Damascus Boot Ground Backlock Folder with Gibeon Meteorite and Pietersite Inlays

Product Description for Damascus Boot Ground Backlock Folder with Gibeon Meteorite and Pietersite Inlays

Maker: Des Horn (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 99673
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.80 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.75 in.
Total length: 8.60 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.75 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.10 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.10 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.05 in.
Item weight: 5.00 oz.
Shipment weight: 6.7 oz.
Blade: Boot ground, cryogenically quenched stainless damascus
Handle: M315 stainless steel with Gibeon meteorite and pietersite inlays, and engraving by Julien Marchal
Sheath: Zipper pouch
Style: Backlock folder
Description: Des Horn is one of the fathers of the South African knife industry. His influence can be clearly seen in other South African's work, but also extends into knives made around the world. Whether put to a daily carry folder or an art knife, his attention to detail and skill is legendary. This Backlock Boot Dagger is an exceptional example of what Des is most famous for!
The boot dagger ground blade is formed from stainless damascus forged by Damasteel in Sweden. This high performing stainless damascus is created using powder metallurgical steel manufacturing to provide excellent edge retention and unmatched beauty. Des hardened the blade then cryogenically quenched it in liquid nitrogen and double tempered it for maximum edge holding, strength, and stain resistance. The boot hollow grind shows off the intricate damascus pattern particularly well.
The blade is perfectly centered and has smooth action. The pivot is the unique internally threaded system developed by Des so that the pivot area shows no pinning at all. The blade is easily opened using the 18K gold thumb dots. The back lock is easy to disengage to release the blade.
The handle is formed from M315 stainless steel. The center of each handle is inlaid with Gibeon Meteorite from Namibia. The Gibeon meteorite landed in Great Namaqualand, Namibia, Africa. It radio carbon dates to over 4 billion years ago. Gibeon fragments are spread over one of the largest strewn fields in the world, measuring 70 miles wide by 230 miles long and have a distinctive pattern known as the Widmanstatten pattern, which is one of the richest and most distinct patterns found in meteorites. The crystalline patterns can only form in the vacuum of space. The large metallic crystals require millions of years of cooling to form from a molten planetary core fragment. It has been estimated that it took about 1000 years for these molten pieces of planetary core to cool by just 1 degree Celsius! Blue pietersite inlays surround the gibeon meteorite inlays and are particularly rare and desirable. Pietersite is a variety of quartz composed naturally of Tiger's Eye, Hawk's Eye and Jasper, and is characterized by an incredible chatoyancy and brilliance of life within the stone. The stone was discovered by Sid Pieters in Windhoek, Namibia, and is nicknamed the tempest stone for its swirling storm-like pattern. Basket weave engraving was meticulously hand done by Belgium-born artist Julien Marchal. Julien studied engraving and gun making at Léon Mignon Liège in Belgium and now lives in South Africa. 24K gold inlay adds a perfect frame to the elegant handle.
Exceptional work throughout!


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