A11 Front Flipper with Purple Haze FatCarbon (Ceramic IKBS)

Product Description for A11 Front Flipper with Purple Haze FatCarbon (Ceramic IKBS)

Maker: Van Heerden & Thorburn (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 103596
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.60 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.40 in.
Total length: 8.10 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.03 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.12 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.11 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.05 in.
Item weight: 3.80 oz.
Shipment weight: 4.2 oz.
Blade: Differentially finished M390 stainless steel (Hrc 61)
Bolster: Zirconium fittings
Handle: Purple Haze FatCarbon
Sheath: Padded pouch
Style: Folding liner lock with ceramic IKBS
Description: South African knifemakers André Thorburn and André van Heerden create exceptional folders. When they work together, they create A2 knives. The new A11 front flipper features an ergonomic design with bold, modernistic curves.
The blade is perfectly centered with silky smooth, drop shut action -- easily opened with one hand using the discreet and ambidextrous flipper toggle. It runs on an 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 A11 Front 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 inobtrusive front flipper tab is easy to use with either the index finger or thumb and won't get caught on things in the pocket.
The blade is formed from M390 premium 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.
Handle scales are formed from Purple Haze FatCarbon. Jimping on the thumb ramp aids grip. The gently rounded handle feels sturdy and fills the hand perfectly. The custom pivot and collar are made from heat colored zirconium. The handle is completed with blue anodized titanium liners surrounding a carbon fiber backspacer. The ultra-light titanium pocket clip is mounted for tip-up, right-side carry.
Excellent work throughout!
BladeGallery.com is proud to be the exclusive distributor and recommended repair shop in the United States for A2 Knives!


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