LL06 Flipper with Caramel Westinghouse Micarta, and Engraved Zirconium (Ceramic IKBS) - M390

Product Description for LL06 Flipper with Caramel Westinghouse Micarta, and Engraved Zirconium (Ceramic IKBS) - M390

Maker: Herucus Blomerus (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 103571
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 2.90 in.
Cutting edge length: 2.75 in.
Total length: 7.00 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.87 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.10 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.10 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.04 in.
Item weight: 3.40 oz.
Shipment weight: 5 oz.
Blade: M390 stainless steel with a hand rubbed satin finish
Bolster: Engraved Zirconium
Handle: Antique caramel Westinghouse Micarta set on anodized, hand fileworked titanium liners
Sheath: Padded pouch
Style: Linerlock flipper with ceramic IKBS bearing pivot
Description: This LL06 Flipper was made by South African knifemaker Herucus Blomerus. A resident of Pretoria, Herucus (pronounced 'eh-roo-koos') has been a proud member of the South African Knifemakers Guild since 2005. Ricus' folders combine incredibly smooth action with a high level of fit and finish.
The blade is perfectly centered with silky smooth, drop shut action -- easily opened with one hand using the 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. This special folder was 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.
The drop point blade is hand ground Bohler M390 stainless steel. It is expertly ground by hand and features an heirloom quality hand rubbed satin finish. M390 takes an incredibly sharp edge and holds on to 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.
Rare, antique caramel Westinghouse Micarta handle scales are perfectly fit to heat colored zirconium bolsters. This Micarta was developed in 1910 by Westinghouse Electric Corporation as an industrial thermo-set laminate for electrical insulation. This caramel toned Micarta was lost in a warehouse and only recently discovered. The zirconium bolsters are meticulously hand engraved (showing a leopard pawprint) by Julien Marchal. Belgium-born artist Marchal studied engraving and gun making at Léon Mignon Liège in Belgium and now lives in South Africa. The scales are set on blue anodized, hand fileworked titanium liners. The M390 stainless steel backbar keeps the folder strong. The titanium pocket clip is mounted for right-side, tip-up carry.
Excellent work throughout!


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