Do knife collectors care about magnetism?

[Jason Fry]

I use a magnet when grinding tapered tangs. Consequently, the blades end up magnetic. Do collectors (or users) care if a knife is magnetic or not? Is that something people even notice or check for?

 

[Mark Behnke]

I've wondered the same thing as a maker, and have decided that there is no expectation of a custom knife to be magnetic and a demagnetizer is on my list.
If requested it could always be provided.

Just my thoughts, take 'em with a grain of salt.

Mark

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

Get a demagnetizer:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-X-7-DEMAG...839?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35beb225e7

 

[theflyingplatypus]

I care. Mostly because I work in a machine shop and do many sorts of crafting with metal at home, so if it's a knife I will often carry it will most likely come into contact with metal chips(shavings)/dust and be a real PITA. Demagnetize them please, there is absolutely no use for magnetism in a blade.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Get a demagnetizer:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-X-7-DEMAG...839?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35beb225e7

Karl, I feel your knives being magnetized would be a plus. That way if you drop the assembly pins (take downs), they will be easy to pickup.

 

[SharpByCoop]

Man, out of 12+ years of following forums, this is a topic I've never once heard or considered.

I don't care, until it started picking up chips. Then I'd care.

I've not seen this happen, although admittedly, my collection is just that.

Demagnetize if it's attracting steel.

Coop

 

[J. Doyle]

Get a demagnetizer:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-X-7-DEMAG...839?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35beb225e7

Right on Karl! I can tell you as a maker, magnetic knives SUCK! When every little bit of grinding or especially hand sanding while doing the final polish makes all the little shavings stick to the blade, it's annoying to the highest degree. I have a demagnetizer.

 

[JBS TOOLMAKER]

Yes demagnetize......

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

Why not grind your tapered tangs before heat treat and after heat treating they will no longer be magnetized.

 

[David Sharp]

I have talked to many collectors who indicate your personality is a major factor in a purchase! (couldn't resist)

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

As a collector, the only magnetism that matters to me is whether or not I am attracted to the knive.

 

[RogerP]

I do not want my knife picking up random paper clips.

 

[betzner]

I do not want my knife picking up random paper clips.

Ditto. We collect knives, not random paper clips. Hard to imagine any collector would do anything but return a magnetized blade.

 

[ScottRoush]

Just bring em up to 1525 F and quench. That might cause other problems...

 

[Jason Fry]

Lots of folks seem to never have thought about it. Those who do care or notice don't want a magnetized blade. Looks like a demagnetizer just made the supply list.

I figured out that the magnetism after heat treat must be from using the magnet when grinding the heat treat oxidation off the blade. The heat treat itself would take care of the magnetism from tapering the tangs.

 

[Lorien]

magnetized blades cut better, in my experience.

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

I use non-magnetic pins.

Karl, I feel your knives being magnetized would be a plus. That way if you drop the assembly pins (take downs), they will be easy to pickup.

 

[brownshoe]

I have two little knives with rare earth magnets to hold them in the sheath. They have become magnetized over time. I've never had a problem with it.

 

[HTMD]

Yes, IMHO blades should be de-gaussed (de-magnetized) if they become magnetic. I use a lot of 4 O and 6 O steel wool to aid in cleaning knives (my own knives, not knives sent to me for photography). If the knife is magnetized it will pick up the very fine steel wool debris and it's difficult to be sure I've removed all of it. That's the main reason I will de-gauss a knife.