Cutting pop cans with the Battle Mistress

C

Cliff Stamp

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In a recent thread on the Camillus forum :

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum21/HTML/000257.html

Will Fennel commented about cutting pop cans half filled with water with the Magnum Camp knife. I have wondered from time to time how difficult this is but never actually attempted it. Yesterday I finally got around to doing it. I took out some pop cans and dragged my brother Pat along as he has more reach and speed that I do.

My first cut was very off, much to Pat's amusement. I slammed the blade into the can and actually hit it below the lip and cut upward throwing the can upward in a nice arc and it landed about 15 feet away. Pat's first cut made a complete show of mine. His cut entered the can just above the 1/2 way point and cut on a slight angle into the water. He sheared nicely through the can and the end just tipped over and rolled off the table (it was not level and it was windy out empty cans will not stay upright).

Determined to reproduce this I took more care and made a controlled cut. i got a similar result, clean cut and the can toppled over and rolled off. Pat duplicated his first cut. it then came to me that if I could cut at a higher angle I would force the can in place. I then took a 4x4 and stood the can on it and cut at about a 30 degree of so angle. The can was neatly sheared in half and the bottom piece stayed on the post.

A couple of notes on the condition of the Battle Mistress. It has 4 rust spots along the edge because a couple of weeks ago I wanted to see if it would rust if I put it away wet with no protectant. It did. I then left the rust on to see if it would increase. it did but very slowly. The edge also has a couple of dents about .2 to .1 mm in depth and about 1-2 mm in length as I was chopping up a coat hanger with it. I have some digging to do with it which is why I have not sharpened it yet. Before the cans were cut it was scraping sharp. This means I could shave with it but my skin would be irritated. The edge was not effected by the pop can's.

After the can cutting was finished I tried to cut a paint can in half. I could dent it up readily and sent it flying about 20 feet but not half it. I need to work on my technique.

-Cliff


[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 04-10-2000).]
 
Interesting results. Hey I heard that cutting new paint spray cans is a challenge. Would someone care to try and let me know the results.

 
Cutting an empty soda can is an even better test--hard to leave the bottom half undisturbed unless the knife is very sharp.
 
Originally posted by Cobalt:
Interesting results. Hey I heard that cutting new paint spray cans is a challenge. Would someone care to try and let me know the results.


Yo! That would indeed be interesting. I'd like to watch, but from a distance and up wind.
smile.gif
I am assuming that when you say "new" you mean full.



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Do not lead me for I will not follow.
Do not follow me for I will not lead.
Do not walk by my side either.
Just leave me the hell alone.
Click to expand...
 
OK guys, WHY?

What does this proof? Cutting a can in half is related to (______________) in actual knife use. It may proof a point on edge geometry but nothing on edge holding as is needs only be done once.

We have weird stuff in Africa but I have never been assaulted by a soda can ..... empty or full ?

Being ignorant and all, I am having a hard time seeing a good reasons for this test ...please help ?
 
Uffda, yes I meant full, hehe.

Aubrey, my ignorint frind lit me learn ya the ways of blade testin american/canadian style. There is a reason for cuttin up a can...its FUN. In the 60's and 70's we used to use Japanese cars, because they were the size of tin cans, but today not even the Yugo is available for that so we have to go with Sodipop. Next time dont ask such a stewpid questin.
 
Aubrey,

In the South (U.S.) we commonly utilize a phrase prior to engaging in any combative activities and I quote, "Son, Ima 'bout to open up a can o' whoopass on ya'". Therefore it is imperative that we determine the exact effect of any blade on said can. Imagine how embarrasing it would be to draw a knife and refer to opening a "can o' whoopass" and find that you can only dent it or send it flying across the room. You have to know these things ahead of time or you risk serious consequences. Mr. Stamp is doing the knife community a great service with these tests and I would be happy to send him a case of "whoopass cans" if they are unavailable in Canada.

Regards,

Jeff
 
Will, do you know if there is a rule/guideline that is used governing the angle of attack? If for example you can cut from almost to the top to the bottom there would be little lateral force to move the can. Do the edges of the pop can need to be smoothly cut or can they be bent in?

It is an interesting method to examine the blade profile. One of the benefits being that it is trivial for anyone to attempt. I think I will do it from now on and see how it relates to performance in general. You could for example quantify the ability by finding the least amount of water that you would need in order to keep the can stable or the lowest angle of attack.

The biggest problem is that it is highly sensitive to method so I would probably need to recalibrate the baseline every few months until my technique stabilized.


-Cliff

[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 04-11-2000).]
 
Actually, I think the whoopass answer was the most poignant last word on this subject, but since you ask:
The only rule I know of, and I think this is now an ABS hammer-in event, is that the can be empty and that the bottom portion be left on the table. And you're right--technique is crucial, just as in cutting free-hanging rope.
By the way, the thing I like about this test is that, even though many factors have to come together to pull it off, anybody can do it--and the one thing that you must have is a sharper than credible blade.
After all, who would think it would be possible at all? Takes our expectation further, which in turn impels our exploration of just what a blade can do.
But Cliff, if you ever manage to fully stabilize your techniques, I'm going to start worrying about you. After all, it's that degree of human wobble that keeps things interesting.
--Will
 
JDS

Thanks to you I've had my first ROTFLMAO episode. Nothing better for the soul than a good belly laugh.

Thanks again,
Kellster
BTW, my BM will be here soon, I hope, and I'll get to open some whoopass cans myself. There it goes again, ROTFLMAO!

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A knife is by default a tool, it's only a weapon when a human chooses to make it so.

 
How 'bout a can of pepper spray?

OK Cliff (or any other takers), here's a REAL test (... ff what, I don't know -- maybe Aubrey can help us on this one
smile.gif
). Can you cut the can in half and leave the top part still sitting on the bottom?

(I'd show you how I do it w/my hand, but I don't know how to hook video to my computer ...
smile.gif
)
 
If the can is 1/2 full of water or so yes, if it is empty, well I'll let you know after I have collected another dozen or so cans and sharpened the Battle Mistress.


-Cliff
 
I spent this morning trying the empty can cut and concluded that it is much harder than I though it was going to be. I can cut the can it in half without too much trouble but I send it flying (5 to 15 feet) everytime. Inspection of the can shows the area around the cut severely bent in, this of course is why it is flying as it shows that it is recieving way too much force.

For the cuts I am using a stroke from left to right (I am right handed) at about 30 degrees of so off of flat and using the area just under the tip to make the cut. If I use the base of the blade I tend to just smack the can and not even cut it. I am also using a slight draw across the can. You have to get just the right amount of the tip into the cut. If it is not enough you will not complete the cut and if it is too much you just bat the can.

Two questions to anyone who has seen this done. Am I close on technique? What kind of blade geometry is used on the bowie that can do this? I am thinking a full distil taper and a much drawn back point with a false edge as well as a thin fully convex edge nicely blended into the main grind. I am unsure of having the handle angled to the blade but think that it might help depending on how much of a draw vs how much of a push cut you do as well similar in regarding polished vs toothy edges. I can experiment with the latter obviously.

-Cliff
 
Cliff I've cut water-filled pop cans with both a bowie and #7, but I've never been able to do it with an empty without sending if flying. From what I've read, it takes a very thin, sharp blade to do it. I wonder if the Busse is simply too thick to do it regardless of blade or entry angle?

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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
 
Cliff,

Why would one try to cut an empty pop can in half with a Battle Mistress when one can simply crush, mangle, or destroy said pop can with said Battle Mistress?
wink.gif




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Brian_T
brianthornburg@home.com
 
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