A6 Dress Flipper with Blackwood Carbon Fiber, Zirconium, and Timascus (Ceramic IKBS) - SG2 Damascus San Mai

Product Description for A6 Dress Flipper with Blackwood Carbon Fiber, Zirconium, and Timascus (Ceramic IKBS) - SG2 Damascus San Mai

Maker: Van Heerden & Thorburn (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 106753
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.75 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.60 in.
Total length: 8.30 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.38 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.15 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.15 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.05 in.
Item weight: 5.40 oz.
Shipment weight: 6 oz.
Blade: San mai damascus blade with an SG2 powdered metallurgical stainless steel core (Hrc 63-64)
Bolster: Zirconium with Timascus pivot collars
Handle: Blackwood carbon fiber set on anodized titanium liners
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 together, they make 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 Middi 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 stainless damascus san mai. A central bar of Takefu SG2 powdered metallurgical stainless steel is surrounded by alternating layers of stainless steel and nickel. At Hrc 63-64, this folder has among the best edge holding of any A2 knife ever made. The resulting damascus is high contrast and immediately captivating. The linear damascus reveals Thorburn's complex, super-clean hand grind. The flats are mirror polished, nearly hiding the pattern. The blade is hollow ground for an easy to maintain edge.
Blackwood carbon fiber scales are set on anodized titanium liners. The liners surround a carbon fiber backbar. The scales meet perfectly with heat colored zirconium bolsters. Zirconium is a transitional metal that is primarily mined in South Africa and Australia. It is resistant to corrosion and scuffing. Custom Timascus titanium damascus pivot collars surround the custom zirconium pivot. The 3D machined zirconium pocket clip is mounted for right-side, tip-up carry.
Excellent work throughout!


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