Tharsis Intense
"Tharsis Intense" Fine Handmade Custom Knife
- Type: Fixed blade art knife and sheath, sculptural stand
- Size on Stands:
- Knife: 10.375" (26.4 cm) tall, 6.5" (16.5 cm) wide, 3" (7.6 cm) deep
- Sheath: 10.75" (27.3 cm) tall, 4.25" (10.8 cm) wide, 5" (12.7 cm) deep
- Weight with Stands:
- Knife: 2 lbs. 5 oz. (595 grams)
- Sheath: 2 lbs. 4 oz. (567 grams)
- Size:
- Knife: Length Overall: 10.125" (25.7 cm), Blade Length: 5.75" (14.6 cm), Thickness: .168" (4.3 mm)
- Weight:
- Knife: 9.5 oz. (269 grams)
- Sheath: 6.4 oz. (181 grams)
- Blade: O1 tungsten-vanadium tool steel, hot-blued, mirror polished, hardened and tempered to 58HRC
- Bolsters: Hand-engraved, mirror polished 304 high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel
- Handle: Fossilized stromatolite algae gemstone (jasper/hematite)
- Sheath: Hand-carved leather shoulder inlaid with frog skin
- Stands: Hand-cast silicon bronze, with antique patina, neoprene pad feet
- Knife: The Tharsis is named for a vast and
desolate plateau in the western hemisphere of the planet Mars. This
is an intense version of the knife form, with full embellishment and
sculptural artistic presentation, custom made for a special client.
I started with the straightforward lines of the Tharsis pattern and
form, a wide-angled tanto point blade, carefully hollow ground with
deep and accurate grinds, sweeping terminations, and a short swage
at the spine leading to the devastatingly sharp tip. The steel is
not just common O1 (oil-hardening tool steel); this is a special O1
tool steel, made for high wear resistance with the addition of
tungsten and vanadium. These alloys make the steel difficult to
mirror polish, but the result was worth it. I hot-blued the blade
for deep, penetrating corrosion inhibiting of the polished surfaces
while presenting a glassy, jet-black blade. The hollow grind
yields 5.5" of razor keen cutting edge, terminating in the sculpted
and fileworked choil. The blade has full and
complex filework, in a "lighting bolt" pattern, which extends around
the fully tapered tang. The handle of the Tharsis is rounded and
comfortable, which contrasts with the angular blade lines
effectively.
The handle is bolstered with 304 high nickel, high chromium
austenitic stainless steel, an extremely difficult material to engrave,
but with some of the most durable, striking, and long-lasting
engraving possible, and zero chance of corrosion. The engraving
style I
chose for the piece is a study in sharp turns and curves reminiscent
of a Celtic knot, but with a more abrupt angular quality. The
engraving is deeply relieved in hatch, and blackened for contrast.
The handle of this knife is special indeed, composed of quartz,
jasper, and hematite, and is the fossilized remains of blue-green
algae that lived billions of years ago on our planet. The algae is
Precambrian, some of the oldest fossilized remains of life on our
planet. The reason for the red color and hematite (iron oxide) is
that in those early times, the earth's oceans contained much more
iron than today, and iron in accretionary sedimentation that replaces organics to create
fossil minerals produces red coloring. The patterns and colors of
this gemstone are striking, with clouds, swirls, and bands of red
ember color with shiny gray hematite interspersed. The fossilized Stromatolite is hard, tough, and
durable jasper with a bright polish and will literally outlast every
other part of this work of art. The knife center of balance is right
at the forefinger placement and the knife feels solid in the hand
with the thumb placed on the rise.
- Sheath: The Tharsis Intense required a
commensurate sheath, and I made this one in hand-carved 9-10 oz.
thick leather shoulder. The leather is carved to accept six
substantial inlays of frog skin, which reminds me of the interesting
surface of Mars. The carvings and inlay shapes match the engraving
angles and voids, and the heavy leather is dyed black and sealed for
longevity. The sheath is stitched with black nylon and the welts are
dressed, smoothed, and polished for a finished feel. The sheath is
deep and protective while revealing a hint of the Tharsis inside.
- Stands: One of the most striking things about
this knife are the individual complimentary stands. I hand-carved
these forms in wax (see photos below) and hand-cast them in bronze,
in a very old and noble process of lost wax casting. Only bronze can
add this type of display, class, and integrity to the piece, and
it's heavy and tough, and each piece is solid, cast in one
object. I worked the surface of the bronze forms to appear aged and
weathered, with a mellow patina of golden browns, blacks and bits of red
and warm tones to compliment the gemstone handle of the knife
without overwhelming the knife and sheath. The patina and surface
changes depending on the light, angle, and direction, with
translucency as only bronze patinas can display. And,
of course, the shape of the forms reflect the hand-engraving of
the bolsters in design and scope,
the result of the same mind and hands in sole authorship. The knife is
delicately balanced at point and edge, and the sheath rests in a
triangular socket and fork to display as much as possible of each
piece. The bronzes are waxed in the traditional finish, and set with
neoprene pads for protection of any surface they rest upon.
- This is a beautiful custom set, lifting the Tharsis design to
new heights in style, finish, and artistic form. Please look
over the large photo set below to enjoy all the aspects of this
artwork and functional tool.
Thanks, A. G.!
Hi, Jay.
I received the knife safe and sound. It's perfect! The best way I can explain my happiness
with it is to simply say that I would be honored if all my custom knives come from
only your studio.
Cheers,
A.
Hi Jay,
I hope you and yours are doing well. :)
It has been a few years since I received Tharsis Intense. I just wanted to reach out to let you
know that the knife continues to inspire me. To own such a treasure is a real privilege. Thank you!
Cheers,
A.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos