festivities, family visiting, and kids running on a 12 hour sugar high.  Let me just say thank you for your masterful work on Phact and for brightening my Christmas!
God Bless and Merry Christmas to you and your family,

--A.


Hi Jay,

I've been using Phact for 3 months to the day, and it has a special place in my heart and in my family.  Phact makes an appearance at every Sunday/Holiday dinner whether it be steaks, Tri-tip roasts, Picanha, thick cut pork chops, or bbq chicken. In fact, my kids (10 and 7 years-old) now get excited for a meal when they see "Dad's Jay Fisher Knife" set at my place at the table.

Your work is truly amazing Jay.  Phact is stunning to behold, but more importantly it's a functional work of art.  Even though it was not a commissioned custom piece, it fits my hand like a glove. The 440c handles every cutting task with ease and cleans up so easily after use, and there's not a single blemish on the blade after 3 months of use!

On a side note, thank you for you most recent page on Food Safety in Kitchen and Chef's Knives. It is so badly needed in the culinary industry and clarifies so much misinformation. I try and share the link whenever carbon steel knives are recommended for kitchen use.

Thank you for your latest comments about your YouTube heat treat videos.  I must say I was sorry you took them down, since a I probably watched them a dozen times, but I understand your high standards and your desire to present the material in the best possible way.  If you do still have them saved on a hard drive somewhere, I'd love to purchase a copy for my own personal edification and collection.

Thanks again for all of your work and dedication to the profession!

God Bless,
Adam


Please click on thumbnail knife photos
"Phact" fine handmade knife, reverse side view. Sheath back has full inlays of red rayskin including belt loop "Phact" fine handmade knife, spine detail. Smooth spine is clean and tang is fully tapered for balance "Phact" fine handmade knife, inside handle tang detail. Bolsters are dovetailed, all surfaces are rounded, contoured, and polished "Phact" fine handmade knife, obverse side handle detail showing handle shape with classical lines "Phact" fine handmade knife, reverse side handle detail. Bolsters are finished and smoothed, extremely corrosion resistant and zero-care "Phact" fine handmade knife, 6x enlargement of reverse side gemstone handle scale in rare Indian Poppy Jasper "Phact" fine handmade knife, 6 power enlargement of obverse side gemstone handle scales showing profuse pattern and fascinating intracies of Poppy Jasper gemstone "Phact" fine handmade knife, sheathed view. Sheath is protective and stout with rayskin inlays and stiff leather shoulder "Phact" fine handmade knife, sheath back view. Sheath is clean and even , with nylon stitching in medium brown heavy leather shoulder "Phact" fine handmade knife, sheath mouth detail. Welts are strong and stiff, rear curve allows knife to be unsheathed "Phact" fine handmade knife, point detail. Point is fine yet supported well with cryogenically processed martensitic stainless steel blade

To Featured Knife Pages


XHTML 1.0 Validated, Compliant, Link Checked, and CSS Level 2.1 Validated through W3C, the World Wide Web Consortium
Main Purchase Tactical Specific Types Technical More
Home Page Where's My Knife, Jay? Current Tactical Knives for Sale The Awe of the Blade Knife Patterns My Photography
Website Overview Current Knives for Sale Tactical, Combat Knife Portal Museum Pieces Knife Pattern Alphabetic List Photographic Services
My Mission My Knife Prices All Tactical, Combat Knives Investment, Collector's Knives Copyright and Knives Photographic Images
The Finest Knives and You How To Order Counterterrorism Knives Daggers Knife Anatomy  
Featured Knives: Page One Purchase Finished Knives  Professional, Military Commemoratives Swords Custom Knives  
Featured Knives: Page Two Order Custom Knives USAF Pararescue Knives Folding Knives Modern Knifemaking Technology My Writing
Featured Knives: Page Three Knife Sales Policy USAF Pararescue "PJ- Light" Chef's Knives Factory vs. Handmade Knives First Novel
Featured Knives: Older/Early Bank Transfers  27th Air Force Special Operations  Food Safety, Kitchen, Chef's Knives Six Distinctions of Fine Knives Second Novel
Email Jay Fisher Custom Knife Design Fee Khukris: Combat, Survival, Art Hunting Knives Knife Styles Knife Book
Contact, Locate Jay Fisher Delivery Times Serrations Working Knives Jay's Internet Stats  
FAQs My Shipping Method Grip Styles, Hand Sizing Khukris The 3000th Term Videos
Current, Recent Works, Events Business of Knifemaking Concealed Carry and Knives Skeletonized Knives Best Knife Information and Learning About Knives  
Client's News and Info   Military Knife Care Serrations Cities of the Knife Links
Who Is Jay Fisher?   The Best Combat Locking Sheath Knife Sheaths Knife Maker's Marks  
Testimonials, Letters and Emails     Knife Stands and Cases How to Care for Custom Knives Site Table of Contents
Top 22 Reasons to Buy   Tactical Knife Sheath Accessories Handles, Bolsters, Guards Knife Making Instruction  
My Knifemaking History   Loops, Plates, Straps Knife Handles: Gemstone Larger Monitors and Knife Photos  
What I Do And Don't Do    Belt Loop Extenders-UBLX, EXBLX Gemstone Alphabetic List New Materials  
CD ROM Archive   Independent Lamp Accessory-LIMA Knife Handles: Woods Knife Shop/Studio, Page 1  
Publications, Publicity   Universal Main Lamp Holder-HULA Knife Handles: Horn, Bone, Ivory Knife Shop/Studio, Page 2  
My Curriculum Vitae   Sternum Harness Knife Handles: Manmade Materials    
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 1 Blades and Steels Sharpeners, Lanyards Knife Embellishment     
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 2 Blades Bags, Cases, Duffles, Gear    
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 3 Knife Blade Testing Modular Sheath Systems  
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 4 440C: A Love/Hate Affair PSD Principle Security Detail Sheaths      
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 5 ATS-34: Chrome/Moly Tough
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 6 D2: Wear Resistance King        
The Curious Case of the "Sandia" O1: Oil Hardened Blued Beauty        
The Sword, the Veil, the Legend Elasticity, Stiffness, Stress,
and Strain in Knife Blades
   
Professional Knife Consultant Heat Treating and
Cryogenic Processing of
Knife Blade Steels