L44 Flipper with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber and Engraved Zirconium with Silver Inlay (Ceramic IKBS)

Product Description for L44 Flipper with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber and Engraved Zirconium with Silver Inlay (Ceramic IKBS)

Maker: André E. Thorburn (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 97161
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.80 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.60 in.
Total length: 8.80 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.12 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.17 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.16 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.07 in.
Item weight: 5.80 oz.
Shipment weight: 6.4 oz.
Blade: Differentially finished Bohler M390 stainless steel, hardened to 59 Hrc
Bolster: Zirconium engraved and inlaid with fine silver by Julien Marchal
Handle: Silver strike carbon fiber
Sheath: Cordura pouch
Style: Ceramic IKBS front flipper style folding liner lock
Description: South African knifemaker André Thorburn creates an exceptional folder. The blade is perfectly centered with silky smooth action -- easily opened with one hand using the discreet and ambidextrous flipper toggle. The blade uses the IKBS (Ikoma Korth Bearing System) pivot system. This mechanism, which was originally designed to fit balisong knives, 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. Andre is a master of the IKBS pivot and the action is as smooth as a knife gets!
The blade is formed from M390 stainless steel, a super-steel created by Bohler in Austria. It takes an incredibly sharp edge and holds onto it due to its 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 silver strike carbon fiber that have been nicely domed and polished. This variation of lightning strike carbon fiber uses silver toned wire (rather than copper) woven through the carbon strands. Jimping on the thumb ramp provides a comfortable, secure grip. The gently rounded handle feels sturdy and fills out the hand perfectly.Zirconium bolsters are deeply engraved and inlaid with silver accents by Julien Marchal. Belgium-born artist Julien Marchal studied engraving and gun making at Léon Mignon Liège in Belgium and now lives in South Africa. The scroll engraving and fine silver inlay shows his tremendous attention to detail and elegant designs. The inclusion of silver inlay makes the scrollwork exceptionally dramatic. Zirconium is a transitional metal that is primarily mined in South Africa and Australia. It is highly resistant to corrosion and scuffing. The zirconium has a tremendous iridescence that is extremely enticing. Titanium liners sit against red fiber spacers and have been fileworked and differentially anodized with light blue flats and purple inside the bevels. The machined titanium pocket clip with ceramic retention ball is mounted for right-handed, tip-up carry.
Exceptional fit and finish throughout!
BladeGallery.com is proud to be the exclusive distributor and recommended repair shop in the United States for André Thorburn's knives!


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