The Talisman Mk 4

THE TALISMAN Mk4 AND ITS VARIANTS

 

The Talisman has been the most popular knife to date and it also happens to be my favourite model too. I suppose that having a proven track record of being a no-nonsense substantial and robust knife that is able to withstand hard use in extreme environmental conditions is a good enough reason. Another good reason why the Talisman is so liked is because the handle's profile allows me to turn out ergonomically and anatomically correct contoured handles to suit the individual's hand size, resulting in a very comfortable, safe and secure grip that gives that extra confidence regardless of conditions.

 The MK4 Talisman version is in 5mm thick certified British D2 high carbon steel. D2 steel is a great steel; very tough and is far more resistant to staining and rusting than other tool steels. It also takes and holds an excellent edge and well proven in the real world.

 The Mk3 Talisman version is in 4mm thick 440c, which is often referred to as 'Surgical Steel'. Knives made from 440c have proven themselves very useful for folk who might want to use their knife in all sorts of demanding situations, from hunting, foraging, fresh and salt water fishing etc. No matter the climatic extremes, 440c steel will not let you down. It's a shame that some folk confuse 440c steel with inferior cutlery stainless steels used commercially to produce a wide range of kitchen knives/utensils/cutlery. Just about everyone I know, myself included, have bought a cheap stainless steel knife at some time or other and discovered to our cost that no matter how pretty it looked, it was useless to do any cutting with! I wouldn't risk my reputation and use 440c steel if it wasn't a top performer. A well designed knife with a suitable grind and a steel hardness of around 57-58Hrc makes for an excellent working knife.

 The Damascus Talisman version is made from Damascus steel from a blend of 1095 and 15N20 steels, with over 200 layers. RC hardness is in the 54 -56 Rockwell range, plenty good enough for a nice looking working knife. From my experience, folk tend to be rather reluctant using a nice Damascus knife for fear of damaging it. It sure is pretty stuff, but a knife made from good Damascus will have similar edge retention as other carbon based steels; so one shouldn't worry about making full use of a Damascus bladed knife. One has to bear in mind that every time a Damascus knife is sharpened, the patterning on the bevel will fade over time. I like the resulting contrast, but for those who who don't, one should request a Damascus knife with a secondary grind, which is also stronger than a full scandi grind. 

 Unfortunately Damascus can vary from very good to utter rubbish - so one must beware and not be taken in by the pretty patterns as that's one sure way of buying scrap metal! Any knife maker worth his salt will only use quality Damascus steel sourced from reputable sources. I rate my Damascus Talisman blades as good as any quality tool steel; so you can be certain that they will take and hold a good edge. Just look after your Talisman Damascus knife as you would any other carbon steel based knife and you'll find that it a pleasure to own and use. All carbon based knives need a level of maintenance, which entails cleaning, drying and oiling once finished with.

 The drop point Talisman is basically the Mk3 440c version with similar dimensions to the Damascus Talisman. I decided to make a few Mk3 Talisman blades with a drop point as some folk like that sort of profile. I suppose with this configuration the finished knife will be lighter and the balance of the finished knife will be more towards the middle of the handle, making for a very responsive knife to handle.

he Mk 4 Talismans - a joy to own and use...

 

 

The story of the MK4 Talisman is an evolutionary one as there always seems to be some improvement one can make over time. The above knife has a figured Cocobolo handle and it outlines perfectly the design profile that is meant to be both aesthetically pleasing as well wholly functional.

 

The MK4 Talisman, with having a 5mm thick steel blade, has a substantial feel to it from the moment one picks it up. Add to that an anatomically contoured handle and no matter who took the MK4 Talisman in hand, the response was always positive, for it provides for a safe, comfortable full in the hand grip that inspires confidence no matter the task in hand.