An old edge test.

[UffDa]

Many years ago (mid '70s) I bought a knife from Corbet Sigman. He used a simple test of edge strength. Considering all the posts regarding edges chipping and rolling, this might be a useful test.

Corbet used something like an old broom or mop handle and scraped the blade down the wood with the blade 90 degrees to the surface. After a while the surface of the wood would develop sort of a washboard. As you might imagine, this could be kind of rough on the edge.

Like most folks, Corbet picked a test that would show his product in a good light. None the less, his blade really shined compared to others I tried. I should mention that at that time his blades were made of W2 at RC64.

Try this on your favorite knife and see what happens.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I remember reading about George W. Stone, the fellow doing the article was there at George's place and asked him if his knives were really as tough as he claimed. George just reached down on the table picked up one of the knives and slammed the edge of the knife into a steel support column there in his shop, several times and then, without looking at the knife himself, handed to the writer and the fellow was amazed that the edge was undamage! Pretty neat trick, but I've heard his knives were well made and took a beating. He has past away, I believe, but you can still find some of his knives still around.

G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...


G2 LeatherWorks

 

[UffDa]

I have a couple of Stones catalogs in my collection. They were pretty tough knives, but as I remember they had pretty thick edges. A lot of knifemakers ground their blades kind of thick in the '60s and '70s. They were more like sharpened pry bars then fine cutting tools. I think guys like Loveless and a few others changed that by making thinner blades with finer edges.

 

[brian w edginton]

G2
Geez....that IS a depressing sig.

BTW, this post was made with the very best of intentions

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BrianWE

Believe me....being this old and having to live with all this experience is not the picnic I thought it was going to be.

 

[UffDa]

Brian:

I haven't a clue as to what you wrote means.

Just remember.... Getting old ain't for sissies.

 

[Roger Gregory]

Getting old ain't for sissies?

Good, so waking up with a cricked neck every day instead of once a month, my shot knees with no cartilage and my clicking wrist and creaking back don't make me a sissy?

Oh, I also remember when sharp for a knife meant being able to saw through a steak or whittle wood, not cut car doors or shave with!

 

[Hoodoo]

Originally posted by Roger Gregory:
Oh, I also remember when sharp for a knife meant being able to saw through a steak or whittle wood, not cut car doors or shave with!

I heard that English beef was kinda tough so I suppose you'd need a sharp knife for that.

Just kidding, mate.

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Hoodoo

No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.
Zora Neale Hurston

Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
Lao Tsu