KLSAILOR
This new high-tech Michael Walker design, Swiss made from Klotzli, features a 2 3/4" sheepfoot blade of ATS-34 stainless steel, hollow-ground by hand. The uniquely textured stainless steel scales have been acid etched for an interesting appearance. A titanium liner keeps this solidly made knife locked in the open position. The pocket/belt clip and slim profile of this beautiful piece allows for secure and convenient carry. The Klotzli Sailor is a stunning knife and conversation piece. Like all Klotzli knives, the Sailor has that smooth-as-silk opening action. This hand-assembled and hand-finished knife is certainly a joy to use and show off.
Closed length of 3 3/4", open length of 6 5/8".
Suggested retail price: $265.00

X 15 T.N - Retain the Edge, But Not The Rust. What makes this steel so great?

No kidding, a blade steel with an HRC of 58, the same cutting power as ATS-34 or 440-C, and more rust resistant. Boker, the first with titanium handles, first to use 440-C as a production steel, and first with sporting ceramics, is in the forefront again being the first to use X 15 T.N as a blade steel.

The initial use of X 15 T.N steel was in the aircraft industry, primarily as ball bearings for jet engines. Later, the steel was used in surgical instruments such as scalpels. After extensive laboratory testing under extreme conditions, Boker has selected this remarkable steel for the new Gemini Series for those seeking a blade that stays sharp and will resist rust under the harshest conditions. The key to manufacturing this incredible steel is accomplished by substituting nitrogen for a certain percentage of carbon. In addition to the regular alloy content of stainless steels, such as carbon and chromium, there is the addition of .2% nitrogen. This is a very difficult job, but the end result is a blade that will resist rust, while maintaining the same cutting performance of the more expensive high-grade steels like ATS-34 and 440C.

Hardening is the other essential production process. Optimum hardness is achieved by slowly heating the metal to more than 1900°F and then slowly cooling it down to -110°F. This new cryogenic process results in a finer, more uniform carbide structure in the metal. The end result is more rust resistant stainless steel with an HRC of 58! Best of all, this premium blade steel is competitively priced with other common knife blade steels.

Boker is featuring X 15 T.N steel blades in the Gemini Series' models: 90X, 90A, 90S and 90Y. We have gone a step further with these knives - no detail has been overlooked in bringing a completely rust-resistant knife to the market. The ball détente, which holds the blade in the closed position, is normally made of metal. In the Gemini Series it is made of ceramic. The thumb stud and liner lock are made of 8/18 chrome nickel stainless steel.

Model 90X, the Gemini Badger: features a 3 3/8" partially serrated blade of X 15 T.N rust resistant stainless steel, a durable 4" (closed length) black ABS handle with black Kraton insets for a sure grip and includes a stainless steel pocket/belt clip and lanyard hole. The thumb stud on the blade allows for easy one-handed operation and the side lock secures the blade in the open position. The overall length is 8 1/8". The suggested retail price is $82.95.

Model 90A, the Gemini Angler, Same as 90X, except the handle is green ABS with black Kraton insets and a plainedge blade.

Model 90S, the Gemini Skipper. Same as above, except handle is blue ABS with black Kraton insets, and blade is partially serrated.

Model 90Y, the Gemini Outfitter. Same as above, except handle is yellow ABS with black Kraton insets, and blade is partially serrated.

Christina Cooks - With titanum!
Watch for titanum coming to a PBS channel near you!

We are extremely proud to announce that award-winning chef, cookbook author and host of the Emmy award winning PBS cooking show Christina Cooks, Christina Perillo, will endorse the Titanum line of kitchen knives.

Christina's story is quite extraordinary and after hearing it, it is easy to understand her excitement and passion for things she believes in, like the whole foods lifestyle and titanum. Her interest in whole foods began when she was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 26. She was already a vegetarian, but decided to forego conventional therapy and turned to a nutritional approach ? macrobiotics. She basically cured herself, her leukemia disappeared within a year and a half, and whole foods cooking became her passion.

Her show is now seen on over 135 public television stations nationally and 50 countries internationally, it's one of the hottest cooking shows on TV. It is truly an honor to have Christina Perillo endorsing titanum.

She contacted us last year after seeing our titanum ad in a magazine and then coming across the TI1 in a cutlery shop. She was attracted to the TI1's "rock star good looks" and after trying it out was hooked by titanium's unsurpassable performance. She was so impressed that she decided to put her name on the knives and use them on her show. Two of the titanum knives, the TIXC and TI1C make up the Christina Perillo signature series and feature her signature on the blade.

titanum will get national TV exposure when the series begins airing on May 4th and you will see Christina using the Titanum knives throughout the show. Christina Cooks is an entertaining and energetic half-hour series about how food affects the way people look, feel and live, and demonstrates whole foods cooking. This is not your typical cooking show format. She actually invites students into the kitchen to help prepare the meal. Each episode presents a fun and practical cooking class packed with useful information.

East meets West with titanum: The philosophy behind Julian Brown's design.

People always ask us why titanum knives look they way they do and why the blades and handles differ so much from conventional kitchen cutlery. We've decided to tell you in the words of the designer himself. As you will learn, there was much consideration put into every aspect of titanum to develop the ultimate functional work of art.

titanum Concept: Kitchen knives are the product and reflection of different manufacturing and culinary cultures. Knives designed, manufactured and used in the West differ from those of the East. The rise in interest in multicultural cuisine, specifically Asian, and the trend towards more care and attention in food preparation has opened the market to more exotic knife designs. This, combined with the innovation of Japanese sintered blade material, was the key reasoning behind the decision to design titanum with an "oriental-spirited" blade style and a handle form which would both compliment the blade and give the knife a more balanced east/west appearance. We responded to the market's desire for a more "exotic" product.

The titanum Handle Shape: Technically, there are two factors that influenced the design. First, since the spirit and functionality of the blade was Asian-inspired, it was decided that the rear lower edge of the blade would be left uncovered, as is traditionally the case.

This is based on an open acceptance in Asian cultures that the knife is not a toy but rather an efficient tool.

The entire length of the blade can be used for slicing and can also be better sharpened along this complete length. Secondly, as sintering process results in a flat ground blade, it requires that an independent polymer handle be molded directly onto the blade. With titanum, the opportunity existed to take advantage of these two factors and explore a new handle design that would respond to the many ways knife handles are actually held and used in practice. To describe this design we have divided the handle into three zones:

Zone A. Many knife handles are volumetrically skimpy and force the hand to grip "down" in size to meet the handle. This is both uncomfortable and a strain. The titanum handle eliminates this problem by recognizing the "ball of the hand" as the "relaxed" center of grip. As a result, the handle form (see zone A) is initiated from a kind of a squashed ball positioned approx. 60% along the handle length. Conceptually, this flat ball rests within the natural grip of the hand and functions as the center of grip for the knife. Being slightly flatter in profile, this "ball" already gives the handle some degree of vertical stability and orientation.

Zone B. To the north of zone A, the profile of the handle is purposefully tapered to create a flatter and deeper throated section. This area specifically provides the steering and orientation control of the knife blade via the thumb and index finger and is the area where most changes of grip take place during different cutting processes.

Whether slicing delicately in a vertical mode, filleting with a sideways movement, cutting downwards with a forceful action or gripping as a peeler, the "steering" section accommodates the different finger positions and provides positive feedback about the knife orientation and control. Also, because this section tapers from the front of the handle towards the ball it provides a positive wedge within the hand to prevent the hand from slipping when cutting with a backwards motion.

Zone C. South of the ball is the more rounded tail of the handle which works in the following ways. First, it is tapered in opposition to the taper of zone B, it provides the second wedge within the hand, completing the grip on the complete handle when cutting either forward or backwards. In addition, the curving upwards of the underside of the handle towards the tail allows the three remaining fingers (middle to little) to curl under and around the tail. This provides a natural and comfortable grip and also allows the tail of the handle to "rotate" into different grip positions determined by how the knife is being held at zone B. Finally, the upper side surface of zone C is slightly flattened and widened to provide a support area for the hand when exerting a forceful downward cut.

Commemoratives
The following commemoratives are currently available:

Stock Number

Description

Suggested Retail

499

The American Hunter Series
Rabbit Hunter (last in series)

$ 51.95

1999LTD

The Sheriff

$ 77.95

2001LTD

The Odyssey

$140.00

Elite Forces Series

A-F 543SEAL

Navy Seal Operation Desert Storm

$150.00

A-F 543SAS

Special Air Services Operation Nimrod

$150.00

A-F 543REP

2e R.E.P. French Foreign Legion Operation Leopard

$150.00

A-F 543GSG

German GSG9 Operation Feuerzauber

$150.00

Damascus Limited Editions

2001Damascus

Drop point, lock blade folder with Amboina wood scales

$500.00

548Damascus

Applegate boot knife in Damascus with satine wood handles.

$525.00

553Damascus

Mini-Smatchet in Damascus with rosewood handles.

$800.00