L36M Flipper with Mother of Pearl and Engraved Zirconium (Ceramic IKBS)

Product Description for L36M Flipper with Mother of Pearl and Engraved Zirconium (Ceramic IKBS)

Maker: André E. Thorburn (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 103212
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.80 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.75 in.
Total length: 8.75 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.09 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.14 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.13 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.06 in.
Item weight: 5.60 oz.
Shipment weight: 7.4 oz.
Blade: Differentially finished Bohler M390 stainless steel, hardened to 61 Hrc
Bolster: Engraved zirconium with white gold inlays
Handle: Premium whitelip mother of pearl set on titanium liners
Sheath: Padded pouch
Style: Ceramic IKBS flipper style folding liner lock
Description: South African knifemaker André Thorburn creates an exceptional folder. The blade is perfectly centered with silky-smooth action. The flipper opening is tremendously 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. This special folder is made 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. Andre is a master of the IKBS pivot and the action is as smooth as a knife gets!
The blade is formed from M390 stainless steel, a super-steel created by Bohler in Austria. M390 takes an incredibly sharp edge and holds on to it due to its high concentration of vanadium and chromium carbides. Its unique powdered 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 hand hollow ground for an easy to maintain edge.
Handle scales are formed from premium whitelip mother of pearl. The pure white mother of pearl has tremendous multi-color flash. Jimping on the thumb ramp provides a comfortable, secure grip. The gently rounded handle feels sturdy and fills the palm perfectly.
Zirconium bolsters are meticulously engraved by Julien Marchal. Belgium-born artist Julien Marchal studied engraving and gun making at Léon Mignon Liège in Belgium and now lives in South Africa. The detailed engraving is inlaid with white gold accents. Zirconium is a transitional metal that is primarily mined in South Africa and Australia. It is highly resistant to corrosion and scuffing. Anodized and finely fileworked titanium liners surround a zirconium backbar. Like the bolsters, the backbar is engraved and inlaid with white gold accents. The 3D machined titanium pocket clip with ceramic retention ball is mounted for right-side, tip-up carry.
Excellent work throughout!
BladeGallery.com is proud to be the exclusive distributor and recommended repair shop in the United States for André Thorburn's knives!


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