Integral Sub-Hilt Fighter with Ironwood

Product Description for Integral Sub-Hilt Fighter with Ironwood

Maker: Dave Skinner (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 106840
** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind **
Blade length: 9.80 in.
Cutting edge length: 9.60 in.
Total length: 15.30 in.
Blade height (at heel): 2.27 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.22 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.17 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.07 in.
Item weight: 20.20 oz.
Shipment weight: 34.2 oz.
Blade: 1070 carbon steel with a clay zone heat treatment
Bolster: Integral forge-welded damascus forged from 1070 and 15n20 carbon steels
Handle: Arizona desert ironwood
Sheath: Hand tooled leather custom sheath
Description: I was tremendously pleased to meet bladesmith Dave Skinner at the 2019 Guild Show of Southern Africa. Dave brings a refined eye and tremendous skill at the forge to his knives. Over the years since then, his work has continued to develop and grow.
This Integral Sub-Hilt Fighter is a tremendous knife and is among Dave's masterpieces to date. The 9-3/4 inch blade will handle any task, though this exceptional knife is sure to be the highlight of most any collection.
The blade was hand forged from 1070 carbon steel. The large raised harpoon clip is just short of being fully sharpened. A deep fuller travels along both sides of the knife. Skinner borrowed his heat treatment technique from the world of Japanese swords. Prior to quenching, the spine was coated with clay. This acts as a heat sink, keeping the center of the blade soft and supportive, while the cutting edge become ultra-hard. The transition between the cutting edge and softer steel is called a hamon. Showing tremendous skills, as the hamon approaches the tip, it turns back, fully hardening the clip (allowing it to be fully hardened as well).
The integral bolster is hand forged damascus, forge welded to the blade. This technique has superior structural integrity and requires a particularly talented smith.
The handle is Arizona desert ironwood secured using hand domed pins. Desert ironwood (Olneya tesota) is a rare wood that is only found in the valleys of the Sonoran Desert below 2,500 foot elevation. It is among the most desirable of exotic woods used for knives. The sub-hilt is made from matching damascus.
A hand stitched and tooled leather sheath made by Skinner is included.
Exceptional work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available