L51 Compact Flipper With Lava Flow FatCarbon (Ceramic IKBS) – M390

Product for L51 Compact Flipper with Lava Flow FatCarbon (Ceramic IKBS) – M390

Maker: André E. Thorburn (click to see more by this maker)

Price: $1,050.00

Item num: 107821

*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.40 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.20 in.
Total length: 7.70 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.94 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.15 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.13 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.06 in.
Item weight: 3.60 oz.
Shipment weight: 6.2 oz.
Blade: Differentially finished premium M390 stainless steel, hardened to 61 Hrc
Handle: 3D contoured carbon fiber with Lava Flow FatCarbon inlays
Sheath: Cordura zipper pouch
Style: Ceramic IKBS flipper with locking liner

: South African knifemaker André Thorburn creates an exceptional folder. His most popular folder of all time is the iconic L51 Flipper. The L51 Compact is a more pocket-friendly version of the L51 Flipper. The slightly smaller size and light weight (only 3.6 oz!) make this a very easy knife to keep close at hand. The blade is perfectly centered, with silky-smooth, drop-shut 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. This special folder is 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. Andre is a master of IKBS and this is as smooth as it knife gets!
The blade is hand ground M390 stainless steel, a super-steel created by Bohler in Austria. M390 takes an incredibly sharp edge and holds onto it due to its high concentration of vanadium and chromium carbides. Its unique powdered 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.
Handle scales are carbon fiber with Lava Flow FatCarbon bowtie inlays. The external pivot and pivot collar are heat colored zirconium. Jimping on the thumb ramp aids grip. The flipper doubles as a front guard that keeps your hand from sliding forward onto the blade. The gently rounded and 3D contoured handle feels sturdy and fills your hand perfectly. It is completed with differentially anodized, fileworked titanium liners that elegantly contrast against the scales and carbon fiber backspacer. The 3D machined titanium pocket clip is mounted for right-side, tip-up carry and features a ceramic ball for excellent pocket retention.
Exceptional fit throughout.
BladeGallery.com is proud to be the exclusive distributor and recommended repair shop in the United States for André Thorburn’s knives!

Availability: In stock. Usually ships in 1-2 business days