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Blade Thinness?
- Thread starter UnknownVT
- Start date
Anarcus said:
Most custom/handmade knifemakers normally tell you the steel stock thickness - that usually becomes the blade's spine thickness (at least at or near the tang/shank).
When people specify blade thickness it is also usually just the spine thickness - so that's the original steel stock thickness.
If I were to ask for a certain degree of "flex" in the blade - I'd probably use a typical commonly available knife as an example - so that either the knifemaker already has one - or give/lend that example knife for comparison.
Since custom/handmade knifemakers by definition in the main use hand crafting - I would think to get any degree of "flex" is done by experience and probably some trial and error/comparison with known example.
I would also love to hear of anyone using some mathematical formula or model for this.
--
Vincent
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
edb said:
The 84mm Victorinox SAKs are reasonably easily available in the USA, and have been for a long time.
One of the most desired 84mm models which has been recently re-introduced to the USA was the Small Tinker (US model #53133)
My favorite of the 84mm models is what I consider one of the best Minimalist SAKs is the Victorinox Waiter (US model #53891)
Other 84mm models of note are the Sportsman (US model #53132)
(note: the 84mm (Economy) Sportsman II is sold at Walgreens for $9.99)
and the very thin silver Alox handled Bantam Alox (US model #53949)
and Cadet Alox (US model #53042)
--
Vincent
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
This is a great subjuect and I've got to toss in my .02cents worth.
Most people get totally carried away with the thickness of a knife blade, they think thicker is stronger. They get to a point where the thickness will interfere with the main function of a knife-to cut.
But how thick is too thick?
Even for a combat or tacticle type of knife a little thinner is okay. The old mountain men relied on a knife like the Russells Green River model for most of their survival needs. This knife was in reallity just a large kitchen butcher knife. The buffalo hunters who came a generation later did the same. Think of it guys, those old dudes went into the rocky mountain wilderness with a single shot muzzle loading rifle and a plain jane butcher knife, and made a living.
In the mid '70s I was a police officer in a small western town and one of the killings I had to make a report on was a case of two Mexican workers who went fishing on the banks of the river. They got into an argument ( yes, alcohol was involved) and one of them stabbed the other in the chest. The murder weapon was a Martini brand rapala fillet knife that cost about 8 dollars and has a very thin flexable blade. The fine point went right between the ribs and slid right into the other guys heart. The coroner said he was dead by the time he hit the ground. Heck in jail they make shanks out of licence plate metal. Thin enough for you?
Most machete blades are about .090 thousands or less, and look at the beating they take!
You can go a hell of a long way on a thin piece of steel thats very sharp. Give me a thin blade anytime. If I want a pry bar then thats what they make cats paws for.
Most people get totally carried away with the thickness of a knife blade, they think thicker is stronger. They get to a point where the thickness will interfere with the main function of a knife-to cut.
But how thick is too thick?
Even for a combat or tacticle type of knife a little thinner is okay. The old mountain men relied on a knife like the Russells Green River model for most of their survival needs. This knife was in reallity just a large kitchen butcher knife. The buffalo hunters who came a generation later did the same. Think of it guys, those old dudes went into the rocky mountain wilderness with a single shot muzzle loading rifle and a plain jane butcher knife, and made a living.
In the mid '70s I was a police officer in a small western town and one of the killings I had to make a report on was a case of two Mexican workers who went fishing on the banks of the river. They got into an argument ( yes, alcohol was involved) and one of them stabbed the other in the chest. The murder weapon was a Martini brand rapala fillet knife that cost about 8 dollars and has a very thin flexable blade. The fine point went right between the ribs and slid right into the other guys heart. The coroner said he was dead by the time he hit the ground. Heck in jail they make shanks out of licence plate metal. Thin enough for you?
Most machete blades are about .090 thousands or less, and look at the beating they take!
You can go a hell of a long way on a thin piece of steel thats very sharp. Give me a thin blade anytime. If I want a pry bar then thats what they make cats paws for.
I posted this in another thread ( Convexed Edge )
These ad-hoc/informal/UNscientific cardboard cuttings demonstrate how well thinner blades out cut even very good geometried thicker blades -
Some ad-hoc/informal cardboard cutting.
In spite the fact I tried to make it as "equal" as possible - it is not that consistent (*see later) -
but still a reasonable indicator (of sorts )
Cutting into regular corrugated cardboard across the corrugation -
Where it says "stopped" in the Victorinox 3.25" Parer, Opinel #8 stainless and the convexed Victorinox SAK - they would have cut all the way through - so I just stopped when I thought it was enough - so those are not meant to be compared in absolute terms merely to show that they did easily out cut the thicker knives despite some very good profiles/geometry.
[note: the Victorinox Parer is as-is - ie: flat ground with regular plain bevel edge - it cuts so well mainly because it is a very thin blade]
* inconsistency - Notice that I re-did the BlackJack stuff and in one the Condor 79-Z cut less than the Convexed AWAC and in the other it's reversed - but they are still in roughly the same ballpark.........
These were the knives -
--
Vincent
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.Net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.Net
These ad-hoc/informal/UNscientific cardboard cuttings demonstrate how well thinner blades out cut even very good geometried thicker blades -
Some ad-hoc/informal cardboard cutting.
In spite the fact I tried to make it as "equal" as possible - it is not that consistent (*see later) -
but still a reasonable indicator (of sorts )
Cutting into regular corrugated cardboard across the corrugation -
Where it says "stopped" in the Victorinox 3.25" Parer, Opinel #8 stainless and the convexed Victorinox SAK - they would have cut all the way through - so I just stopped when I thought it was enough - so those are not meant to be compared in absolute terms merely to show that they did easily out cut the thicker knives despite some very good profiles/geometry.
[note: the Victorinox Parer is as-is - ie: flat ground with regular plain bevel edge - it cuts so well mainly because it is a very thin blade]
* inconsistency - Notice that I re-did the BlackJack stuff and in one the Condor 79-Z cut less than the Convexed AWAC and in the other it's reversed - but they are still in roughly the same ballpark.........
These were the knives -
--
Vincent
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.Net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.Net