A6 Puzzle Piece Flipper with SG2 San Mai Damascus and FatCarbon (Ceramic IKBS)

Product Description for A6 Puzzle Piece Flipper with SG2 San Mai Damascus and FatCarbon (Ceramic IKBS)

Maker: Van Heerden & Thorburn (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 100680
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.60 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.60 in.
Total length: 8.40 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.35 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.14 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.13 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.05 in.
Item weight: 5.40 oz.
Shipment weight: 7.0 oz.
Blade: San mai damascus blade with an SG2 powdered metallurgical stainless steel core (Hrc 63-64)
Handle: Titanium frame with puzzle piece FatCarbon inlays
Sheath: Premium stingray skin zipper pouch
Style: Ceramic IKBS flipper with locking liner
Description: South African knifemakers André Thorburn and André van Heerden create exceptional folders. When they work together, they create A2 knives. A2 collaborated on this knife with French designer Tashi Bharucha! Tashi's bold, modernistic curves are readily apparent, and combined with A2's acute attention to detail, the results are a precision made piece with artful execution!
The blade is perfectly centered with silky smooth action -- easily opened with one hand using the discreet and ambidextrous flipper toggle. It 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. Thorburn and van Heerden created this special A6 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 blade is made from stainless damascus san mai. A central bar of Takefu SG2 powdered metallurgical stainless steel is surrounded by alternating layers of stainless steel and nickel. At Hrc 63-64, this folder has among the best edge holding of any A2 knife ever made. The resulting damascus is high contrast and immediately captivating. The linear damascus reveals Andre's complex, super-clean hand grind. The flats are mirror polished, nearly hiding the pattern. The blade is hollow ground for an easy to maintain edge.
Titanium handle scales have been meticulously inlaid with puzzle piece sections of arctic blue FatCarbon. Jimping on the thumb ramp aids grip. The gently rounded handle feels sturdy and fills out the hand perfectly. Titanium liners have been anodized blue. The custom pivots are turned from Damasteel. The handle is completed with a carbon fiber backspacer. The zirconium pocket clip is mounted for right-handed, tip-up carry.
Excellent work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available