Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

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"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

"Utamu" Custom, Tactical, Wilderness, Survival Crossover Knife

"Utamu" Custom Crossover, Survival, Tactial knife, obverse side view in T4 cryogenically treated CPM 154CM powder metal high molybdenum martensitic stainless steel blade, 304 stainless steel bolsters, blue/black G10 compos000ite handle, positively locking sheath of kydex, anodized aluminum, black oxide stainless steel, anodized titanium
"Utamu" Custom Crossover, Survival, Tactial knife with full kit of accessories: multiple mounting straps and loops, HULA, LIMA, UBLX, EXBLX, Flashlights, hardware, sternum harness, sharpener, bags, storage, custom duffle
NOTICE!
Please note the layout for the tactical knife description on this page. I've separated the components, briefly describing them in individual boxes. In those boxes are links to dedicated pages describing everything about the part, component, or accessory. The pages are substantial, and offer the history, operation, materials, use, mounting, and care of each accessory.
"Utamu" Custom, Tactical, Wilderness, Survival Crossover Knife
(Shadow Line)
All Matching in non-reflective flat black camouflage

Designed for professional use, this is a top-of-the-line, extremely tough and ultimate corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant knife: a tactical and survival knife , locking sheath, and accessory package that is simply the best made. The knife is a complete crossover type, suitable for utility, rescue, and working tool applications. This package is comprehensive, sturdy, dependable, and useable. NO OTHER SOURCE can supply what you see here, all finely handmade to work with your gear, your outing, your mission, and your excursion, no matter the situation and exposure. This is simply one of the very best knives and kits made today.

Thanks, T. S.!

Hello Jay!
To start, I am blown away by your craftsmanship holding the knife in my hands! Thank you so much! It is a formidable tool and work of art.  When I held the knife the first time, the line from Crocodile Dundee, "That's not a knife. Now THIS is a knife!"  It makes every other knife I have owned seem like a sharpened piece of stock metal in comparison.  The attention to every detail, the fit of the bolsters and handle scales, the grind of the blade, all the file work; every aspect of the blade and kit shows the thought and craftsmanship that you have poured into this! It has a presence, the weight and thickness of the blade assure me it is something I can really rely on.
I'm sorry it has taken me a while to write this. It has been busy and I wanted to really look everything over and admire the knife and kit before writing you.  I already cut myself with it haha. I was not being real smart when I was testing how sharp it was and ended up underestimating how sharp it was and gave myself a minor cut puncturing a milk carton.  It is more than I even hoped for and am honored to own such a fine blade.
  Thank you so much Jay! This has made me even more excited for the other two knives that you are still working on.

—T.

More photos below!

Included:

The Knife

  • Size: Size: Length overall: 13.9" (35.3 cm), Blade Length: 8.3" (21.1 cm), Thickness: 0.260" (6.6 mm)
  • Weight: 22.0 oz. (624 grams)
  • Blade: CPM154CM Powder Metal High Molybdenum Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered, T3 Specialty Cryogenically treated to Rockwell C61, proprietary surface oxide treatment "Ghost Slate."
  • Bolsters/Fittings: 304 High Nickel, High Chromium Austenitic Stainless Steel, proprietary surface oxide treatment "Ghost Slate."
  • Handle: Blue/Black G10 Fiberglass/Epoxy Composite
  • Type/Purpose/Origin: The Utamu is a new custom design for a great client; he requested a special knife for survival, wilderness, and possibly tactical use. I named the knife "Utamu." I came up with the name because much of the original design for the blade and handle was based on my "Imamu" pattern, a Zombie Apocalypse type of knife, and I thought I would just change a few letters in the name that sounded interesting. Later, I found out that "Utamu" is the Swahili word for "sweetness." This is great because this knife is very, very sweet, indeed! It's a massive and powerful tool, a great adjunct to any activity outdoors, suitable for everything from wilderness survival to rescue, from tactical or even wild animal defense. My client wanted a knife with the heft of the Imamu, but also with a serious, sharply angled point for penetration and a narrow cross sectional area. I'm sure that this is a knife that will be another great design, and it was a pleasure to make it. He also wanted plenty of mount options, and I was happy to be able to accommodate any wear option he might have.
  • Blade Steel Alloy: My client requested the special hypereutectoid, high alloy martensitic stainless tool steel, CPM154CM. This is a powder metal technology 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.
  • Heat Treatment: This custom Utamu has my T4 heat treatment, yielding an astounding blade in incredible condition through advanced processing protocols. How advanced is this treatment? It's a multi-stage cryogenic treatment, involving temperatures ranging in over 2000°F (1090°C) to -320°F (-196°C). The process is an evolution of my advanced heat treating processes, and consists of 33 dedicated and specific steps and takes 172 hours. This means that just to heat treat this blade takes over a week. The reason for this is scientific and critical, but yields the most stable, most wear-resistant, most durable and long-lived structure of this steel, profuse with fine multi-element carbides and a uniform and unbelievably robust structure. This is a testament to my determination to make the very best knives, steels, treatments and kits in the modern world. I know of no one else who has advanced the treatment to this level; it's unheard of in the metals and knifemaking field. Click here to know more about the heat treating designation.
  • Blade Design and Geometry: The blade of the Utamu is single-edged and hollow ground with a very large diameter wheel, 12" (30 cm). This creates a very deep and large hollow grind, resulting in incredible geometry. In fact, it's likely that the blade, even if continually sharpened will last more than 3 generations. It's an honor to think that more than 100 years from now, this knife will still be around, still be an effective working tool. The blade has 3 full inches of my hammerhead serrations, my most requested serration profile for the toughest cutting tasks. The point of the knife is thin enough to be effective in penetration, yet has enough belly to be supported by the thick spine of the blade. The blade has a 6" (15.2 cm) top spine swage to reduce the point profile and lighten the blade point without sacrificing strength. The blade is fully tapered and fileworked with a punchy pattern to increase grip traction and add handmade distinction. 
  • This is an extreme use, high wear resistance, highly tough, and extremely keen high alloy powder metal stainless steel blade with advanced heat treatment.
  • Blade Finish: My client requested that the blade and bolsters (and all of the accessories) to be in my "Shadow" line of counterterrorism and tactical knife finishes. Answering the request for completely subdued and non-reflective surfaces, I developed the Shadow Line with my Ghost Slate finish. This means darkening in a permanent fashion not only the stainless steel of the knife, blade, handle, and fittings, but all of the gear in the entire kit: the fasteners, the sheath parts, aluminum mounts, accessories and entire package. Read more about my Shadow Line and Ghost Slate finish on my Counterterrorism Knives page at this bookmark.
  • Bolsters: I bolstered the custom Utamu with my signature zero-care, high nickel, high chromium 304 austenitic stainless steel bolsters, contoured and rounded for comfort of the hands, and shaped and radiused in the front face for easy cleaning. They are attached with multiple through-tang pins of 304 stainless steel, and the mounting is permanent, as well as extremely corrosion-resistant. This is the same steel used for stainless steel nuts, bolts, and fasteners, and the bolsters are heavy, thick, and solid, giving great balance to the knife. The front bolster is contoured around a deep forefinger quillon that guards the hand from the working end of the knife and gives a solid area to apply forward force. The rear bolster has a large chamfered 3/8" (10 mm) through-tang lanyard hole for added security when working elevated or over water or in a debris field. The bolsters are dovetailed to create a solid, seamless union with the handle material. The bolsters are treated in my "Ghost Slate" shadow line for reduced glare and match the rest of the knife and gear.
  • Handle: My client chose the handle scales of blue and black G10, a fiberglass reinforced epoxy composite that is one of the most durable and dependable manmade handle materials on earth. The handle scales are dovetailed and locked and bedded under the bolsters, secured with six heavy 304 stainless steel pins. The handle shape is comfortable and extremely secure, with extra-deep quillons, full belly, and slope for the heel of the hand that makes the knife an extension of the arm. Once in the hand, this handle design is simply hard to put down, melding into the grip. The tang is fully fileworked with an bold and well-defined geometric pattern for increased purchase and handmade signature. The tang is fully tapered, with plenty of thickness at the butt for support and balance, with the rear bolster sporting an extra-large 3/8" through-tang lanyard hole for super security when working elevated or near water or in special circumstances that require insurance against dropping the knife. The large lanyard hole is chamfered and dressed smooth for abrasion reduction of the lanyard and is easy and fast to thread.
  • Balance and Feel: The center of balance of the knife at the front bolster-to-ricasso position, making for a substantial blade weight balance. The knife feels massive and stout in forward grip, blade leading. In reverse grip, the blade feels heavy and strong, with an overhand motion feeling the most effective, should defense (think wild animal) be necessary.  The handle is shaped to lock in the grip, and is large enough to be comfortable with gloved  hands.

This is a beautiful, heavy, strong, and durable custom knife that will be a reassuring pleasure to have in the field. Sweet, indeed!

More photos below!

Included:

The Sheath

 The Tactical Positively Locking Sheath
  • Weight: 15.4 oz. (437 grams)
  • Materials: Positively Locking (version 2.0) in Black Kydex, Black Anodized Aluminum Alloy, Blackened Oxide Stainless Steel, blue-anodized 6AL4V Titanium.
  • Description: This sheath is one of my extremely durable positively locking models, originally designed for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) use. This is my proprietary design, the best possible sheath of its type available in the world today. Actually, it is the ONLY type of this sheath available in the world today! There is so much more to this sheath that I've created a special page:
Get all of the details about this Positively Locking Sheath at this link.
More photos below!

Included:

Accessories: Belt Loops, Plates, Straps, Clamps

This kit contains my standard belt loop and mounting package.

  • Standard Belt Loops: accommodates 0.190" thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
  • Medium Profile Belt Loops: accommodates 0.250" thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
  • High Profile Belt Loops: accommodates .250" thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
  • Vertical Flat Mounting Straps: accommodates up to 2.0" wide belt, web, strapping, or gear, clamps rigidly and vertically 90 degrees to the long axis of the sheath, black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
  • Horizontal Flat Mounting Straps: accommodates 1" to 3" wide belt, web, strapping, or gear, clamps rigidly and horizontally (in line with the long axis of the sheath), black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
  • Horizontal Belt Loop Plates: allows wear with the long axis of the sheath in line with standard belt, without rigid clamping, accommodates .250" thick by 1.5" belt, welded black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
Get all the details about the Belt Loops, Plates, Straps, Clamps, and Fasteners at this link

Included:

Belt Loop Extenders (2)

  • Ultimate Belt Loop Extender (UBLX): allows wearing with locking sheath and knife handle just below the belt line, with DMT folding pocket diamond abrasive sharpener, in black polypropylene, polyester, black acetyl buckles. DMT diamond sharpener.
  • Extended Length Belt Loop Extender (EXBLX): allows wearing with locking sheath and knife sheath below the belt line, sheath tail just above knee, with 2" wide leg strap, in black polypropylene, polyester, blackened stainless steel, acetyl buckles.
Get all the details about the UBLX and the EXBLX mounting, fasteners, and use at this link
More photos below!

Included:

HULA (Holder, Universal, Lamp, Articulating

  • HULA with Powertac M5 Generation 3, 2030 lumen rechargeable programmable flashlight: provides a primary, fully adjustable flashlight in removable holder, with a stainless steel and anodized aluminum frame that can be aimed and locked in any direction, mounted on the sheath body no matter where the knife is worn. This is the very best, most durable flashlight holder made in the world today with a fantastic programmable light.
Get all the details about the HULA: mounting, fasteners, materials, and use at this link

Included:

LIMA (Lamp, Independent Mounting Assembly

  • Lamp Independent Mount Assembly (LIMA): Backup, emergency, safety LED programmable flashlight and independent web frame and mount, in polypropylene stitched with high strength polyester, anodized 5052 high strength corrosion resistant black anodized aluminum mounting bar, 304 stainless steel ring retainers, nylon elastic shock cord, with OLIGHT I1R 2 Pro Eos 180 Lumen rechargeable flashlight.
Get all the details about the LIMA: mounting, fasteners, materials, and use at this link

Included:

Sternum Harness Plus

  • Sternum Harness Plus: allows wearing of locking sheath upside down across sternum, handle down, in black polypropylene, polyester, acetyl buckles
Get the details about the Sternum Harness Plus: mounting, materials, and use at this link
More photos below!

Included:

Diamond Abrasive Sharpener, Lanyards

  • Diamond Sharpener with Pad/Sheath: Diamond abrasive sharpening stone, 2" x 6", double-sided (400G/600G), nickel bonded diamond abrasives over phenolic core, heavy nylon sheath to store and protect other gear from diamond abrasives; sheath doubles as work pad so diamond does not scratch surfaces, stitched with polyester, hook and loop closure
  • Lanyard: (2) 550 Nylon Kernmantle Rope (Paracord) sliding noose lanyard, flashlight lanyard
Get the details about the sharpener, pad/sheath and lanyards at this link

Included:

Duffle, Storage

  • Duffle Bag: 1000 denier Cordura® ballistic nylon, waterproof polyurethane coated, interior lined with heavy polyester felt. Nylon, polyester, polypropylene sling loop rubber handles, embroidered patch, removable embroidered name patch with hook and loop
  • Storage bags and tins for hardware, leather sheath, HULA assembly
Get the details about the duffles, bags and storage at this link

Thanks, T. S.!

Hello Jay!
To start, I am blown away by your craftsmanship holding the knife in my hands! Thank you so much! It is a formidable tool and work of art.  When I held the knife the first time, the line from Crocodile Dundee, "That's not a knife. Now THIS is a knife!"  It makes every other knife I have owned seem like a sharpened piece of stock metal in comparison.  The attention to every detail, the fit of the bolsters and handle scales, the grind of the blade, all the file work; every aspect of the blade and kit shows the thought and craftsmanship that you have poured into this! It has a presence, the weight and thickness of the blade assure me it is something I can really rely on.
I'm sorry it has taken me a while to write this. It has been busy and I wanted to really look everything over and admire the knife and kit before writing you.  I already cut myself with it haha. I was not being real smart when I was testing how sharp it was and ended up underestimating how sharp it was and gave myself a minor cut puncturing a milk carton.  It is more than I even hoped for and am honored to own such a fine blade.
  Thank you so much Jay! This has made me even more excited for the other two knives that you are still working on.

—T.



To see many more options for mounting, wear, and rigging, please visit these pages and look over their detailed photo sets. I've assembled and mounted the knives and kit accessories in a variety of ways, and most of the various arrangements are applicable to this knife as well.


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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