Friction Forged D2 - DiamondBlade Summit

Its would be interesting to see what strategy the makers of FF steel will follow. They could stay with knife manufactuing which limits the number of knives sold because people will have to like both the knife and the steel.

Even if the steel is as good as its claimed, the knife design and execution can make or break a sale. One the other hand, it could make blades for other manufacturers or license the technology so the steel appears in other designs and from other manufacturers.

Its a bit like Apple and Microsoft. Apple makes both the hardware and the software and has 10% of the PC market, Microsoft only makes the software and has 90% of the market and Bill Gates is the richest man in the world. Its really a no brainer.
 
I would like to try the steel but I do not like the designs thus far- to me (and me alone) they seem to be poorly designed- everything looks too "softened" to seem to be a $400 knife. I am not calling into question their abilities but right now they are just not for me.
 
theonew said:
Nice looking knife ... sharpest you've ever seen - WOW
Can't wait to see your test results on this one.
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db said:
Have you sliced any rope with it yet? PS I really like your videos you post along with your tests.
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alejandrino said:
Can't wait to see the test results !
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I just stated testing it:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=509097

Thanks, Vassili.

P.S. This is Knives of Alaska. So I think there is not too much market in Alaska for tactical knives and folder, but huge market for long cutting hunters. So it does not surprise me that they made hunting knives - real users first.

But I think they need to have camp knife in their model line too, something like M.D.Calldwell 1-4 or similar. And it will not be hard to make it look tactical to cover that market also, but I hope it will not be chisel grind americanized tanto with teeth on the spine and triple blood grooves... Please keep it functional - flat grind etc...
 
Thanks Noz and Troop.

It is amazing how the truth can actually come out when it is posted by folks who have actual experience rather than theory and speculation based on bias.

This is exciting to me and so far your experience seems to fall in line with people who I trust that have worked on this steel.

My bet is that it is not brittle either. :D.
 
nozh2002 said:
I just stated testing it:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=509097

Thanks, Vassili.

P.S. This is Knives of Alaska. So I think there is not too much market in Alaska for tactical knives and folder, but huge market for long cutting hunters. So it does not surprise me that they made hunting knives - real users first.

But I think they need to have camp knife in their model line too, something like M.D.Calldwell 1-4 or similar. And it will not be hard to make it look tactical to cover that market also, but I hope it will not be chisel grind americanized tanto with teeth on the spine and triple blood grooves... Please keep it functional - flat grind etc...
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Ehhh..... Vassili?
Knives of Alaska = Dennison, Texas. :D
 
I thought it was only DiamondBlade address. On KOA website they call it "Southern Office", but I do not see any other offices. Why they did not call it Knives of Texas?

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Marketing probably. When you say Alaska, you immediately think of users, hunting, skinning, caping, etc. When you say Texas, well, all I think of are Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders - definitely too soft for a long lasting edge.... :D
 
That is an awesome knife. I have heard good things about the friction forged knives. If I keep reading about them, I am going to have to get one! ;)
 
sodak said:
Marketing probably. When you say Alaska, you immediately think of users, hunting, skinning, caping, etc. When you say Texas, well, all I think of are Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders - definitely too soft for a long lasting edge.... :D
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Hey...with those Cheerleaders...Man, you've got to quench your blade quickly, or it ain't happening!:D
 
Native Justice said:
From what I understand, the KOA name came from the owners active big game hunting guiding business in Alaska.

NJ
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Then my comment is correct - their customer base mainly hunters and outdoorsmen - not tactical guys. And for tis reason they do this models.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Excellent post, Vassili... I've read the articles on the knives/process and was intrigued...
 
nozh2002 said:
So far up to 100 cuts Friction Forged D2 shows better results then any other steel I tested.

Thanks, Vassili.
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Oh, so now you're a fan of FFD2. When I first told everyone about how great it is, I guess I was talking crap, right?
 
Troop said:
Oh, so now you're a fan of FFD2. When I first told everyone about how great it is, I guess I was talking crap, right?
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No just the ignorant ones with a bias and an ax to grind. ;)

I still am appreciative on the way you handled those fools.
 
nozh2002 said:
I thought it was only DiamondBlade address. On KOA website they call it "Southern Office", but I do not see any other offices. Why they did not call it Knives of Texas?

Thanks, Vassili.
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Northern office is in Cordova, Alaska, the nearest town to Driftwood Lodge. Knives are often designed at Driftwood Lodge. Prototypes go through extensive testing on hunts at Driftwood Lodge. Guided trips to Driftwood Lodge on the Tsiu River are provided by Alaska Expedition Company, another company owned by Charles Allen, the owner of Knives of Alaska.

You can get information on AEC at http://www.alaskaexpedition.com/

Hence, as you say, the hunting knives were the first in the DiamondBlade line.

Carl
 
Troop said:
Oh, so now you're a fan of FFD2. When I first told everyone about how great it is, I guess I was talking crap, right?
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Easy, Troop. :) It's good for people to be skeptical about claimed advances in technology without independent verification. I'm glad you hung in there and shared your experience. Now Vassili is understanding why you were so excited about your knife. Others will learn in the future ....

And it wasn't really Vassili who kept on hijacking your thread; it was another user who has since been banned who kept insisting that anybody who said FFD2 was good was a biased liar. He's gone now, and as far as I can see, almost everybody else at bladeforums is open to reviewing data before rushing to judgment.

Good luck with the field testing (on game, of course, not rope) on your FFD2 blade!

Carl
 
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