L54 Flipper with Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber and Engraved Zirconium (IKBS)

Product Description for L54 Flipper with Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber and Engraved Zirconium (IKBS)

Maker: André E. Thorburn (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 93148
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 4.00 in.
Total length: 9.25 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.10 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.16 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.15 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.11 in.
Item weight: 6.80 oz.
Shipment weight: 7.6 oz.
Blade: Bohler M390 stainless steel, hardened to 59 Hrc
Bolster: Zirconium inlaid with gold and engraved by Julien Marchal
Handle: Lightning strike carbon fiber
Sheath: Fleece lined Cordura pouch
Style: IKBS flipper style folding liner lock
Description: South African knifemaker André Thorburn creates an exceptional folder. The action on this folder is silky smooth -- easily opened with one hand using the ambidextrous flipper toggle. The blade uses the IKBS (Ikoma Korth Bearing System) pivot system. This mechanism, which was originally designed to fit balisong knives, uses ball bearings to create exceptional action with no blade play.
The M390 stainless steel blade is meticulously hand satin finished in the grinds and mirror polished on the flats. M390 is a super-steel created by Bohler in Austria. It takes an incredibly sharp edge and holds on to it due to its high concentration of vanadium and chromium carbides. Its unique powder metallurgical process also promotes a uniform carbide distribution and clean steel properties, making M390 a popular steel used in surgical cutting instruments and in applications requiring a high finish. It offers excellent corrosion resistance due to its high concentration of Chromium. The blade is hollow ground for an easy to maintain edge.
The scales are lightning strike carbon fiber that have been nicely polished. Extremely rare lightning strike carbon fiber was developed by the military for use in fighter jets. Copper strands are interwoven with the carbon layers.
Jimping on the thumb ramp ensures a secure purchase. The flipper allows for a smooth and fast blade deployment. The scales are rounded for comfort and the handle fills out the hand perfectly. Zirconium bolsters are engraved and inlaid with gold by Julien Marchal. Belgium-born artist Julien Marchal studied engraving and gun making at Léon Mignon Liège in Belgium and now lives in South Africa. Zirconium is a new material to the knifemaking world. It is a transitional metal that is primarily mined in South Africa and Australia. Zirconium is highly resistant to corrosion. Titanium liners sit on red fiber spacers and are hand fileworked and differentially anodized with light blue flats and purple inside the bevels. The pierced titanium pocket clip is mounted for tip-up carry.
Exceptional fit and finish throughout.


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