Astarion - by Jay Fisher

JayFisher

JayFisher

Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
385
Here's a new one.

FSAstarionJadeAgate1.jpg

Size: Length overall: 15.25" (38.7 cm), Blade Length: 10" (25.4 cm), Thickness: .250 (.64 cm)

Blade: 440C High Chromium Stainless Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C59, hollow ground and mirror polished

Fittings/Bolsters: 304 Stainless Steel, mirror polished, hand engraved by Jay

Handle: Polished Nephrite Jade and Muliticolored Moss Agate doublet gemstone

Sheath: Ostrich Leg Skin Inlaid in Hand-Tooled 9-10 oz. Leather Shoulder, Latigo Lace bindings

FSAstarionJadeAgate7.jpg


FSAstarionJadeAgate4.jpg


FSAstarionJadeAgate6.jpg


FSAstarionJadeAgateSheathBack.jpg

You can get more details about this knife on my site here.

Thanks for your interest!
 
Beautiful, inspiring work as always. The knife speaks for itself and the sheath is a perfect complement. I love the ostrich leg inlay and have been planning on doing something similar as soon as my skills can support such a project. I think it's got very interesting texture and is one of my favorite materials for a sheath inlay.

Thanks for sharing...
 
Texas Slim said:
Beautiful, inspiring work as always. The knife speaks for itself and the sheath is a perfect complement. I love the ostrich leg inlay and have been planning on doing something similar as soon as my skills can support such a project. I think it's got very interesting texture and is one of my favorite materials for a sheath inlay.

Thanks for sharing...
Click to expand...

Thanks, Slim.
It is cool stuff to work with. Very tough, almost reptilian. Interesting texture for a primitive look, but classy. I wouldn't use it in small inlay pieces, the pattern can be lost. A light coat of wax brings out the luster in the skin.

Jay
 
Beautiful all around. I love the filework on the spine. Really unusual. Sheath is perfect.
Congratulations!
 
Man Jay, you just keep pushing that bar up don't you? Fantastic work as always, and SUPERB control on the filework. That must have taken some time. :) The sheath is fantastic as well. Makes me thing of H.R. Giger for some reason.

Absolutely stunning package. Thanks for sharing.

-d
 
Hey, thanks guys, all around.
Decker, you're right about Giger. It's funny, the first time I ever saw Ostrich leg, I didn't have a clue what it could be. Was it snake, gator, some kind of lizard?
Anyway, I wanted a primitive, yet controlled look. I hope that makes sense. The knife is quite a big piece too. Here's a pic with scale:

FSAstatrionJadeAgateRule.jpg
 
Outstanding piece!! Handle,filework,sheath, all SUPER!!! :eek: :cool:
GREAT PACKAGE!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
The sheath is so inventive that it makes me want to work with you on lots of projects. Its not just the knife being the best it can be, but the sheath too. I think your patrons would be well delighted to let you have more free reign and choices when it comes to construction details of the knife. Then there would be pleasant surprises. Its almost like when I got this one tattoo from my design and it turned out better in the actual finished work than I planned on!
 
ssunfish said:
The sheath is so inventive that it makes me want to work with you on lots of projects. Its not just the knife being the best it can be, but the sheath too. I think your patrons would be well delighted to let you have more free reign and choices when it comes to construction details of the knife. Then there would be pleasant surprises. Its almost like when I got this one tattoo from my design and it turned out better in the actual finished work than I planned on!
Click to expand...

I do love listening to my clients' input. Many knife makers are not rigorous knife users, and I've always been eager to listen to someone whose experience in the field, whether combat, rescue, collection, or in the kitchen can help me to make a better knife.

Many clients, unfortunately, have to keep the work limited because of their budget constraints. So I do make some knives that do not have all the "bells and whistles" like engraving or exotic sheaths, or carving, or high clarity finishes, and detailed filework. I have to limit myself to what works within their budget.

I've even had clients I've had to turn away, because they start subtracting features to make the knife more affordable. When you keep subtracting from an idea to lower the cost, it ends up being a piece that looks like it's "missing something." Does that make sense? And then there comes a point when too much has been subtracted from their original idea, and the knife is not one I would be comfortable making. I wish my work fit everyone's budget, but that's not realistic. When I spend 10-16 hours just on the filework, it's not cost effective to give it away... my accountant would kill me! :)
 
Oh Yeah. I forgot the patron would have to have pretty deep pockets to give you complete free reign. Did you ever hear about Lloyd Hale a maker in the '70's who dropped off the radar? He turned up like 15 years later. The great great grandson of the guy who invented putting whiskey into bottles had made a deal with Lloyd that he would buy all and whatever he made so he would not have to think about the time into the piece or staying in a narrow range of effect. Guess Lloyd got to see how far he could take his knifemaking that way. I would love to see what You would come to with a deal like that, Jay. Though already you have more varied skills and get as much done as anybody who farms out half the embellishment and all the heattreating.
When you said the remains were a knife that looked like it was missing something I imagined a project that looked more than half finished...but looked half hearted..not on purpose or with real intent to make a knife that was all a handmade professionally made knife could and should be. Even though you're not in most customer's range, I still feel that you are more than reasonable considering what your clients receive. A highly functional knife not missing anything to be used and used seriously as a knife and then the extras to make it more than barebones functional into the rehelms of scintilating . You sell excitement!
If you enjoy listening to your clients than you are getting some valuable feedback that goes into your knives. The ancient swordsmiths and the adjcent craftsmen could not get experience and practice in thier craft AND be proficent soldiers and swordsmen as well. Not enough time. They had to listen and work with the sword users to create a functional weapon and to add to the functional aspects of thier works on a continuing basis. So its the classic realtionship between the maker and the user. And theres no design work by people who do not even use knives on your site, is there?. Don't laugh I bet its been done alot elsewhere!
 
ssunfish said:
Oh Yeah. I forgot the patron would have to have pretty deep pockets to give you complete free reign. Did you ever hear about Lloyd Hale a maker in the '70's who dropped off the radar? He turned up like 15 years later. The great great grandson of the guy who invented putting whiskey into bottles had made a deal with Lloyd that he would buy all and whatever he made so he would not have to think about the time into the piece or staying in a narrow range of effect. Guess Lloyd got to see how far he could take his knifemaking that way. I would love to see what You would come to with a deal like that, Jay. Though already you have more varied skills and get as much done as anybody who farms out half the embellishment and all the heattreating.
And theres no design work by people who do not even use knives on your site, is there?. Don't laugh I bet its been done alot elsewhere!
Click to expand...

I have been lucky enough to have some great clients who support what I do in varied ranges. It occurs to me from time to time to make fewer tactcial, combat, and CSAR knives, but I feel it's a great honor that shows just how functional my knives are. That the knives are over there, doing the job, makes me very proud to be a part. I've even got a few very fine clients who commission work for total strangers serving in the military to give to them to use, and to honor their service.

I'm always trying to expand my range of service and skills. In the few years, I've even taken on bronze casting for display and fittings, all done in house, alone.

The thing I'm most thankful for is the great patience of my clients. Sometimes they get frustrated, but one visit to the shop and a look at my order rack usually clears it up for them.
Here's a pic:

OrderRack.jpg

Some of these orders have several knives, up to 5 and 8 knives on a sheet!

Patience comes from my end too. Yesterday, I spent 5.5 hours trying to get a good polish on a handle made of Ruby in Zoisite. The Ruby is very, very hard, and the Zoisite is not. The Ruby will take several more hours this morning, and it may not work up to a suitable finish, and the whole piece might have to be scrapped... ouch.

You really can't play this game without patience.

About the designs: I do get submissions that are downright funny. Not that the designs are impractical or complicated, but usually because they want it done very cheaply. I understand the desire to own fine work, but as one old knifemaker once told me: "Jees. Let me make at least $5.00 an hour!"

Jay
 
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