A9 Dress Front Flipper with Copper Snakeskin FatCarbon, Zirconium and Super Conductor (Ceramic IKBS) - Stainless Yu-Shoku

Product Description for A9 Dress Front Flipper with Copper Snakeskin FatCarbon, Zirconium and Super Conductor (Ceramic IKBS) - Stainless Yu-Shoku

Maker: Van Heerden & Thorburn (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 107179
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.25 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.20 in.
Total length: 7.50 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.09 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.11 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.09 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.03 in.
Item weight: 4.00 oz.
Shipment weight: 5.8 oz.
Blade: Stainless Yu-Shoku combining mokume cladding with a premium VG-10W stainless steel core (Hrc 60-61)
Bolster: Heat colored zirconium with a zirconium custom pivot and copper niobium super conductor pivot collar
Handle: Copper snakeskin FatCarbon set on anodized titanium liners
Sheath: Rayskin zipper pouch
Style: Linerlock front flipper with ceramic IKBS bearing pivot
Description: South African knifemakers André Thorburn and André van Heerden create exceptional folders. When they work together, they create A2 knives.
The A9 Front Flipper is a midsize version of the standard A3. It is a nice compromise of feeling great in the hand and easy to carry in the pocket!
The blade is perfectly centered with silky smooth, drop shut action -- easily opened with one hand using the discreet and ambidextrous front 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 special A10 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 and won't get caught on things in the pocket.
The blade is hand ground Stainless Yu-Shoku san mai made by Takefu Special Steel in Japan. This san mai features brightly colored brass, copper and stainless steel sides surrounding a VG-10W core. VG-10W achieves excellent wear resistance and chip resistance at 60-61 Hrc. The effect created by the mokume gane sides is captivating!
Handle scales are copper snakeskin FatCarbon. Jimping on the thumb ramp aids grip. The gently rounded handle feels sturdy and fills the hand perfectly. The heat colored zirconium bolster nicely offsets the copper niobium super conductor pivot collar and zirconium pivot. The handle is completed with anodized titanium liners that surround a carbon fiber backspacer. The 3D machined zirconium pocket clip is mounted for tip-up, right-side carry.
Exceptional 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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