Description
Gaea sets a glossy black center scale between mokume bolsters, with a gold-plated thumb opener carrying a small clear stone at the pivot.
| Overall length | 7 inches |
| Handle length | 4 inches |
| Steel | 1095 + 15N20 Damascus, 352 layers |
| Hardness | 58–60 HRC, oil tempered |
| Weight | 5 oz |
| Handle | gold plated thumb opener with diamond on it wood box |
| Pattern | Wind & Mix twist Fire pattern Damascus Blade, Extreme custom Brass File-work |
| Included | Hand-stitched leather sheath |
Aimed at: the buyer who wants contrast rather than color. Everything on this knife is either black, gold or forged gray, which is why the mokume figure reads so strongly against the dark scale. It is 7 inches open and 5 oz, so it carries comfortably and still fills an adult hand.
Care: the black scale is polished and shows fingerprints, which a dry microfiber cloth removes in seconds. Do not use glass cleaner on it. The gold plating on the thumb opener is decorative and should never meet an abrasive. Carbon steel is carbon steel whatever it is dressed in, so the same discipline applies here as on any belt knife: dry it, oil it lightly, and store the knife outside its leather.
Why mokume shows better on a dark knife
Mokume figure is low-contrast in itself, a woodgrain of copper and nickel tones. Put it beside a pale handle and it disappears; put it against black and every line in it separates. That is a deliberate choice on this model rather than a happy accident, and it is the reason the bolsters are polished bright rather than satin. A satin finish scatters light evenly and flattens the figure. A bright finish reflects, so the eye picks up the boundary between one metal and the next as you turn the knife, and the pattern appears to move. It also takes considerably longer to achieve and shows every flaw underneath.
What you are looking at when you look at a folder
Pivot, liner, bolster, scale, stop pin, lock. On a well-made folder none of these draw attention to themselves, which makes it hard to tell what you are paying for. Knife anatomy, parts explained names each part so you can inspect one properly, whoever made it.
Bench-made against production
A factory folder is assembled to a tolerance. This one is fitted, meaning parts are worked until they meet, then finished together. It is slower and it is the reason the numbers on a small maker’s site never match a production catalog. Hand-forged versus factory made knives is our attempt to be fair about both. For a similar dress folder in stainless with a pearl inlay, see the VG10 pearl shell folding knife.
FAQs
What is the center scale made of? The listing title and specification above describe this model’s materials; we do not substitute.
Is it a lock folder? Yes. Close it deliberately, with fingers clear of the blade path.
Is there a warranty? A lifetime warranty against defects. A dull edge and an honest patina are not defects.
Model: Bmk-1020
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