Knife: This is a full tang version of my
original "Yarden," the name meaning "One who descends" and is the
root Hebrew name for the Jordan River, where Jesus Christ was
baptized by John the Baptist. The original
"Yarden" links here.
The steel for this piece is CPMS30V, an extremely wear
resistant and tough powder metal technology stainless tool steel
with high vanadium content. This is one of the most wear resistant
steels made, and the powder metal process yields unsurpassed carbide
content and distribution. Since it's a high vanadium tool steel, it
can't be mirror polished so I finished this blade to a high satin
finish for excellent corrosion resistance and easy cleaning. The
blade is deeply hollow ground for a thin and effective point and
cutting edge, with a half-length top swage that reduces point cross
section without sacrificing point strength, yet the blade has
substantial thickness for strength. The blade design is
typical of boning, trimming, working, and defensive types with a
long gentle sloping belly and an aggressive acute point. The knife is full tang,
that is, one solid piece of CPMS30V from tip to butt. The tang is
fully tapered for balance, and I've fileworked the trinity of
crosses and diamonds on the blade spine, preceded by a modified vine
extending fully around the tang. The knife is bolstered with
zero-care 304 high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel,
the same steel used to make stainless steel nuts, bolts and high
strength fasteners. This is the toughest material for bolsters, and
they will last for generations. The bolsters are contoured, rounded,
smoothed and polished to a mirror finish, and dovetailed to bed a
pair of Thuya Burl exotic hardwood handle scales. This
particular burl is quarter sawn, so the the traditional burl swirls
are visible from the top of the spine and inside the handle tang
view (below) but the plan view of the knife reveals an unusual ray
and
horizontal wavy pattern reminiscent of mountains or waves of dark
peaks and valleys, and the terrain around the River Jordan. This is
a very hard and durable wood, and is smoothly polished and finished,
secured with four stainless steel through-tang pins. The knife feels
solid and elegant in the hand, with the balance point at the
junction of the front bolster and handle scale, for a light and easy
blade weight. The rear bolster has a through-tang chamfered lanyard
hole for extra security if needed; this is a serious, tough working
knife that will keep an hold an incredible cutting edge.
I wanted a fully protective and secure sheath for this knife, so
I designed one that has a foldover flap secured with an
all-stainless steel snap for no corrosion worries. The flap has a
formed and stitched boss on the inside that engages with the
forefinger location on the knife, so that the knife can't come out
of the sheath unless the flap is opened, even if upside down. This
is critical with a narrow blade and handle, and good insurance if
the owner takes a tumble or bump in the bush. The sheath is made
entirely of heavy leather shoulder, hand-stamped and tooled with a
fine basketweave pattern, stitched with brown polyester for
durability. The belt loop will accommodate up to a 2.75" wide belt,
and is double row stitched for extra security. The sheath is dyed a
bison brown and sealed against the elements.
A classic and tough working tool in a great useful design
Copyright 1996-2024 by The Jay Fisher Company. All rights reserved. Federal copyright law prohibits unauthorized reproduction by any means and imposes fines up to $25,000 for each violation.
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