Mike Irie Pearl and Damascus Knife
I’d been eyeing Mike Irie’s stuff for quite a while before I saw this little Pearl gent’s knife and had to have it. The price was good, especially for a Mother or Pearl and Damascus folder from a recognized maker. I just couldn’t pass it up! Mike Irie does very nice work and this folder is a good example of it. He’s probably more famous for his fixed blades, however.
When I think of Mike Irie, I think of long sweeping recurve blades with smooth curving plunge grinds. He does make a beautiful fixed blade knife. This is a beautiful little folder from Mike, very small with a 2.5″ blade made of heat-colored raindrop Damascus steel. The liners are blue annodized titanium, with a funky etched titanium backspacer.
I believe this is one of Mike’s earlier folders, and while the mother of pearl is not the most beautiful I’ve seen, it is still a very high quality pearl, with nice depth. His finish is not quite as good as I’ve seen from more recent knives, with the edge bevels on the handles not perfectly symetrical and even. I think the Pearl insert on the thumbstud is a very nice touch, and I like it a lot!
The action is smooth, and the lock up is solid on the knife. Blade centering is perfect, which is actually a very nice surprise. It’s surprising how many custom knives are not perfectly centered, this is one of the good ones.
Blade Length: 2 1/2″
Overall Length: 6″
Blade Steel: Raindrop Pattern Damascus
Handle Material: Mother of Pearl