A6 Classic Flipper with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber and Timascus (Ceramic IKBS) - M390

Product Description for A6 Classic Flipper with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber and Timascus (Ceramic IKBS) - M390

Maker: Van Heerden & Thorburn (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 101352
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.50 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.50 in.
Total length: 8.25 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.33 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.15 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.14 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.03 in.
Item weight: 4.60 oz.
Shipment weight: 5.2 oz.
Blade: Differentially finished premium M390 stainless steel, Hrc 61
Bolster: Heat colored Timascus titanium damascus
Handle: Silver strike carbon fiber set on anodized titanium liners
Sheath: Zipper pouch
Style: Folding liner lock with ceramic IKBS bearing pivot
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 and the action is silky smooth -- easily opened with one hand using the discreet and ambidextrous flipper toggle. It uses the IKBS (Ikoma Korth Bearing System) pivot. 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 Classic 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 formed from premium M390 stainless steel. M390 is a super-steel created by Bohler in Austria. It takes an incredibly sharp edge and holds onto it due to a 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.
Silver strike carbon fiber scales are fit to Timascus titanium damascus bolsters. This variation of lightning strike carbon fiber has aluminum wires traveling through the woven carbon strands. Blue anodized titanium liners surround a silver strike carbon fiber backbar. The custom pivot is made from Damasteel stainless damascus. The 3D machined Timascus pocket clip is mounted for right-handed, tip-up carry.
Excellent work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available