The Fire Bolt | Lyrebird Bottle Opener
I can't count the amount of times I've been out at a mates place celebrating a birthday party and someone has asked the question "who's got a bottle opener?" or later in the night when the finer reds come out and you're rummaging around looking in drawers for a corkscrew.
Here comes the solution - the ultimate party starter tool, The Lyrebird.
Whatever the occasion, birthdays, weddings, Christmas, whenever a special person in your life needs an extra special gift that's functional, stylish, and cool as hell, The Lyrebird will be your go to.
The Lyrebird is a combination of three tools - a bottle opener, a corkscrew, and foil cutter - the three things tools any party needs.
While we here at Koi have been focused on kitchen, outdoor, and pocket knives over the last 8 years, we wanted to design something that would fit in with our Aviary theme, but still be taken to any party or celebration.
Over our usual Friday afternoon beers in the shed, we were always frustrated when we would accidentally buy crowntop/fliptop beers, because we knew we never had a bottle opener around (either we did and lost it or it ended up in someone's pocket).
So we though why not solve that problem.
Let's create something awesome that you'll be proud to show off to your mates, your boss, or your grandma, and that'll you'll definitely realise was missing at the end of the night.
Whenever you're heading to a party, be the party saver and starter with The Lyrebird.
But when something gets used nearly every weekend, it needs to be tough.
That's why we've used Titanium for the bottle opener (our most used part) and for the pivot screw.
We've made the handle elements out of G10 (Garolite), it's an extremely tough material that we've been using for quite a while and can attest to its' durability.
For the tools themselves, just like our previous pocket knives, we've chosen to use Sandvik Steel for nearly everything. Again, we know it's durable and looks great.
Colour Variations
What's life without some colour hey?
Because The Lyrebird is the ultimate party gift, we wanted you to have some colour options!
The Fire Bolt
This was one we wanted to have a bit more personality and we think it's 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Using layered black and orange G10 to create a unique swirl to the handle.
Why The Fire Bolt?
As Shannon put it "The screw looks like a bolt and when you have a drink you catch fire"
The Fire Bolt has "AUSTRALIA" engraved on the opener as a homage to the outback sands that inspired it.
The Parts
The Titanium Bottle Opener
The bottle opener was most used tool during our testing phase and something we are definitely scrutinous about.
It needed to different than the average plain and boring bottle openers.
So we took inspiration from a certain superheros helmet....... 🫰☁️
And just like some iterations of this helmet, the bottle opener is made out of Titanium. Mainly for strength but also because we think it looks damn cool.
How to use the opener? Simple, fold it out and put it under the cap - make sure the handle is upright.
Let's say that again.
Make sure the handle is upright.
If it's not, all you'll do is fold the bottle opener back in and make yourself sad. (We did it plenty of times testing out The Lyrebird).
The Corkscrew
The Corkscrew element of The Lyrebird is one of the most complex components of anything we've done.
First, it has to two moving parts.
Second, the screw component needs to be long enough and far enough from the first component to successfully be able to screw into a bottle.
So we tried a few designs and are confident we've perfected this one.
Again, we've used Sandvik steel for this component, given we are happy with how it performs.
The Foil Cutter
While this tool doesn't have a knife persay, it does have a cutter for those pesky foils around the top of wines.
And while we've done straight serrated kitchen knives, we've never done anything this small, or curved, or with holes in it - but hey, who doesn't love a challenge?
This isn't a knife - just a necessity at any party. And in an emergency situation it can cut up a sausage like a treat.
The Handle
The handle for The Lyrebird is the most complex we've ever done.
We've done some neat things with wood, resin and G10 (garolite) before, but this handle takes the cake.
9 grooves are cut into the G10 using the CNC machine to replicate the feathers of The Lyrebird. They are also rounded off to avoid any sharp edges.
But not only do the feathers need to be meticulously cut (makes it a bit easier when it's done by a computer program rather than by hand) but they need to align perfectly with the 10+ other parts (plus all the smaller components of the ball-bearing mechanisms).
Technically given it is layered G10, it's Damascus 10 ;)
We produce durable, high-quality knives and products for both culinary and utility use.
We stand behind the craftsmanship of our knives with this limited warranty.
All Koi Knives products are warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship during the period of one year from the original date of purchase by the end user.
Should a manufacturing defect arise within the warranty period, We will repair
or replace the knife at our discretion without charge.
Please note: This warranty does not cover damage resulting from improper use or care, accidents, modification, commercial use, neglect, or regular wear and tear over time. We are not responsible for knives that have been damaged from misuse such as dropping, improper cleaning methods (like putting the knife through a dishwasher), or excessive force.
If you have any warranty questions or queries please feel free to contact us.
Please note: We recommend washing blades by hand using warm soapy water and drying them straight away or in any way that does not have water pooling on the blade.
Handles can be oiled using a natural oil such as a Camellia oil.
WARNING: You must be at least 18 years of age to purchase any knives from our store or website - whether it be kitchen, outdoor, or pocket knives.
We ship orders on Tuesdays and Thursdays via Australia Post.
Example: If you place your order on Thursday at 9:30pm, we will ship it the following Tuesday.
Orders within Australia should arrive within a week.
International orders can take between 1-4 weeks to arrive.
Tracking information will be sent to you via Australia Post when your order has been dispatched.
*Only if an email address has bee provided.
Express shipping: If you are wanting your order in a hurry please add a note in with your order and we can upgrade you to express shipping for free.
Or you can email ramon@koiknives.com
*Only for Australian orders
International Orders: Please note there may be additional taxes and duty applied by customs in your country.
Unfortunately we can't tell you how much this would be as each country is different.
A handy guide to use is https://www.simplyduty.com/import-calculator/
YOU MUST BE 18+ YEARS TO PURCHASE A KNIFE
The knives sold by Koi are intended for culinary and food preparation use only.
While robustly constructed, knives can potentially cause harm if misused or used for unintended purposes.
Koi does not assume any liability for damages or injuries that result from improper, dangerous or illegal use.
It is the responsibility of the purchaser to use Koi knives carefully and as directed, store them safely and keep them away from unsupervised children.
By purchasing from Koi, you agree that any misuse of the products is solely your responsibility.
Koi shall not be held responsible or assume any liability in the event of accidents due to disregarding safety instructions or using the product in a way other than its intended use.
We appreciate your support of our small business and hope you enjoy cooking safely with your new Koi knives for many years to come.
Please contact us if you have any other questions.
"Stay sharp and have a knife day"
This knife is built to last with minimal maintenance.
But you still need to look after the knife.
1. Keep the blade nice and dry
It’s important to properly care for and maintain the knife blades. Extended exposure to moisture can potentially cause corrosion in even the most resilient steels over time. It’s essential to dry blades thoroughly after cleaning and avoid prolonged contact with water whenever possible.
The high-carbon steel core of the our knives also requires special care. Carbon steel is more prone to rust if moisture is not fully removed. Be sure to wipe away any moisture on the blade.
When hand washing is necessary, use warm water and avoid soaking the knives for extended periods. While hot water alone won’t typically damage the blade, sudden temperature changes can cause cracking at the microscopic level. Extreme hot or cold should be avoided.
By keeping blades clean and dry, and limiting exposure to moisture, your knife can maintain their corrosion resistance and withstand daily use for many years of dependable performance.
2. Do not put the knife through the dishwasher.
Please.
Do not put your knife in the dishwasher.
Here are a few key reasons why we don't recommend putting your new knife in the dishwasher:
Heat - The high heat of a dishwasher drying cycle can cause microscopic damage and weakening of the blade over time. High carbon steels like VG10 are more vulnerable to heat-related damage.
Moisture - Prolonged exposure to moisture in the dishwasher isn't fully controlled and can lead to rust or corrosion developing on the blade more easily than hand-washing. Wood and water also do not like each other over time.
Detergents - The harsh detergents and cleaning chemicals used in dishwashers aren't designed with knife blades in mind and could potentially cause unwanted reactions or deterioration of protective blade coatings.
Movement - The agitation and bouncing around of knives in a dishwasher creates risk of nicks or dulling of the cutting edge from contact with other dishes.
Aesthetics - Over time, dishwashers may cause discoloration or other undesirable visual changes to the blade appearance or handle.
Hand-washing allows for more gentle, careful cleaning without extended heat or chemical exposure - helping to maintain the VG10 steels' sharpness and corrosion resistance for longer. Taking the extra minute for hand washing is best for your quality knife.
3. Don't use pull through or machine sharpeners.
There are a few key reasons why pull-through/electric knife sharpeners are not recommended for high-carbon steel chef's knives:
They can remove too much metal. High-carbon steels are harder and more brittle than softer stainless steels. Aggressive sharpeners can easily remove too much steel, thinning and damaging the blade edge over time.
They can create a rounded/rolled edge. Pull-through sharpeners can push the edge inward, rounding it rather than honing a sharp, angular apex. This diminishes cutting performance.
Improper angle. It's hard to set the proper angle consistently for each knife with an electric sharpener. An improperly aligned edge won't hold its sharpness as well. We sharpen the nearly all our knives at 15°
Risk of overheating. The friction from an electric sharpener, especially on hard carbon steels, carries a risk of overheating and potentially ruining the blade's temper or microstructure.
Better options exist. Whetstone sharpening allows for precise angles, control over steel removal, and developing a fine, polished edge that stays sharper longer than a pull-through can provide.
For high-performance knife blades like high-carbon, it's best to use more precise and gentle sharpening methods that don't deform or damage the metallurgy of the knife edge.
Whetstones are our preferred method of sharpening.
4. Hone it using a ceramic rod
There are a few key reasons we recommend only using a ceramic honing rod on Koi Knives:
Hardness. VG10 steel is extremely hard, around 61-62 on the Rockwell scale. A softer steel or diamond honing rod could potentially scratch or damage the blade edge during use. Ceramic is harder than the knife steel.
Edge alignment. Ceramic honing rods gently realign the edge of the knife without removing any material. This helps maintain the factory angle and honed cutting geometry over time. Other methods may change the angle.
No burrs. As a harder material, ceramic won't roll or form burrs on the knife edge like other honing steels can. Burrs lead to diminished cutting performance.
Smooth surface. Ceramic rods offer an exceptionally smooth sliding surface, which reduces friction and potential for burning/overheating the edge during honing strokes.
Longevity. Hardest of all honing materials, ceramic will also last essentially the lifetime of the knife without wearing down from use like softer steels can.
For high-performance supersteels like VG10 that we're using in our knives, only ceramic honing maintains the pristine edge geometry without risk of micro-damage, burrs or changing the factory-set angle over numerous sharpening cycles.
5. Care for the handle
It's important to keep in mind that wood, like many natural materials, is vulnerable to the effects of excess water exposure. When wooden handles get wet, they tend to expand slightly and then contract again as they dry. Repeated cycles of expansion and contraction can cause microscopic cracks to form in the grain of the wood.
For this reason, we recommend carefully hand washing your handles to minimise water contact as much as possible. A damp cloth is preferable to soaking or submerging. Thoroughly drying the handles afterwards also makes sure no residual moisture gets trapped.
With proper care, the wooden handle of your knife will maintain its attractiveness for years of use.
But exposing them to continuous wet environments or submerging them could expedite crack development.
By avoiding prolonged water submersion, the wood handles can be preserved looking as fine as the day they were crafted.
6. Do not put your knife through the dishwasher.
Just in case you missed it the first time.
Do not put your knife in the dishwasher.
Follow these steps and your new knife will treat you well for years to come.
