Island Hopper IH005
Throw it in your bag and hit the road, the fish are biting!
The Island Hopper as I have named this model, was originally designed and made for YouTuber RoKKiT KiT, to accompany him on solo fishing trips to uninhabited islands.
Salt water abounds, and it’s not always practical to keep gear clean and dry; this knife was made with that in mind.
The blade steel I chose for this knife, CPM MagnaCut, developed recently by Dr Larrin Thomas, has been a revelation in the knife world.
Excellent corrosion resistance and the ability to achieve high levels of hardness is a winning combination, and not one that is easily achieved without tradeoffs. In MagnaCut Larrin has achieved just this. A superbly balanced stainless steel.
The handle is made from G10. Chosen for its imperviousness to moisture, and near indestructibility. It has been textured by media blasting to improve grip when covered in water and slime, which will be often.
Specs
Materials:
Blade: CPM MagnaCut 63-64 HRC
Handle: Orange G10
Sheath: Orange Kydex
Dimensions:
Blade length: 142mm
Blade thickness: 2.66mm
Overall length: 274mm
Weight (in sheath): 239g
Care Instructions
Care instructions:
Although I have tried to make this model as maintenance free as possible it’s still a good idea to follow some basic care guidelines to keep your knife performing at its best.
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Keep your knife clean and dry when not in use. Any steel will corrode given the right conditions; salt water and acidic foods are usually the primary concern. For extra peace of mind during long periods of storage, a wax can be applied to the blade. I like Renaissance Wax.
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Wash by hand in warm soapy water. This model can be submerged completely, handle and all. Avoid cleaning with abrasives like scotchbrite etc. Do NOT put your knife in the dishwasher!
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Use wooden or plastic cutting boards. Cutting on hard or abrasive surfaces will dull and/or damage the edge.
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In general my knives have quite fine edges. They are not delicate, but they will sustain damage if pushed too far. Avoid chopping, and avoid cutting through hard materials like bones and frozen foods etc.
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Do not use the tips to pry. Do not stab the tip of your knife into your chopping board.
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Sharpen by hand on abrasive stones/rods. CPM MagnaCut is quite resistant to abrasion, and is best sharpened using diamond or cubic boron nitride abrasives. Avoid the ‘pull-though’ style sharpeners and powered equipment.
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Wash your Kydex sheath in warm soapy water as needed. Sand and other gritty contaminants will likely make their way into your sheath over time. If they are allowed to remain they will scratch your knife.
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Do not allow your knife to be exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods. G10 is susceptible to degradation through UV exposure if given enough time.
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