Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

"Arctica" Tactical Combat, Counterterrorism CSAR, Survival Knife

• Size: Length overall: 12.75" (32.4 cm), Blade Length: 7.0" (17.8 cm), Thickness: .254" (6.5 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 1 lb., 4.0 oz. (567 grams), Sheath (with extender, accessory package, HULA and Maglite): 1 lb., 9 oz. (709 grams)
• Blade: ATS-34 High Molybdenum Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C59, Bead Blasted
• Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Bead Blasted
• Handle: Blue and Black G10 Fiberglass/Epoxy Laminate Composite
• Sheath: Locking, Black Kydex, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Polypropylene and Nylon belt loop extender with Firesteel/Magnesium fire starter, Fine DMT diamond pad sharpener
• HULA (Holder, Universal, Lamp, Articulating): Welded and machined 304 high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel, 5052H32 corrosion-resistant, high strength aluminum alloy, 6AL4V titanium alloy, Maglite XL100 series flashlight
• Knife: Here is one of the absolute toughest, most durable knives I make for combat, rescue, emergency response, and survival. If you are looking for the ultimate survival, combat, counterterrorism and emergency response, and crisis-curing knife and accessory package, here it is. The Arctica is named for rigid and unyielding ice breaker-styled geometries of ships that clear the arctic shipping lanes and the name of an ancient continent formed early in the earth's age in what is now the Canadian and Siberian shields. This combination of high alloy steel thickness, carefully executed curves, and a strong and substantial handle is what I call "the PJLT on steroids." Since my PJLT is my most popular design of knife, and since it has a proven combat and tactical search and rescue heritage with our nation's top military rescue service (United States Air Force Pararescuemen), it was the inspiration for this next generation of incredibly durable knives. The Arctica is larger, thicker, heavier, and stronger than the PJLT. This Arctica starts with a high alloy ATS-34 high molybdenum, high chromium martensitic stainless steel blade, deeply and accurately hollow ground, with a thick and meaty spine. ATS-34 is a very tough steel, which means it has extremely high resistance to fracture, even at high hardness. I tempered this knife to 59HRC, so the blade will be as wear-resistant as possible, while being extremely tough and reliable. Another added characteristic of ATS-34 is that it has a very high tempering temperature, so it is a true "hot work" stainless steel that will not change temper unless the blade temperature exceeds 1000° Fahrenheit! This means that this knife is also extremely heat resistant, keeping its temper in the most unthinkable of exposures. The tanto point is a complex one, with an aggressive curve in the point belly, and plenty of thickness at the secondary point for bearing down. The spine has a two-thirds length top swage, which decreases the point cross sectional thickness without sacrificing strength. The blade has over two inches of my Hammerhead deep cutting serrations, combining hollow ground and chisel ground geometries for a aggressive cutting action with little hanging or snagging. I fileworked the entire knife blade and tang with an assertive pattern and the tang is fully tapered for balance, yet thick and strong at the butt. The knife is bolstered with substantial, multi-pinned 304 high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel bolsters that are zero-care and bead blasted for a low key, non-glare, all-business finish. The bolsters are heavy, thick, and stout, and the rear bolster has a 5/16" through-tang chamfered lanyard hole for extra security if needed. The dovetailed bolsters lock and bed a pair of black and blue G10 fiberglass reinforced epoxy laminate composite handle scales, which are secured with 11 beefy 1/8" diameter 304 stainless steel pins and bead-blasted for a good tooth and texture that is comfortable to grip and simple to maintain. The knife feels incredibly robust in the hand, in either forward or reverse grip style, and the front and rear quillons lock the hand into the handle with unsurpassed security. The balance point is exactly at the forefinger location, and the thumb is comfortably drawn to the thumb rise for great control.
• Sheath: The sheath is a professional assembly, frankly, the best tactical sheath and accessory package made in the world. It's also an example of my commitment to making the finest combat tactical, and rescue knives and sheaths on the planet. It starts with double thickness (.125") kydex (methyl acrylate and polyvinylchloride), hot-formed over an  aluminum welt frame of 5052 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy in H32 hardness. The body and welts are secured with bead blasted and slotted 304 stainless steel Chicago screws for the ultimate in durability with no care and no glare. The sheath is one of my long-proven positively locking waterproof models, with all stainless steel locking mechanism and components for the ultimate in reliability and trustworthiness. Even the machine screws are stainless steel. The sheath can be worn in any position, even upside down when worn with the die-formed high alloy aluminum belt loops (included). The belt loops can be located in several positions along the welt frame and are reversible for a variety of wear options.
• Accessories: This knife and sheath is made complete with my ultimate accessory package, and I included my Ultimate survival, CSAR sheath belt loop extension accessories with outstanding and critical features and devices. The polypropylene accessory is waterproof, durable, and extremely stout, and lowers the locking knife sheath to be worn in a more traditional belt position with the knife handle at the hip. The extension is mounted with counter bored and dressed 304 stainless steel straps and stainless steel socket head cap screws attached to the existing stainless Chicago screws, and the assembly is stiffened by multiple zigzag nylon stitching to prevent the extension from folding, bending, or collapsing when the knife is extracted from the sheath. The belt loop is 2.5 inches wide for the widest of belts, and has a top placement shock cord with snap retention to prevent the knife handle from flopping around during active movements. Even the dot snap assembly is all stainless steel. The shock cord is not for retention of the knife; this is done with the stainless steel sheath lock. At the lower back of the extension I've included a custom fit pocket for a DMT (Diamond Machining Technology) Mini-Sharp diamond-nickel abrasive hone, to bring up the cutting edge in the field with ease, even on this high alloy wear resistant blade. These are great tools that can re-sharpen or just touch up even the hardest tool steel edges, as they are surface-bonded with diamond abrasives. The pocket for this tool is situated at the sheath back and against the body, so the sharpener can not be removed unless the sheath is off the body and the industrial strength Velcro closure is open. I also added a specially modified critical survival component to this accessory: the Firesteel/Magnesium block with custom fittings. These blocks are waterproof and durable, with soft magnesium that can be easily shaved off with the knife blade, and a Firesteel striker to ignite the magnesium shavings when placed into tinder to start a fire. A unique addition to this block is the stainless steel rod guard. This minimizes the possibility of the Firesteel contacting any other metals and causing accidental sparks and ignition when worn or removed, guards the knife tip (or swage) when the blade is dragged over the Firesteel, helps concentrate and guide the spark direction, and offers a variety of mounting options, besides on the sheath extender's industrial strength Velcro straps. Being all 304 stainless steel, it will not corrode or rust.
• HULA and Maglite XL Flashlight: Included in this professional assembly is my latest offering for field use, the HULA. The Holder, Universal, Lamp, Articulating (HULA), is my answer to a call for not just a backup lamp that I've provided on previous Ultimate Extender packages, but an actual main or key professional grade lamp and mount assembly. The lamp I included is the Maglite XL100, perhaps the most sophisticated programmable flashlight made today, with five modes of operation and infinite power settings. The lamp is a powerhouse of options and longevity, with ultra bright LED technology that is dependable and tough. The only thing the lamp needs is a reliable, adjustable, dependable and corrosion-proof way to mount, use, and carry it on the sheath, so I designed the HULA. This special holder will hold any flashlight that is 1" by 4.75" and also accommodates the Maglite XL200 flashlight that has slightly different options. The holder lamp frame is made of welded 5052H32 high strength corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy, for the highest durability and corrosion resistance combined with low weight This aluminum is suitable for marine (salt water) environments. The lamp is held in custom made socket with a retaining cap that is maintained in a T-slot lock by the elastic tension of replaceable shock cord straps. The T-slot lock can be negotiated even in the dark due to it's simple and clever design and construction. The lamp can be turned operated within the holder, and can even have selected modes while still in the control of the holder. One of the best features of this assembly is my exclusive ball joint and pinch mechanism. This is a very old mechanism, dating back to 200BC, where a ball sits in a dedicated socket, and is held there by the tension of a screw. The ball joint frame, ball, tangs, screw and mounting hardware are all welded 304 high nickel, high chromium stainless steel which is bead blasted for glare reduction. This is a very tough assembly that will probably outlast the knife owner. What it offers is an articulating adjustment, aiming and positioning of the lamp, while still mounted on the knife sheath, wherever the knife sheath is mounted on the body. In the traditional belt line position, the lamp can be aimed at the ground in front of the wearer (great for hiking or movement), or aimed at any object or person in front of the wearer, while freeing the hands for a weapon, tool, or carry. Having the HULA also eliminates the need for a headlamp, a device that has its own limitations. This new development has been highly popular with search and rescue and disaster response teams. Since the lamp can be dimmed infinitely, the setting can allow soft light for subdued movement, and various settings on the lamp can aid in emergencies to signal and draw attention, depending on the program selected. The lamp can even be program-locked to prevent unwanted turning on, even if the switch is operated. If the wearer needs the light in his hand, he simply pulls up on the T-slot locking cap, pulls the lamp from the socket, and replaces the cap so it won't bounce around. I've done my research, and created simply the finest flashlight accessory made in the world today, custom made to mount to my locking sheaths, the best locking sheaths made in the world today. One more important point: the bolt pattern and arrangement allows the HULA to be bolted to eight positions and 16 orientations along the welts of the sheath. Talk about flexibility! There are much more to these accessories; learn about these critical accessories on a special page on my site at this link. Mounting, care, and use instructions are posted there.
• A true professional, top of the line, brutally tough beast of a knife, a combat, rescue, and tactical knife, sheath, and accessory package that is simply the best made. This knife defines robust. Read the testimonials of other Arctica pattern knives I've made below the thumbnail photos just below.

Thanks, S. H.!