Product Description for Captain Steller's Bowie (JS Test Knife)

Maker: Aaron Wilburn (Wilburn Forge) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 87951
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 10.12 in.
Total length: 15.25 in.
Blade width: 1.35 in.
Blade thickness: 0.17 in.
Item weight: 12.25 oz.
Shipment weight: 22.32 oz.
Blade: Hand forged 52100 carbon steel with a low temp triple quench and double temper for high performance edge retention
Bolster: Nickel silver fittings with G10 spacers
Handle: Stellar seacow bone with a mammoth ivory butt cap
Sheath: Hand stitched and carved leather sheath
Description: Aaron Wilburn was honored as a ABS Journeyman Smith in June of 2009. When a maker tests to become a journeyman, they create five knives that are the height of their work at the time. These five knives are then judged by established masters to determine if the maker's work is up to snuff. Often, prospective journeymen spend 2-3 times as long creating these five knives as they would generally do, as they know that their work will be poured over by the masters. These five knives are generally considered to be among the most collectable knives of a maker's career. This is one Aaron's five JS presentation knives.
The long, slender clip point blade was differentially heat treated, bringing the edge to critical temperature then oil quenching three times. Many thermal cycles and normalizing steps assure consistent grain structure. The blade was then tempered at 400 degrees twice, for exceptional durability. A cryogenic treatment between tempers enhances the edge holding ability.
The blade was forged to shape from 52100 carbon steel. Many makers and collectors feel that this is the best steel available anywhere for use as a knife blade.
The solid Steller's seacow bone handle forms a very comfortable grip. Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) is an extinct, large sirenian mammal formerly found near the Asiatic coast of the Bering Sea. It was discovered in the Commander Islands in 1741 by the German naturalist Georg Steller, who was traveling with the explorer Vitus Bering. Through an unfortunate combination of being slow, large, and good tasting, by 1768, less than 30 years after it had been discovered, Steller's sea cow was extinct.
The nickel silver guard has G10 spacers that assist the handle to adjust to temperature and humidity changes. The handle is completed with a mammoth ivory butt cap.
The knife is accompanied by a hand stitched leather sheath.
Excellent fit and finish throughout.
Availability: Not currently available