TF-3 Front Flipper with White Paper Micarta and Timascus (Ceramic IKBS)

Product Description for TF-3 Front Flipper with White Paper Micarta and Timascus (Ceramic IKBS)

Maker: Francois du Toit (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 105574
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.30 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.20 in.
Total length: 8.00 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.00 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.14 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.13 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.05 in.
Item weight: 4.60 oz.
Shipment weight: 7.2 oz.
Blade: RWL-34 stainless steel with a hand rubbed satin finish (Hrc 62)
Bolster: Timascus
Handle: White paper Micarta set on anodized titanium liners
Sheath: Box
Style: Folding front flipper liner lock with ceramic IKBS
Description: Francois du Toit was born (in 1982) and raised in De Aar, South Africa. He developed the skills needed to improvise and work with his hands at an early age. He worked in the construction industry until April 2019 when he met a well known knifemaker from the area, Deon Nel. Deon Nel guided Francois through the basics, from grinding blades to providing an excellent fit and finish on knives. Like Deon, Francois has a tremendous attention to detail with an exceptional fit and finish. He later met Anton van der Westhuizen who introduced him to the art of making custom folding knives. He joined the Cape Knifemaker's Guild in September 2019 with the intention of providing the highest quality custom knives he could produce. He prefers creating knives with his hands and currently uses no CNC machines in his process.
This TF-4 Front Flipper has a perfectly centered blade with silky-smooth, drop shut action. The inobtrusive front flipper opening is tremendously easy to use for quick deployment and does not get caught on things in your pocket. 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. The knife can be opened using the index finger or thumb.
The blade is hand ground RWL-34 stainless steel with a hand rubbed satin finish. RWL-34 is a premium powder metallurgy cutlery steel manufactured by ERASTEEL in Söderfors, Sweden. Because it is made from rapidly solidified powders, the microstructure of the steel is much more uniform. This gives the steel much higher strength and resistance to cracks and chips. The blade is hollow ground for an easy to maintain edge.
Handle scales are ivory paper Micarta fit in a perfect arc to Timascus titanium damascus bolsters. Bronze anodized titanium liners surround a matching ivory paper Micarta backbar. The 3D machined Timascus pocket clip is mounted for right-side, tip-up carry.
Excellent work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available