SPECIFICATIONS:

The name of the knife: BUK 4 knives handmade by the master of the Fomenko Knifes studio, buy to order in Ukraine (Steel - Laminate K390, forged 64-65 HRC)
Knife type: Fixed blade
Brand: Studio of exclusive handmade knives ANDROSHCHUK KNIVES 

Steel brand: K390 tool blade BOHLER powder steel is a new martensitic steel from the Swedish-Austrian concern Bohler-Uddeholm. TO Rostyslav Dozlo
Steel sheet: One-piece, through installation on screed and resin
Blade sharpening angle: Sharpened at 34-35 degrees
Descents: Direct
Reduction: 0.1-0.2 mm
Blade hardness: 64-65 HRC
Overall length: 263mm
Blade length: 135mm
Blade width: 33mm
Blade thickness: 4.0 mm
Handle length: 128 mm
Handle thickness: 24mm
Blade grinding: Blade finish - polishing + sandblasting
Material of bolster (guard) and back: made of stainless steel
Handle material: Bolster stainless steel, micarta, Ironwood (Ironwood), mammoth tooth, binding foam, paracord.
Handle color: Brown
Handle Impregnation: Yes
Handle cover: Yes
Hole for a shoelace (for a lanyard): Yes
Temlyak: Paracord is popular with hikers, extreme hikers, fishermen, and the military. With the help of a strong nylon cord, equipment is fastened, tents and structures are fixed.
Sheath: Genuine leather (Italy) vegetable tanned 4.0 mm, treated with appretura for protection against water and impregnated with protective solutions, fat wax impregnation, stitched with waxed thread. Manual embossing of the invoice. Finish with Apretura. Free suspension

Model: BUK 4 knives handmade by the master of the Fomenko Knifes studio, buy to order in Ukraine (Steel - Laminate K390, forged 64-65 HRC)
Model number: 063
Country of birth: Ukraine
Craftsman: Master Oleksandr Fomenko (Fomenko Knifes), Chuhuyiv, Ukraine Studio of exclusive handmade knives FOMENKO KNIFES
Best use: Multi-purpose: hunting, fishing, cutting, slicing, etc
Knife condition: new
The price is indicated with the sheath.

A sharpened knife is not a cold weapon.

Our knives are very sharp, so be very careful when opening and handling them. We are not responsible for any injuries resulting from the use of our knives.
Our products are intended for legal use only by responsible buyers. We will not sell our products to anyone under the age of 18.

Availability changes regularly, after confirming your order we will notify you of availability or when the item is ready. The product may differ slightly from the one shown in the photo.

Steel K390 for knives: advantages and disadvantages of the alloy

K390 steel from the Austrian company Bohler is considered one of the best for making knives and other cutting tools. This is a tool powder steel designed for the production of stamping tools by the method of cold deformation. It is mainly used for the manufacture of folding and hunting knives.

For the production of kitchen knives, as a rule, it is not used due to the high cost. Knives of the highest price category are made from this metal. But, like other types of steel alloys, the material has its advantages and disadvantages.

Features of K390 alloy
K390 steel is characterized by increased hardness, strength and wear resistance. This is a high-speed steel with high viscosity and resistance to mechanical wear. The special chemical composition ensures high hardness of the material, thanks to which the cutting edge of the blade retains its sharpness for the longest time, even during hard use.

At the moment, the brand is considered one of the best tool steels for cutting tools on the market. In the production process, a homogeneous carbide structure is formed, which guarantees maximum hardness and wear resistance.

It has the following chemical composition:

Carbon (C) – 2.5%. Provides hardness, wear resistance and viscosity. Due to the high carbon content, the edge remains sharp for a long time.
Chromium (Cr) - 4%. Increases density and tensile strength. Provides protection against corrosion, but in this case it is insignificant, since the chromium content is not high. Slightly increases hardness.
Molybdenum (Mo) - 4%. Increases strength, hardness and firing. Promotes corrosion protection.
Silicon (Si) - 0.55%. Deoxidizes steel and increases strength.
Vanadium (V) – 9%. Improves viscosity and strength. Increases resistance to abrasion and rust formation.
Tungsten (W) – 1%. Increases viscosity, strength and firing. Hardness does not change under the influence of elevated temperatures.
Cobalt (Co) – 2%. Increases hardness and strength. Allows hardening at elevated temperatures. Strengthens the positive properties of other elements.
The HRC indicator (hardness value on the Rockwell scale) of this metal varies in the range of 62-66 units. This is one of the best indicators on the cutting tool steel market. Thanks to this hardness, the cutting edge retains its hardness for as long as possible. At the same time, it is quite difficult to sharpen such a hard alloy with household tools.

The material is relatively expensive, so premium segment knives are produced from it. At the moment, steel provides the maximum possible resistance of the cutting edge to abrasive wear. At the same time, high chip resistance and good impact strength are maintained.

Advantages of K390 steel
The main advantages of the Bohler K390 alloy include:

• Increased resistance of the cutting edge to abrasive and other mechanical wear. The closest analogue in terms of this characteristic is the CPM 10V brand, which was previously considered a benchmark, but lost to K390 in other parameters.
• Increased impact toughness due to the presence of a sufficient amount of molybdenum, tungsten and cobalt. According to this characteristic, the metal is 1.5 times higher than CPM 10V.
• Good flexibility for grinding and polishing. This allows you to remove deep risks and other stress concentrators from the surface. The blade and cutting edge can be given an almost mirror-like shine.
• Increased compressive strength. This allows you to make all kinds of stamps, dies, tape knives and other parts.
• Resistance to chip formation. This ensures reliability and a long service life of finished products.
• Homogeneity of the structure. Due to this, the characteristics are stable over the entire area of ​​the blade.
• High hardness - 62-66 HRC. Even with intensive and hard use, the sword remains sharp for a long time.
• Resistance to overheating during heat treatment. Steel withstands long-term heat treatment without deterioration of properties, which guarantees high-quality hardening and calcination.
• Possibility of making blades by forging method. This allows craftsmen to make unique collector's items.
• The possibility of additional improvement of working characteristics in the process of manufacturing finished products. For example, some manufacturers perform additional heat treatment using repeated thermal cycling and cryogenic treatment.

Large knife with K390 steel

Disadvantages of the alloy
Despite the huge number of positive characteristics, the material has some disadvantages:

High cost. Knives of the highest price category are made from this steel. It is used by large manufacturers. Although some private craftsmen produce products from this alloy in small batches. For the production of kitchen knives, as a rule, enyaets is not used.
Low resistance to corrosion. The composition contains quite a lot of carbon and little chromium, so the material can rust. This is a kind of payment for maximum hardness. Therefore, the knife requires proper and regular care.
It is quite difficult to sharpen the edge yourself. The steel is very hard, so it is difficult to sharpen. To do this, you need to use special sharpening tools, such as diamond and elbor bars. The complexity of sharpening is one of the secondary factors of the high cost of finished products.
Risk of injury. When sharp, a knife cuts itself very easily, so you should work with it carefully.
A small selection of models. Only some large manufacturers and private masters make knives from this alloy. At the moment, the company offers the largest number of models

Conclusions and recommendations
Steel K390 is deservedly considered one of the best tool alloys on the market for the production of cutting tools. However, products made of this material cannot be called a good choice for every person. Knives with K390 blades are quite expensive, and the selection of models is small.

Large companies produce products in small batches, and individual craftsmen often produce only to order. Therefore, such products can be recommended to professionals who are familiar with steels and the peculiarities of their operation. Such a blade needs to be properly cared for, otherwise it can become covered with rust and pitting, which often affects not only the appearance, but also the performance characteristics.
The K390 knife should be used carefully, as a damaged edge will be expensive to restore due to the difficulty of resharpening. Otherwise, K390 is an excellent powder steel for making premium quality knives.

Well,  you can buy a Damascus steel knife on  the portal  https://knife.net.ua/  on our website or by contacting us by phone +380961711010.

Happy shopping! We will be glad to see you among our customers!

WHAT ARE MICARTA AND G10 AND HOW ARE THESE COMPOSITE MATERIALS DIFFERENT

For decades, Micarta and G10 composite materials have been undisputed leaders in the knife industry, in particular for the production of handles of various complexity. The materials are distinguished by their availability, ease of production and processing, as well as high strength, wear resistance and unpretentiousness in maintenance. Both materials are composite, based on polymer resin, which is supplemented with layers of different types of captive fabric.

Micarta material is an electrical insulating material consisting of a polymer film (based on cresolaldehyde, phenolaldehyde, xylenolaldehyde resin, or resin from a mixture of phenolic raw materials). It is glued with the help of various electrically insulating papers, fabric (mainly linen of natural or artificial origin), or other materials of a similar structure, there are also options made of fiberglass and carbon fiber. The color of the material depends on the resin and fabric base used for gluing. Micarta is a relatively soft material and requires careful manual handling. Therefore, it is used in the production of handles for more expensive knives.

Micart is registered as a trademark of the American company Industrial Laminates / Norplex, Inc. (Norplex-Micarta). Its domestic analogue can be considered a material called "Getinax", which is mainly used as a basis for printed circuit boards. The material also has a sheet pressed structure, which consists of a paper base with the addition of phenolaldehyde or epoxy resin impregnation.

Linen-based micarta has a more attractive optical effect when sanding the fibers. After grinding, the surface can be polished or sandblasted. In the first option, the surface of the material will be smooth, silky, warm and pleasant to the touch. And in the second, the material becomes rough and has a matte shade, in addition, it is securely held in the hand and does not slip.

Main characteristics of Micarta:

• increased water resistance;
• excellent resistance to temperature changes;
• strength to mechanical processing;
• dense structure that does not absorb odors;
• the micro-relief of the material does not slip in the hand even when the surface is wet;
• tight fit to the blade, which leaves no gaps at all and prevents product residues and harmful microorganisms from accumulating.

G10 material is a light, hard and fairly stiff composite material with a textured surface, which is mainly used in the manufacture of handles of both folding pocket knives and knives with a fixed blade. This material is created by placing several layers of fiberglass, thoroughly impregnated with epoxy resin, in a special vacuum press, where, under the influence of compression and heat, the resin finally hardens, preserving the structure of the fiberglass.

The G10 material is characterized by good impact resistance, wear resistance, moisture resistance, as well as ease of processing and maintenance. The material can be painted in different colors, including in layers. The surface of G10 can also be polished to a glossy state, or have a rough anti-slip structure, under the influence of a grinding machine or sandblasting.

Key features of the G10:

• high stability of basic properties during temperature fluctuations;
• withstands high shock loads, compressive and tensile loads;
• high overall hydrophobicity and resistance to chemicals;
• weighs relatively little, in relation to the overall strength and density;
• low electrical conductivity;
• can take different forms.

Composite materials G10 and Micarta have almost the same composition and external similarity. At the same time, the G10 material has higher fire resistance, although it is not a non-flammable material, it has higher compressive, bending, impact and tear strength, and it is also simpler and more economical to manufacture. At the same time, G10 is inferior in terms of "stickiness" in wet conditions, and also, tactilely, it feels less "natural".

CARBON - KNIFE HANDLES FROM THIS PREMIUM MATERIAL

One of the most prestigious and expensive materials for knife handles, in addition to titanium and expensive types of wood, is a type of carbon fiber, the so-called "carbon". The material is valued for its exceptional lightness, strength and aesthetic beauty.

Carbon (from the English carbon - carbon) is a polymer material with a composite composition, made of interwoven carbon fiber threads. These threads are made using epoxy resins. The average density of the material is from 1450 kg/m³ to 2000 kg/m³. The main difference between carbon and other polymers used in the manufacture of knives is its very low weight. It is the weight, together with exceptional strength, that gives carbon an advantage over other handle materials: G10 polymer, micarta, FRN plastic, etc. At the same time, according to specific strength characteristics, carbon exceeds structural steels. The main qualities of carbon are high tensile strength, resistance to high temperatures, aggressive environments, slight expansion when heated, high electrical conductivity. Another important feature of carbon is its natural black color obtained during production, which gives it a noble and elite look.

The basis of the material consists of carbon fiber threads with an average thickness of 0.005-0.010 mm in diameter. Carbon fibers are produced as a result of a complex process of heat treatment. The main fiber (polyacrylic, viscose) is first subjected to air oxidation at a temperature of 250 °C for 24 hours. As a result of oxidation, ladder structures are formed (polymers whose macromolecules are stitched in pairs by regular chemical bonds). Then there is carbonization (the process of enriching the threads with carbon), which takes place when the fiber is heated in nitrogen or argon at temperatures from 800 to 1500 °C. Carbonization results in the formation of graphite-like structures (alotropic modifications of carbon). The process of heat treatment ends with graphitization (the formation of graphite in materials in which carbon is contained in a dissolved state or in the form of carbides), it takes place at a temperature of 1600-3000 ° C in an inert environment. Due to the war of graphitization, the amount of carbon in the fiber is brought up to 99%. In addition to ordinary organic fibers, special fibers from phenolic resins, lignin, coal and petroleum pitches can be used to obtain carbon threads.

Carbon fabrics, in turn, are obtained by weaving threads or ribbons. In the production of these threads, carbon roving is used as a basis - a bundle of thin continuous threads of carbon fiber with a thickness of 3 microns, formed by carbon atoms. After interweaving, they form a carbon fiber frame. The amount of carbon fiber in a thread is estimated by the number "K" - the number of thousands of elementary carbon fibers. The thinnest and most expensive carbon fiber is 1K, the most common carbon fiber is 3K, there are also carbon fiber threads with K = 6, 12, 24, 48. The fabric made of threads can have a variety of weaving patterns (herringbone, mat, weaving, etc. ). To give the fabric even greater strength, carbon threads are laid in layers, each time changing the angle of the weaving direction. The layers are fastened with the help of epoxy resins. This structure of carbon makes it possible to reinforce the fiber with additional elements that strengthen its structure and provide different colors and surface textures. These materials can be different threads, sequins, polymer materials of different colors.

The main methods of manufacturing carbon plates are:

• Pressing , in which the fabric is laid out in a form previously lubricated with a so-called anti-adhesive, designed to reduce the adhesion of surfaces to each other. They can be soap, wax, etc. The fabric is then impregnated with resin, and its excess is removed in a vacuum (vacuum forming) or under pressure. After polymerization of the resin, the product takes on a finished look.
• Vacuum  infusion allows you to create a laminate package by stacking fabric layers on top of each other and applying a vacuum discharge under the layers. Then a binder is fed through the valve and under the action of vacuum it fills the voids and permeates the carbon fabric.
• Vacuum forming is the gluing of layers at high temperatures and then the effect of vacuum to form the volume of the product. This method is one of the cheapest.
• The method of winding , which consists in winding the impregnated roving on a previously prepared form. After winding the required number of layers, the form with the wound fabric is placed in a heating oven and polymerized.
• The SMC/BMC method  consists in placing the fabric in a mold heated to operating temperature. The press mold is closed, as a result, under pressure, the material spreads into the cavity of the mold and hardens. At the end of the cycle, the product is removed from the mold, and its final machining and painting is carried out.

Carbon fiber is used in various fields. In particular, in aviation and rocket engineering, in the production of car and motorcycle body parts, household appliances and high-tech research devices. And for about 20 years now, carbon has been widely used in the production of knife handles of the medium and premium segment. At the same time, on fine knives, carbon can be both in the form of overlays on steel liners, and in the form of a single material of the handle, fixed with screws through bonks.

Carbon, which goes into the production of knives, in addition to its main characteristics of strength, should also have a rather attractive appearance. It is this factor that increases its cost, complicating the production technology and requiring the highest quality raw materials. The most expensive and high-quality resins and more expensive equipment, including chemical reactors (autoclaves), are used for gluing the layers. In addition, carbon is sandblasted to increase hand grip, which also increases production costs. It is also necessary to remember that working with carbon requires mandatory protection of respiratory organs and special rooms with good ventilation, and this also leads to an increase in the price.

The color palette and texture of the carbon used on the knives can be varied. Among the types of carbon, the following are used:

Mosaic carbon,  which can be both plain and multi-colored. Such carbon is used for radius spacers on knives with complex multi-section handles. Several dyeing techniques can be used in this carbon.

Marble carbon  is a chaotic interweaving of carbon threads, each of which reflects light differently, which allows it to shine from different viewing angles.

Carbon Lightning Strike  ("lightning strike") with a copper thread in the form of a mesh woven into the carbon fiber throughout its volume. Externally, it is similar to the one used in the fuselages of American planes to protect against lightning strikes. This is a thin carbon, 3.2 mm thick twill weave. It has a deep and bright pattern.

Like any expensive and at the same time difficult to manufacture material, carbon has a number of disadvantages. In the production of carbon plastics, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the technological parameters, in case of violation of which the strength properties of the products are sharply reduced. Ultrasonic defectoscopy, X-ray and optical holography, as well as acoustic control can be used to control the quality of products. Without them, the manufacturer works "by touch" and may not notice hidden defects. Another serious disadvantage of carbon plastics is their low resistance to shock loads. It is also necessary to remember that carbon eventually fades and can significantly lose its main advantage - an attractive appearance. However, despite these shortcomings, carbon is rightfully a premium material for the best knives.

Ironwood - iron wood - handmade knives

In nature, ironwood is extremely rare, therefore it occupies an honorable place in the Red Book. However, in terms of its properties, each iron tree is not inferior to the density of cast iron. Its bark can withstand gunfire, but it sinks hopelessly in water. It is worth noting that this is not a separate class of trees, but a whole group assembled from different species. It includes several dozen species of plants with unusually dense wood. They can be found on every continent. Moreover, raw materials are used both in the industrial industry and in medical practice.

What is special about these trees?

With the naked eye, it is quite difficult to recognize the "stone" breed of a perennial plant. Especially if they are on the verge of extinction. However, they are characterized by the following features:

• the age of such long-lived people is not less than 2 hundred years;
• wood fiber is resistant to corrosion processes and does not deteriorate under the influence of strong acids;
• the bark contains many tannins that protect their "hosts" from all kinds of parasites, as well as from the rot fungus;
• the log will definitely go under water, since the density of wood is 1 t / m³, taking into account the humidity of 12%, for this reason, such breeds grow quite slowly;
• the height of each exceeds 25 meters, and the girth of the trunk reaches more than 200 cm.

All these properties are necessary for an iron tree to survive in the harshest climatic conditions. Sharp temperature changes in Russia, African drought or humid European climate will not be able to harm this natural phenomenon. Such varieties of trees perfectly adapt to any adverse environment. For this, they are equipped with a considerable number of devices, starting from the unique structure of the trunk / roots and ending with the chemical composition of the bark. In this regard, they are widely used in production:

• furniture;
• building structures;
• cars;
• cosmetics;
• decorative elements;
• underwater equipment.

HANDLE MATERIAL MAMMOTH TEETH

Mammoth tooth is a rare raw material that is used to make decorative objects, for example, knife handles, covers for pistol grips, and jewelry. This is a unique natural element, which is rarely obtained, so its cost is quite high.

Today, the mammoth tooth, after certain processing (stabilization), is widely used by master knifemakers. Stabilization is a process of polymerization of the material under vacuum with or without the use of fat-soluble dyes, while the material is permeated with polymeric substances through.

HANDLE MATERIAL MAMMOTH TEETH

A mammoth tooth is a product of animal origin. Its exceptional feature is the fact that its source is extinct animals - mammoths. Paleontologists found that they lived on Earth about 10 thousand years ago, and their number was very large. Mammoths' teeth were not permanent and changed about four times during their lifetime. Fallen teeth, which modern scientists find during excavations, and become the basis for decorative elements, among which there are knife handles.

Due to a long stay in the soil, the material acquired a very unstable structure - the enamel became rock-hard, and the dentin, on the contrary, became loose. But modern material stabilization technologies have helped turn mammoth teeth into an excellent basis for creating luxurious knife handles. The polymer composite provides products with resistance to corrosion and moisture, and the natural base gives a unique texture and intricate pattern.

Features of the material

Mammoth molars are used to create various products. Outwardly, they look like elephant teeth, but much more have a different shade. Taking into account the historical value and rarity, the mammoth tusk is especially highly valued, since this animal became extinct long before our era. The tusks of prehistoric giants can be found not only in paleontological museums, but also on the counters of jewelry stores, they are used to decorate the interior, they are used to create various decorative elements - of course, not in their original form, but in processed form.

According to scientists, the age of the material is 10-40 thousand years. Today, how mammoths lived is not fully understood. However, the remains of these giants found by scientists, their bones, teeth, even whole carcasses allowed scientists to seriously advance in this field of research. The available data made it possible to find out what the mammals looked like, what they ate, what climatic conditions they lived in, what behavioral characteristics they had (for example, did they lead a gregarious or solitary existence).

The mammoth ate practically the same as the modern elephant: its diet consisted of plant food. In the world, the animal could feed on coniferous plants. They preferred coarse food, which they easily chewed with their strong jaws and teeth, similar to large plates. An interesting feature of the mammoth's body was that as the old tooth wore out, a new one grew, displacing the former one and taking its place. Thus, the animal could change its teeth several times during its life. All the teeth were replaced in about a ten-year interval, and the average lifespan of a mammoth was 40 years. In other words, one animal could survive an average of four complete changes of primary teeth. Thanks to this feature, people often find individual worn mammoth teeth, but do not find other traces of it.

Appearance

If you look at a mammoth tooth, you can see a non-uniform surface with ribbed edges. Bone, enamel and soft tissue alternate in this case. The material has a rather complex structure:

its basis is dentin.

The dentine layer is covered with protective enamel.

It is worth noting that the mammoth had only 4 molars and 2 tusks, which protruded outwards and served mainly for self-defense.

After special treatment, the root tooth can be used to make various jewelry products. The density of the material is very high and resembles a stone. In order to process such a product, the craftsman needs to spend a lot of effort and time.

Stabilization of raw materials

To prevent the tooth and tusk from collapsing in the process of use and making a product from it, stabilization technology is used. This is a responsible stage of processing, in which the following technologies are used:

Polycondensation.
Vacuum processing.
Application of special dyes.

All voids of the tooth are filled with a polymer substance, due to which the base acquires reliable protection against climatic influences. Such a product does not deform, cracks do not appear on it, it becomes able to withstand high temperatures. The appearance of the material also changes, becomes more attractive and unique.
 

Before the advent of this technology, mammoth teeth and bones were rarely used for making souvenirs, because they did not have sufficient strength due to the large number of cracks and delamination inside. In addition, tooth enamel has high hardness, which during processing quickly leads to the unusability of the saw. A stabilized product is much easier to subject to further processing. Mammoth tooth became especially popular in the manufacture of knife handles. It looks unusual, attractive, and if you add a dye, you can create a unique pattern that can give even such a rare thing special individuality.

High-quality and original steel inserts are a wonderful decoration of exclusive and unique knives of the Studio of exclusive handmade knives FOMENKO KNIFES (Ukraine), which offers to order and buy online store https://knife.net.ua or order by phone. +380961711010