A14 Flipper with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber and Zirconium (Ceramic IKBS) - M390 - PROTOTYPE

Product Description for A14 Flipper with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber and Zirconium (Ceramic IKBS) - M390 - PROTOTYPE

Maker: Van Heerden & Thorburn (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 112310
** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind **
Blade length: 3.50 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.40 in.
Total length: 8.00 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.08 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.12 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.11 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.04 in.
Item weight: 3.80 oz.
Shipment weight: 4.6 oz.
Blade: Differentially finished M390 stainless steel (Hrc 61)
Bolster: Zirconium pivot and collar
Handle: Silver strike carbon fiber set on anodized titanium liners
Sheath: Padded pouch
Style: Linerlock flipper with 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 A14 flipper features an ergonomic design that fits perfectly in the hand. The perfectly executed sweeping hollow grinds in the blade complement the handle well. This is the first A14 Flipper prototype that was made.
The blade is perfectly centered with silky smooth, drop shut action -- easily opened with one hand using the 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 A14 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 blade is hand ground 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. The right side of the blade is marked "PROTOTYPE".
Handle scales are silver strike carbon fiber. The custom pivot is heat colored zirconium and is surrounded by a matching heat colored zirconium pivot collar. Jimping on the thumb ramp aids grip. The gently rounded handle feels sturdy and fills the hand perfectly. Blue anodized titanium liners surround a carbon fiber backspacer. The 3D machined zirconium pocket clip is mounted for right-side, tip-up carry.
Excellent work throughout!


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