"Vespula" Custom Knife
"Vespula" Fine Handmade Custom Knife
- Size: Length overall: 14.25" (36.2 cm), Blade Length: 8.4" (21.3 cm), Thickness: .180" (4.6 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 14.0 oz. (397 grams) Sheath: 5.4 oz. (153 grams)
- Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless Steel, Hardened and Tempered with T3 Cryogenic Process to Rockwell HRC 58.5, Mirror Polished
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished
- Handle: Mosaic of Black Onyx and Tiger Jasper Gemstone (India)
- Sheath: Cocobolo Rosewood, African Padauk Hardwood
- Knife: I have the very best clients a
knifemaker could have, and when my client challenged me with this
Vespula, I was honored by the opportunity. He asked for a Vespula
knife that was true to the name. Vespula is the genus of wasps most
of us identify as "yellowjackets." I named the knife pattern Vespula
because of the stinger-like shape of the blade. Since the blade is
double-edged, this reminded me of being stung by these wasps, a
memorable experience! More on the artistic attributes to this
knife design below.
- The steel chosen for my client's Vespula is 440C, my most asked-for
steel for a reason. It's very tough, highly wear resistant and
excels in corrosion resistance, for the lowest care needed of
just about any knife steel. It's also one of the very
best steels for extremely high corrosion resistance with little
care. I applied my proprietary T3 deep
cryogenic process in heat treating this blade; it's a highly
detailed, extremely sophisticated process that takes 33
individual steps and takes over a week. The result of this is an
incredibly wear-resistant blade that has extremely high carbide
development, fine grain, and high toughness. Asperity is
reduced; the microstructure development is superior to any other
typical handmade knife, and far above any factory or
manufactured knife. This is, simply put, 440C at its very finest
advanced condition. This is difficult on such a long,
double-edged blade, since the stress of heat treating happens after the blade
is hollow ground. The hollow grinds are special; this is a
differentially ground knife, in essence a non-symmetrical
dagger. The upper cutting edge is ground with a 3" contact
wheel, so the edge is very thin while maintaining a strong
central spine along the blade. The lower or main grind is
accomplished with an 8" contact wheel, for a tough, strong
standard cutting edge. The blade is very strong and stiff, and
the point is devastatingly sharp, like the wasp's stinger. I created the
blade with a fully tapered tang for balance, and the blade has
full distinctive filework which I call (of course) "stinger."
- I bolstered the knife with zero-care 304
high chromium, high nickel stainless steel bolsters, which are
contoured, rounded and finished for a comfortable feel. The
bolsters are secured with zero-clearance peened pins and
dovetailed to bed the handle scales. This is a true, no-care
bolster material, 304 is also known as 18-8 stainless, found in the
toughest stainless steel nuts, bolts, and fasteners. The Vespula
has a mid-bolster, which reinforces the forefinger groove on the
handle, and adds a distinctive look. This means that there are
actually six bolster pieces that have to be accurately and
permanently secured to the handle. This is a very strong handle.
- My client requested handle scales that
would have colors reminiscent of these beautiful creatures. My quest was to find just the right handle material,
and I acquired Black Onyx and Tiger Jasper, both from India.
Just like the wasp, the black onyx is actually a very dark
chocolate brown, and the gold of the handle is Tiger Jasper.
This was an extremely challenging handle to make, requiring lots
of planning and many steps. It is technically called a "mosaic"
handle, Instead of singular, monolithic
stone pieces, I decided that the graduated stripes would be more
appropriate and striking as well. I cut and hand-lapped many
pieces of each rock, you can see that they are graduated in
thickness from the butt of the handle to the thinnest at the
front bolster. Look closely at the photos; there are 40 actual
pieces of gemstone in this handle! They are matched side
to side, by hand, and fitted to the tang with tight precision.
This is an extremely difficult handle to make, and I absolutely
love it! These are both extremely tough gemstones, permanently bonded
to the tang and reinforced by the bolsters. They will outlast
the rest of the knife, and the jasper and onyx (both
microcrystalline quartzes) are very hard, tough, and durable.
What a piece of work!
- The knife feels as it looks in the photo;
extremely strong, sturdy, and durable, with the balance point
right at the union of the front bolster and the front handle
scales. The knife is sleek, razor keen on both edges, and
strikingly beautiful.
- Sheath: My client requested a rosewood sheath,
for personal reasons, and I was happy to accommodate him. I built a
slip sheath, with a true rosewood front and back. This is cocobolo,
the classic rosewood. While nowadays people call a lot of woods
"rosewood," only the true dalbergia family are actually
classified as rosewoods, and cocobolo is dalbergia retusa.
I chose the most striking piece of cocobolo rosewood I could find,
and shaped and finished it by many sanding steps and a simple coat
of wax. For the welts of the sheath (the parts that the cutting edge
rests upon, I chose an extremely bright African Padauk, a somewhat
softer wood to be in contact with the edges. Padauk is also known as
African Coralwood because of the striking bright color when
initially cut and sanded. Both of these woods
will darken a bit over time through natural oxidation processes, and
should age and blend together quite well in color and hue. Rather than have
extensive fittings, I created a slip sheath, which has just the
right tension to hold the knife. This is not an easy sheath to make;
the blade slides in solidly and is snugly held by the tension of the
wood. This lets the wood stand out boldly and the striking contrast
goes well with the complex gemstone handle.
- A very cool knife, great theme, fantastic color, in premium
materials; my thanks to my great client.
Thanks, H. R.!
Jay, this is fantastic. Many thanks. You did an amazing job. I had in mind only two
colors to suggest the idea of a wasp,
but with your mosaic design you captured the real beast. I also like the "devastatingly sharp point," which adds meaning to the
wasp theme. Plus the scabbard in rosewood, which could not be any better. I am very glad you approved of our cooperation, even
though you did all the work and improved on my suggestion.
I suppose any collector shares his best treasures with other enthusiasts and I look forward to bringing the wasp out when my friend brags
about his latest acquisition.
With best regards,
--H.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos