Cutting tests with a knife

[kalis]

I watched a you tube video that showed people cutting free hanging rope. After everyone did a bundle of five pieces (free hanging), they did more until they got up to ten pieces. What type of edge does the best job, and are there tricks or techniques involved? Waxed blades? Chanting?

 

[singularity35]

Quenching in virgin's blood is always good.

 

[EBHM4]

You're probably referring to the Cold Steel videos. Honestly, any knife with a good edge, a decent grind, and a long enough blade for the rope width will do those cut tests. They're not all that impressive in my opinion.

 

[unit]

Check out Bladesports.org Those guys do this among other feats of cutting. Most use a flat ground blade with a thin grind and a ~30 degree inclusive edge bevel (some use a convex edge...but generally most are in the neighborhood of ~30 degrees).

The edge/knife is only a component of the cut. The technique (speed, strength, accuracy, angle, etc.) is the critical aspect to successful cuts like this.