A6 Flipper with Damacore and Black Timascus (Ceramic IKBS)

Product Description for A6 Flipper with Damacore and Black Timascus (Ceramic IKBS)

Maker: Van Heerden & Thorburn (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 101353
*** 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): 1.36 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.14 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.12 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.03 in.
Item weight: 5.40 oz.
Shipment weight: 7 oz.
Blade: Damacore san mai forged from stainless steels by Damasteel
Handle: Black Timascus
Sheath: Padded pouch
Style: Folding liner lock with ceramic IKBS bearing pivot
Description: South African knifemakers André Thorburn and André van Heerden create exceptional folders at a tremendously high skill level. When they collaborate, they create A2 knives. Very few A2 Premium knives are made each year.
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 IKBS (Ikoma Korth Bearing 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 Premium 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 blade is made from high performing Damacore stainless damascus san mai forged by Damasteel in Sweden. This exciting steel combines a high performing core of nitrogen based N11X, surrounded by alternating outer layers of stainless damascus (forged from RWL34 and PMC27 martensitic stainless steels). N11X has a comparable composition to nitrogen based Vanax SuperClean which is known for having both high wear resistance and high toughness against chipping or cracking. The broad leaf-shaped blade provides a particularly dramatic canvas and shows Thorburn's grinding skills at their best. The flats are polished, nearly hiding the pattern.
The scales are formed from heat colored Black Timascus. The custom pivot, back spacer, and pocket clip are all stainless damascus forged by Damasteel in Sweden. Titanium liners have been anodized blue to match the scales. The 3D machined Damasteel pocket clip is mounted for right-handed, tip-up carry.
Exceptional work from these incredible makers!


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