HI-04 Front Flipper with Copper Dark Matter FatCarbon and Engraved Titanium (Ceramic IKBS) - M390

Product Description for HI-04 Front Flipper with Copper Dark Matter FatCarbon and Engraved Titanium (Ceramic IKBS) - M390

Maker: Helgard & Ida Mostert (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 107900
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.80 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.75 in.
Total length: 8.70 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.06 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.12 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.09 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.04 in.
Item weight: 4.40 oz.
Shipment weight: 6.8 oz.
Blade: Hand ground, satin finished M390 stainless steel
Bolster: Titanium - scroll engraved by Ida Mostert
Handle: Copper Dark Matter FatCarbon set on anodized titanium liners
Sheath: Leather storage pouch
Style: Linerlock front flipper with IKBS bearing pivot
Description: Meeting husband and wife team Helgard and Ida Mostert at the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa show was a real pleasure. Renowned South African knifemaker Andre Thorburn had been telling me about his friend Helgard for the past several months. For the past year or so, Andre had been showing Mostert many of his tricks. I was very excited to see his work in person and I wasn't disappointed. Given the exquisite level of work, perhaps it wasn't surprising the Helgard and Ida took home an award for Best Working Folding Knife at the 2022 show. Over the last year, it has been exciting to watch their work develop.
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. Helgard created this special folder 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 drop point blade is hand ground M390 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 Copper Dark Matter FatCarbon, set on anodized titanium liners. Titanium bolsters are meticulously hand engraved with scroll engraving by Ida Mostert. The engraving is beautifully done. A black G-10 backspacer keeps the knife light, yet strong. The 3D machined titanium pocket clip is mounted for right-side, tip-up carry.
Exceptional work throughout from a husband and wife team that is sure to make a big impact.


Availability: Not currently available