A5 Classic with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber and Zirconium (Ceramic IKBS)

Product Description for A5 Classic with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber and Zirconium (Ceramic IKBS)

Maker: Van Heerden & Thorburn (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 97953
Blade length: 2.90 in.
Cutting edge length: 2.75 in.
Total length: 6.75 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.97 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.11 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.10 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.05 in.
Item weight: 3.20 oz.
Shipment weight: 4.2 oz.
Blade: Differentially finished Bohler N690 stainless steel, hardened to 59 Hrc
Bolster: Anodized zirconium
Handle: Silver strike carbon fiber
Sheath: Cordura pouch
Style: Ceramic IKBS with locking liner
Description: South African knifemakers André Thorburn and André van Heerden create exceptional folders. They often collaborate on knives together -- hand building their A2 knives.
The blade is perfectly centered with silky smooth action -- easily opened with one hand using the discreet and ambidextrous flipper toggle. It 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. Thorburn and van Heerden created this special A5 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 action on this flipper is as smooth as a knife gets!
The blade is formed from N690 stainless steel, created by Bohler in Austria. It takes an incredibly sharp edge and holds on to it. Increased toughness gives it better resistance to edge chipping. The blade is hollow ground for an easy to maintain edge.
Handle scales are formed from silver strike carbon fiber and are precisely fit to anodized zirconium bolsters. This variation of lightning strike carbon fiber uses silver toned strands interwoven through the carbon fiber. Blue anodized titanium liners surround a carbon fiber backbar keeping the knife light and fast. The handle is finished with a machined zirconium pocket clip mounted for right-handed, tip-up carry.
Excellent work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available