Trifid
"Trifid" Fine Handmade Knife
- Size: Length overall: 8.25" (21.0 cm),
Blade Length: 4.0" (10.2 cm),
Thickness: .196" (5.0 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 5.3 oz. (150 grams) Sheath: 4.2
oz. (119 grams)
- Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless
Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C58, mirror polished
- Fittings: Hand-engraved 304
Austenitic High Nickel, High Chromium Stainless Steel
- Handle: Brecciated Jasper Gemstone (Africa)
- Sheath: Hand-carved Leather Inlaid with Ostrich
Leg Skin
- Knife: The Trifid is named for a beautiful
Nebula in the constellation Sagittarius. This outstanding piece of
meticulous craftsmanship took many hours to create, and it was worth
it. The blade has a very graceful light trailing point and is deeply
hollow ground in 440C high chromium austenitic stainless tool steel.
The grind lines are clear, crisp, well-matched and brightly mirror
polished surfaces abound. The blade is razor keen and thin at the
fine point: an elegant cutting instrument. The knife blade is
completely hand-fileworked with a deep, punchy pattern of square and
round cuts in the fully tapered tang, from the tip of the spine to
the significant choil which terminates the cutting edge. The knife
is bolstered with zero-care 304 high nickel, high chromium
austenitic stainless steel, into which I have hand-engraved a deep
and intricate pattern of knotted paisley style. Did you know that
the paisley type of design component is very ancient and derived
from earliest Greek depictions of dolphins and not gourds or vegetables
as some think? Most makers would not attempt to hand-engrave 304
stainless steel because it is so incredibly tough and hard, but it
is the absolute premium bolster material that this knife deserves. The
bolster engraving compliments the complexity of the filework and the
angularity of the gemstone handle pattern. The gemstone I chose for
the handle is Brecciated Jasper from Africa, brightly and cleanly
ground and finished to a glassy luster. Brecciated Jasper has always
fascinated me, because of the intense and eons-long process that has
occurred to create the stone. First, sedimentary rock was laid down
that had high iron content, perhaps even from earth's early ancient
seas that were rich in iron while the atmosphere was lacking oxygen.
The iron is what makes these rocks red. Then, over millions of
years, these iron-rich sedimentary rocks are subject to the intense
and prolonged pressure and temperature beneath the earth's surface,
and form compressed microcrystalline quartz (Jasper). After that, at some
time, the rock is subjected to tremendous stresses and cataclysmic
forces that shatter the rock in to millions of pieces (thus the
breccia which means broken fragments of rock). Many more
millions of years pass, and the broken pieces are fused together in
a solid, uniform mass that is bonded under the heat and pressure of
the earth's crust. So bonded are the pieces that they become one
uniform and complete stone, varying only by color. Looking into this
handle can be awe-inspiring, even more so under a magnifier. If you love rock like I do, you'll be
taken to wonder about how it all the geologic process happened. The stone on this knife
is extremely solid, hard and durable, and will absolutely far
outlast the knife. So, maybe in millions of years, someone may
wonder about this cut and polished gem. On the knife, the gemstone
feels cool and solid, and the balance point of the knife is just
behind the forefinger groove at the placement of the middle finger.
The blade feels light and effortless in the hand.
- Sheath: I wanted a special sheath for this
knife, one that compliments the color and pattern of the gem. I made
this sheath in 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, carefully hand-carved with
scalpels and microblades to accept full panel inlays of Ostrich leg
skin dyed a burgundy color. The skin is tough and glossy, and the
scale pattern on the surface reflects the filework and brecciated
pattern of the gemstone knife handle. The knife has panel inlays
front and back; even the belt loop is inlaid. I've hand-stitched the
sheath together with polyester sinew, and it is lacquered and sealed
throughout.
- An elegant and handsome knife for collection or use; a work of
art.
Thanks, S.E.!
Hi Jay;
I have just spent the last half hour staring at the knife which I received today. Words such as "AWESOME, WOW, UNBELIEVABLE" described my initial
reaction. I looked at the knife over and over again. Each time admiring a different facet. I chose that word because like a fine diamond, each
and every time it is looked upon, you see a different facet as it reflects the light at different angles. The analogy is striking. The quality
of workmanship is extraordinary. The cut-outs along the spine, then into the handle, and under the handle add so much to the knife. The meeting
of metal and gemstone is so exact one cannot see any space between the two materials. I have difficulty putting two pieces of wood together
properly. The blade has a wonderful polished finish which contrasts the engraving on the handle. To truly appreciate the time, effort, artistic
talent and artistic vision, one needs to view this as fine art first. Then can see this as a knife, an incredible one at that.
Yours truly,
--S.E.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos