The next stop on our journey together is the knife that changed everything for me.
Back in September 2020, I finished what would become one of the most challenging, rewarding, and personal builds of my career: a Transient V1 Liner Lock that would push me further than I had ever gone before.
And it all started with the steel.
The blade was forged by the legendary Dalibor Bergam, using his rare DalMai San Mai Damascus — a 3V-core billet he shipped directly from Croatia. Only a handful of makers have ever had the opportunity to work with this steel, and I knew right away this was no ordinary project. (Curious why Damascus is so special and costs more? I broke that down too.)
I decided to pair it with a pristine slab of Westinghouse antique ivory micarta, marking my first time working with the material. To this day, I still consider it the best piece I’ve used in the last five years. It set a benchmark I’ve been chasing ever since.
But the real turning point?
Inlays that almost didn’t happen
My customer convinced me to try something I’d never done before: inlaid scales. The challenge?
These inlays had to match the complex 3D contouring of the handles — and be removable so I could finish and heat anodize them separately. That meant figuring out how to secure incredibly thin inlays from the inside of the knife, without making the build bulky.
It almost didn’t happen…
I ruined two inlays trying to tap shallow screw holes. In the end, I had to thread mill a single thread into each inlay and secure them with hidden 2-56 screws — a nerve-racking task at the time, since I was still learning CNC threadmilling. It was a breakthrough moment for me — not just as a knifemaker, but as a machinist. A major milestone I’ll never forget.
This knife wasn’t just a challenge, it was an everything build.
The whole kitchen sink
Most dress knives I make have one or two standout elements, maybe a damascus blade, or a rare handle material. But this knife? I threw the whole kitchen sink at it:
- Rare DalMai damascus
- Benchmark micarta
- First-ever inlays
- Hidden hardware
- Slender, refined frame
I don’t even know where this knife lives today… but I hope its current owner knows what they have. Because this knife carries a big piece of me inside it.
It’s not just my favorite build. It’s the knife that made me fall in love with knifemaking all over again.
A true Showstopper.
I’ve got a lot of stories like this one. If you’d like to see more build spotlights, email me at info@hmcknives.com and let me know. To see how the Transient has evolved since this V1, read Transient V1 vs V2 vs V3, or learn what I look for in every build in 3 things I look for in a perfect folding knife. Interested in a custom piece? The FAQ explains how to ask, and the gallery has more of my work.
Until next time,
Jim V
Browse the current HMC folding knives, each built in Erie, PA and shipped within the U.S.