A New Batch of Wonderful "Sanity-Check" Knives!

S

Stahlmann

Joined
Jan 21, 2021
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I've really been enjoying the heck out of the five "sanity check" knives I bought myself last May for my birthday for $53.00.(1) Amazing what one can find if you don't insist on blades made from extra-virgin Unobtainium 0427HiX-K2L(CXb5)-(XSa) and unicorn ivory handles.

I thought I would hunt-out some rather unorthodox bargain buys that appeal to me this time around. First, from top to bottom, the Cold Steel 6" Ti-Lite Kris Knife for $55.99 (MSRP: $109.99) Remember when the "experts" pronounced the end of Cold Steel last year? LFAO! Whew! Sure glad they were wrong!

Next something really different, the Svord Giant Peasant Knife for $53.99 (MSRP: $159.95.) Very difficult to find much information about this monster, but for the price I took a chance, and I'm sure glad I did! Beautiful wood handle (looks to be mahogany) that looks even better with a schmear or two of EJ Wheaton Polish/Wax. It came terrifyingly sharp with an absolute beautiful edge. The rest of the knife is what I would call a "mill finish" -- common to a number of Svord offerings. I was thinking about bead-blasting it, but I think the giant would lose too much character if I did that.

This is followed by a British Army Service Kuhkuri from Nepal by way of Himalayan Imports. The very kuhkri issued to members of the famous Gurkhas today. Set includes a beautiful sheath with a karda and chakmak -- two accompanying small knives that come with the kuhkuri. The “karda” is a small utility knife while the “chakmak” is an emergency sharpening knife. Just a beautifully crafted set! Thank you, Yangdu! (MSRP $200.00)

Finally the Cold Steel Drop Forged 9.5" Bowie Knife for $71.99 (MSRP: $139.99.) So much for all of CS's prices going through the roof, huh? Just gotta learn how to shop.

(1) www.bladeforums.com/threads/a-sanity-check-order-of-knives-for-about-50-bucks-for-my-birthday.1792080/#post-20572659


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I thought you had screwed with the zoom on the pic but there really is a Giant Svord Peasant knife. I learned something today.

Not sure how many folks would count the Kukri as a budget blade but we all know that means different things to different people.

If you are happy with the knives, that is all that matters.
 
Nice pics and picks really. The serpentine Kris and the H.I. Kuhkuri would be my top 2. But that cold steel drop forge is most interesting. It has it's points and the knife is clean over all (need to change the handle imho) But they have dipped it into the fire though, right? I can't imagine a cold forge holding an edge for long without a h.t and temp. cycle.
 
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Stahlmann said:
I've really been enjoying the heck out of the five "sanity check" knives I bought myself last May for my birthday for $53.00.(1) Amazing what one can find if you don't insist on blades made from extra-virgin Unobtainium 0427HiX-K2L(CXb5)-(XSa) and unicorn ivory handles.

I thought I would hunt-out some rather unorthodox bargain buys that appeal to me this time around. First, from top to bottom, the Cold Steel 6" Ti-Lite Kris Knife for $55.99 (MSRP: $109.99) Remember when the "experts" pronounced the end of Cold Steel last year? LFAO! Whew! Sure glad they were wrong!

Next something really different, the Svord Giant Peasant Knife for $53.99 (MSRP: $159.95.) Very difficult to find much information about this monster, but for the price I took a chance, and I'm sure glad I did! Beautiful wood handle (looks to be mahogany) that looks even better with a schmear or two of EJ Wheaton Polish/Wax. It came terrifyingly sharp with an absolute beautiful edge. The rest of the knife is what I would call a "mill finish" -- common to a number of Svord offerings. I was thinking about bead-blasting it, but I think the giant would lose too much character if I did that.

This is followed by a British Army Service Kuhkuri from Nepal by way of Himalayan Imports. The very kuhkri issued to members of the famous Gurkhas today. Set includes a beautiful sheath with a karda and chakmak -- two accompanying small knives that come with the kuhkuri. The “karda” is a small utility knife while the “chakmak” is an emergency sharpening knife. Just a beautifully crafted set! Thank you, Yangdu! (MSRP $200.00)

Finally the Cold Steel Drop Forged 9.5" Bowie Knife for $71.99 (MSRP: $139.99.) So much for all of CS's prices going through the roof, huh? Just gotta learn how to shop.

(1) www.bladeforums.com/threads/a-sanity-check-order-of-knives-for-about-50-bucks-for-my-birthday.1792080/#post-20572659


GB1c6Zu.jpeg
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whats lfao mean?
 
samclaymore said:
Nice pics and picks really. The serpentine Kris and the H.I. Kuhkuri would be my top 2. But that cold steel drop forge is most interesting. The drop froged has it's points and the knife is clean over all (need to change the handle imho) they had to have dipped it it to the fire though, right? I can't imagine a cold forge holding an edge for long without a h.t and temp. cycle.
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I'm sure the CS Bowie shown was hammer-forged (drop-hammer), and the ingot came hot out of an oven to the hammer (drop hammer). I'm sure it received further heat-treatment after that as well.
 
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Stahlmann said:
I'm sure the CS Bowie shown was hammer-forged (drop-hammer), and the ingot came hot out of an oven to the hammer (drop hammer). I'm sure it received further heat-treatment after that as well.
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I have seen the process with hand tools but I don't imagine the heat being enough to produce a high rc hardened steel. I'm sure it will be tough enough to take some abuse but how well will it hold an edge?
 
samclaymore said:
I have seen the process with hand tools but I don't imagine the heat being enough to produce a high rc hardened steel. I'm sure it will be tough enough to take some abuse but how well will it hold an edge?
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What process? The actual drop forging or down steam heat-treating processes?
 
I have see the process on drop forging tools a while ago. I know it generates a substantial amount of heat. I just never knew if it was viable for knives. Or how much extra work would be involved. I should check it out on youtube.
 
samclaymore said:
I have see the process on drop forging tools a while ago. I know it generates a substantial amount of heat. I just never knew if it was viable for knives. Or how much extra work would be involved. I should check it out on youtube.
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Whoa, whoa, whoa.

First the work piece/ingot in preheated before it's struck by the hammer one or more more times Once the piece (in this case an integral blade and handle superstructure) is formed by forging (as opposed to punching, milling, laser cutting, welding, etc.), it then undergoes a series of secondary operations. From heat treating, trimming, deburring, to sharpening, to finishing to final assembly, etc.

Other than the expense of drop-forging, why wouldn't it be a "viable" way to produce a knife? Why would you even question that? Why would you question the final assembly's ability to hold an edge, given the metallurgical advantages of a drop-forged piece?

These are larger work pieces, but this is what drop forging looks like:
 
The only thing I ever saw was on a pair of needle nose so I never mentally processed the knife aspect. Hence wondering about the viability of the process (especally to the standards I may like). Steel is like a woman. Though many are simular no two are exactly alike. From different types, to unique composition of a said type, or batch errors. And that's before you you put it in the (used very loosely) masters hand to grind, drop forge heat treat, temper and do quality controll. Honestly the last 5 years I have been in an abyss with... family matters (great show btw) needless to say it hasn't even been a concern. Plus I admit I know nothing and it's funny. The more I know the more I truly understand know how little I know.
The creator of this universe is the only one who could create the abyss and the light at the end of the tunnel just to save you. Who could abstract the light from the dark. Love from hate. Joy from sadness. Everything from nothingness. You are 7 billion pieces but 1. I have everthing under controll but I want to watch you do it.
 
S Stahlmann people might take your posts more seriously if you didn’t fill them with so many condescending and sarcastic undertones. But hey, you are amassing one nice collection of bottom budget knives that your family won’t have to feel bad about throwing in the trash when you die.

Congratulations.
 
This should have been the video picked. I have forgotten about the Gerber that was drop forged but I'm not really a fan of it. I even tried to buy a more quality s30v $80 flipper from them. But it seemed riddled with problems. Looked cool but it was still butter soft. To short and thick for its geometry. The first one (That's a problem right there) was to tight at the pivot screw and sheered of with light force. The screw shaft looked like a watch screw with a 16 penny nail head on it? The second one was tighter than the first but I wasn't sending in an unbroken knife. And though I gently tried again. It wouldn't budge under normal pressure from a t8 bit.

Sadly a woman at work found it were I had been working and tossed it because because of signed company policy about "No weapons or termination" I was a csr at a gas station clerk not an insurgent on a plane, but what ever.

Tl:dr baby food butter knives are only ok if they are cheap.

And 52100 is a great base steel to start with but doesn't mean much if it's no worked right. I need to find a real review that's not light or biased. Money ⚖ quality.
 
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samclaymore said:
This should have been the video picked. I have forgotten about the Gerber that was drop forged but I'm not really a fan of it. I even tried to buy a more quality s30v $80 flipper from them. But it seemed riddled with problems. Looked cool but it was still butter soft. To short and thick for its geometry. The first one (That's a problem right there) was to tight at the pivot screw and sheered of with light force. The screw shaft looked like a watch screw with a 16 penny nail head on it? The second one was tighter than the first but I wasn't sending in an unbroken knife. And though I gently tried again. It wouldn't budge under normal pressure from a t8 bit.

Sadly a woman at work found it were I had been working and tossed it because because of signed company policy about "No weapons or termination" I was a csr at a gas station clerk not an insurgent on a plane, but what ever.

Tl:dr baby food butter knives are only ok if they are cheap.

And 52100 is a great base steel to start with but doesn't mean much if it's no worked right. I need to find a real review that's not light or biased. Money ⚖ quality.
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Your video in no way shows the drop-forging process.
 
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