L44 Compact Flipper with Marbled Carbon Fiber and Timascus (Ceramic IKBS)

Product Description for L44 Compact Flipper with Marbled Carbon Fiber and Timascus (Ceramic IKBS)

Maker: André E. Thorburn (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 98517
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.30 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.20 in.
Total length: 7.75 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.95 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.14 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.13 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.06 in.
Item weight: 4.00 oz.
Shipment weight: 5.4 oz.
Blade: Satin finished Bohler M390 stainless steel, hardened to 59 Hrc
Bolster: Timascus
Handle: Marbled carbon fiber
Sheath: Fleece lined Cordura pouch
Style: Ceramic IKBS flipper folding liner lock
Description: South African knifemaker André Thorburn creates an exceptional folder. The L44 Compact is a smaller version of Andre's renowned Model 44 Flipper. The blade is plenty long to get most any task done, yet the smaller size makes much easier to keep this knife close at hand.
The blade is perfectly centered and has silky-smooth action. The flipper opening is easy to use for quick deployment. When combined with the IKBS ball bearing system, the action is exceptional! The Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS) was originally designed to fit balisong knives and uses ball bearings to create exceptional action with no blade play. Thorburn created this flipper with ceramic ball bearings. Generally IKBS bearings are made either from tool steel or from stainless steel. Stainless steel can wear away, resulting in uneven action over time. Tool steel bearings can oxidize making the action rough. Ceramic bearings are the best of all worlds. Extremely hard and wear resistant, they are also inert and will not oxidize. The action is as smooth as a knife gets!
The clip point M390 stainless steel blade is differentially finished to emphasize his clean grind lines. 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 marbled carbon fiber that has been nicely polished. Jimping on the thumb ramp provides a comfortable, secure grip. The gently rounded handle feels sturdy and fills out the hand perfectly. The bolster is made from titanium damascus forged by Timascus. The intricate coloring offers excellent contrast to the marbled carbon fiber. Titanium liners have been fileworked and differentially anodized with light blue flats and bronze inside the bevels. The machined titanium pocket clip is mounted for right-handed, tip-up carry. A ceramic ball bearing set in the pocket clip makes it particularly effective.
Excellent fit and finish throughout!


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