Zeta Custom Knife
"Zeta" Fine Handmade Custom Knife
- Size: Length overall: 8.7" (22.1 cm), Blade Length at edge: 4.0" (10.2 cm), Thickness: .175" (4.4 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 7.9 oz. (224 grams) Sheath: 4.1 oz. (116 grams)
- Blade: ATS-34 high molybdenum martensitic stainless
steel blade, T3 deep cryogenically treated with triple tempering to
58 HRC
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished
- Handle: Green Moss Agate Gemstone (India)
- Sheath: Hand-carved leather shoulder inlaid with green rayskin
- Knife: This custom knife was made for a great
client, to his specifications. Zeta is the sixth letter of
the Greek alphabet, and my Zeta pattern is a very straightforward
knife, a linear form, surprisingly solid and smooth, clean, and
consistent. This is a great straight knife, without a lot of curves,
a workhorse of a knife that is made fine enough for collection, but
incredibly tough and durable. The knife has an extremely strong
spine supporting a razor keen single bevel cutting edge, and a tough
point. The blade is fully fileworked with a bold tri-shield pattern
for improved grip. I made it with a bit extra ricasso length
(between the front bolster and the cutting edge) as an increased
margin of safety for the hand, since it's incredibly sharp.
- The steel I chose for this knife is
ATS-34 high molybdenum martensitic stainless
steel, super-tough and wear-resistant. When properly
treated, it's a dependable, reliable workhorse of high corrosion resistance,
incredible toughness and extremely high wear
resistance. The high chromium of ATS-34 along with the high
carbon and extremely high molybdenum results in profuse
combination chromium-molybdenum
carbides, for excellent wear
resistance. When properly treated, the steel forms a
tremendous amount of eta-carbides in deep cryogenic cycle,
which are initiation points for primary carbides developed
in tempering. To bring this steel to its zenith, I used 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
long. The result of this is an incredibly wear-resistant
blade that has extremely high carbide development, fine
grain, and extremely high corrosion resistance. 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, a high
chromium-molybdenum hypereutectoid stainless steel alloy
tool steel at its very
finest advanced condition.
- 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. The front
bolsters are rounded at the faces, the rear
bolsters are wide and flat, for a good feel and
counterbalance in the palm.
- The handle scales of this knife were
chosen by my client, and they are a very tough, incredibly
durable agate that I love to use, Indian Green Moss Agate.
This is a hard agate, taking and holding a vitreous polish,
and I chose scales that have plenty of detail, with areas of
white and clear, with threads of green running throughout.
This is a stone that has been used and treasured for
centuries. Magnification brings out even more detail than
the macro photos below. Very little can abrade this agate,
and it will literally outlast the rest of the knife.
- The knife feels super-tough and solid in the
hand, a shank of ready steel and finely honed edge. The
extended ricasso gives a good margin of safety on the
smooth, straight handle. This is a knife that is eager to
work, and up to any task!
- Sheath: My client requested a commensurate
sheath, so I chose 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, and I hand-carved
inlay pockets to accommodate 10 inlays of green rayskin. This is a
very tough material, actually interlocking bone, my most durable
natural skin. The deep and protective medium brown dyed sheath is stitched with nylon
and sealed with lacquer for longevity.
- A very tough and durable beautiful custom knife, begging to be used.
Thanks, B H.!
Jay,
Today I have yet another Jay Fisher knife in my collection! The second Zeta just arrived, and I
am once again awestruck by your attention to detail. The mirror polish of the ATS34 steel seems to
defy certain unrepealable physical laws of reflection, especially with the aggressive hollow grind.
Gorgeous! And I love the detailed file work. As a working knife, I can tell that the extended ricasso
combined with the file work will give an ideal purchase and balance in the hand. It feels like it
almost wants to do the work for me. Also, fantastic choice on the green moss agate handle! Just what
I had hoped for with the fields of clear and white overlaid with green strands. Simply stunning!
And I'm glad you chose the green rayskin inlays for the sheath. What a pristine visual duo the knife
and sheath make together. I could keep gushing about this knife well into the afternoon, but I mainly
just wanted to say thank you once again for crafting such an amazing functional work of art for me.
I look forward to the next order with you. Please keep up the great work!
Sincerely,
B. H.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos