A6 Middi Premium with Damasteel, Zircu-ti, and Westinghouse Micarta (Ceramic IKBS)

Product Description for A6 Middi Premium with Damasteel, Zircu-ti, and Westinghouse Micarta (Ceramic IKBS)

Maker: Van Heerden & Thorburn (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 105776
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.10 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.10 in.
Total length: 7.25 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.17 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.11 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.11 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.06 in.
Item weight: 3.60 oz.
Shipment weight: 5.2 oz.
Blade: Stainless damascus forged by Damasteel in Sweden
Bolster: Zircu-ti with Damasteel stainless damascus custom pivot
Handle: Antique Westinghouse Micarta set on anodized titanium liners
Sheath: Zipper pouch
Style: Linerlock flipper with ceramic IKBS bearing pivot
Description: South African knifemakers André Thorburn and André van Heerden create exceptional folders at a tremendously high skill level. When they collaborate together, they make A2 knives. The A6 Middi is the midsize version of the standard A6. It is a perfect compromise of feeling great in the hand and easy to carry in the pocket! Very few A2 Premium knives are made each year. This knife was kept in a private collection since it was made in 2019. It is in brand new condition and by all appearances it could have been made yesterday!
The blade is perfectly centered and the action is silky-smooth -- easily opened with one hand using the discreet and ambidextrous flipper toggle. It uses the 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 special A6 Middi 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 Draupner pattern stainless damascus forged in Sweden by Damasteel. The high contrast pattern immediately grabs attention. The broad leaf-shaped blade provides a particularly dramatic canvas and shows Thorburn's grinding skills at their best. The flats are polished, nearly hiding the pattern.
Handle scales are antique Westinghouse Micarta. This Micarta was developed in 1910 by Westinghouse Electric Corporation as an industrial thermo-set laminate for electrical insulation. This light toned Micarta was lost in a warehouse and only recently discovered. The top shows the beautiful yellowing with age that makes this Micarta so captivating. True antique Westinghouse Micarta has become exceedingly rare. Zircu-ti bolsters are perfectly fit to the antique Micarta scales. The custom external pivot is solid Damasteel. Blue anodized titanium liners surround a Zircu-ti backbar. The Damasteel pocket clip is mounted for right-side, tip-up carry.
Excellent work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available