The night holds its secrets. In its shadow, tales are born of hunters who exist beyond time, feeding on fear and desire. Vespertilio is not just a knife – it is an artifact of darkness, a tribute to a legend that has evoked horror and fascination for centuries. Its blade, cold and precise as the kiss of death, evokes the fangs of Count Dracula – a creature that embodies pure, inevitable terror.
Dracula, born from the imagination of Bram Stoker, is more than a mere monster. He is the embodiment of the night, an immortal hunger, an elusive force that comes to tear apart the thin boundary between life and death. His hypnotic gaze, the elegance of his gestures, and his deadly precision make his victims not only unable to escape – they do not want to. The same holds true for Vespertilio – irresistible, flawless, evoking both awe and dread.
Yet, Dracula did not emerge from nothing. Stoker’s inspiration came from a historical figure – Vlad the Impaler, a 15th-century Voivode of Wallachia, known for his brutality and his penchant for impaling his enemies. Though he was no vampire, his cruelty and the legend surrounding his name became the foundation for one of literature’s most terrifying antagonists. Just as Vespertilio draws strength from history and the precision of craftsmanship, Dracula drew his power from a dark past.
The collaboration between Herman Knives and Monthep Chimwai has resulted in something greater than just a knife. This is a work of functional art, where masterful craftsmanship intertwines with a gothic nightmare. Chimwai’s engraving captures the soul of this legend – a castle bathed in the glow of the moon, a vampire looming over his victim, bats soaring through the darkness. Every detail, every cut and line tells a story of beauty and death, of a power that knows no mercy.
Vespertilio is the choice for those unafraid of the night. Like Dracula, it is elegant, precise, and lethally effective. This is a knife for those who understand that true power is not found in noise but in the silence before the strike.
Each engraved piece is a unique masterpiece, handcrafted by the artisans of Herman Knives, adorned with an unparalleled engraving design. It is more than just a tool – it is a symbol of the legacy of darkness.
PRODUCT DETAILS
Blade: Damasteel Ægir™ powder stainless steel
thickness 3,1 mm (0.1220"), heat treated with a deep crio (liquid nitrogen), hardness 61 HRC
Blade finish: Mirror Polished
Handle: Titanium Grade 5 (Engraved with 24k Gold, 18K Green Gold, 18K Rose Gold )
Backspacer: Titanium Grade 5 (Engraved with 24k Gold )
Clip: Titanium Grade 5 ( Engraved with 24k Gold )
Lock: Titanium Grade 5
Bearing system: Custom-made ceramic ball bearings by Herman Knives
New improved bearing system.
Washers made of M390 powder metallurgy steel further enhance the already exceptional operation of our knives. Every stage of production has been optimized to ensure even greater precision, durability, and, most importantly, the smoothness of our knives.
Washer manufacturing process:
M390 steel is machined in-house on our Swiss-type lathe Citizen Cincom A20, where the bar stock is processed and pre-drilled.
Washer dimensions: Inner diameter 5.05 mm, outer diameter 11.95 mm; (for Bee and Micro Sting models: outer diameter 9.95 mm).
25 mm-long rods undergo vacuum heat treatment to 60 HRC, reducing material stress and minimizing the risk of deeper blade scratches and ceramic ball fractures.
After hardening, washers are machined using EDM (Electro Discharge Machining) on our Mitsubishi MV1200R wire EDM machine, allowing precise inner hole execution.
They are then wire-cut into 0.6 mm-thick slices, and final wire processing minimizes surface roughness.
Final manual lapping, up to a 4000-grit finish, gives the washers an almost mirror-like surface, ensuring even smoother bearing operation.
All these processes are carried out entirely in-house by Herman Knives.
Ceramic detent ball
Tungsten carbide insert on the lock
Tungsten carbide stop pin
New, improved pivotWe have refined the pivot construction, elevating its precision and the smoothness of the knife’s operation to an even higher level.
It consists of three elements:
A phosphor bronze bushing (a highly durable material with self-lubricating properties). It is precisely fitted to the hole in the blade, which is also machined in-house using our EDM machine. This eliminates all unnecessary play, ensuring flawless blade rotation through the resulting plain bearing.
A seven-petal clover-shaped screw – prevents rotation within the construction.
Torx T20 – secured with an easily removable Loctite for adjustability. If adjusting, be sure to reapply the same type of thread locker.
The screws are made of vacuum-hardened stainless steel. All three components are produced in-house by Herman Knives on our Swiss-type automatic lathe.
Bearings with increased stability
Based on years of experience, the new bearings feature a caged design with 16 ceramic balls. Their well-thought-out and tested structure effectively prevents ball displacement while ensuring optimal smoothness of operation.
Simple, isn’t it?
A dedicated wooden box along with a cloth and Pruciak Protector Glide oil for Herman, accompanied by a dedicated stainless steel screwdriver produced by Herman Knives, as well as a bat made of Damasteel Damascus steel.
Weight: 110 g (3.88 oz)
Overall Length: 183 mm (7.20 ")
Blade length: 76 mm (2.99")
Folded length: 107 mm (4.21 ")
Blade width: 26 mm (1.02 ")
My name is Monthep Chimwai, I'm 39 years old .
I graduated bachelor's degree major in Industrial Education and Education Faculty from Patumwan Institute of Technology, and Certificate major in Industrial Education and Education Faculty from TATC (THAI AUSTRIAN TECHNICAL COLLEGE)
I live at Ayutthaya province, Thailand.
At the end of 2011 I met a man who became my teacher.
My Professor's name is Sutthichai Phosamton (Ton), also known as Ton-Ayodia.
He was the one who told me stories of engraved folding knife and show me the masterpiece that made me surprized and interested.
He can created from folding knife a piece of art. It was excited to watch this transformation into something perfect!
For next two years I was studying to be an engraver under Ton-Ayodia supervision.
He was instructing and advising me in techniques and skills. It wasn’t easy, and take a lot of time and hard work and practise. My mentor was struggling with barriers as lack of capital, marketing or language that’s why he wanted to relay his know-how as his legacy to someone who can continue this achievements.
Most of knowledge I got from Him - the moral code of engraver, development of engraving methods over time, designing and practicing of each pattern, , incrustation on workpiece.
In 2013 was my first experience in Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair , next year I bought my engraving machine and started to create my own works on folding knives, still learning and developing my knowledge.
My name is Bartosz Herman. I produce knives according to my own projects and sometimes on an individual order.
I try for every one of my knives to be unique and to enjoy its owner and at the same time to be comfortable and reliable during every day work.
I want to develop my skills even further so that results of my work can keep getting better and better.
I invite You to watch results of my work.
