Flavio Ikoma is a Brazilian knifemaker that, to my eye, is able to balance mechanical with biological styling cues. There is an unmistakable flow to his work in lines and in texture. His new design collaboration with Columbia River Knife and Tool for 2014 is called Fossil. Its name captures the knife’s powerful presence.
The Fossil is a framelock folder with the solid structure of an archeological relic. It is excavated from a pocket at a weighty 6.1 ounces. At 8.88″ open, with a 3.65″ blade, this is a serious find. The blade is 8Cr13MoV stainless steel. The Ikoma Korth Bearing System efficiently rotates open the hollow ground drop point blade via a flipper. IKBS and a flipper are natural pairing. There is a thumb slot that also brings the blade to light.
The handles of the Fossil are a hammer-textured 2Cr13 stainless steel with black/brown G-10 scales. The net effect is positively archaic–in a good way. A right hand, tip up pocket clip follows the curvy lines of the knife. A mean looking black blade version with CRKT’s Veff serrations and a smaller-bladed knife are in the plans for the Fossil.
This is an art knife with the bones of a utility folder. It is not often that you can buy a knife that has this kind of upscale design for a suggested price of only $89.99. I predict the Fossil to unearth many admirers.
by Wilson
