How do ya test your new knives ?

[pitdog]

That is what is the first thing you do to get an idea of it's capability ?

I know some like to slice a tomato etc but for me I like to make a fuzz stick, this gives me an immediate idea of the grind, if it won't make a nice Fuzzy then it's gonna struggle at other wood working tasks such as trap making and camp items.

I can put up with thick sliced tomatoes, LOL !!!!

What do you all do ????

 

[dbltap45acp]

I do the same as you, fuzz stick and notching. I still dont have the balls to drill with the tip of any of my knives though. How do you test the tip pitdog?

 

[j williams]

not much....just use em.

 

[pitdog]

I do the same as you, fuzz stick and notching. I still dont have the balls to drill with the tip of any of my knives though. How do you test the tip pitdog?

I did a bumper test for the forum once comparing about 5 knives,in that test I used them all to drill a fireboard notch and there were no issues with any of them so it's not really something I worry about !

I would be more wary of jabbing the tip in and prizing wood out that way though !

 

[Diomedes Industries]

I usually sharpen it first. Inspect the blade, get to know it, take out any rough spots and make it mine.

Then, fuzz sticks, notches, and a tent peg or two. Then, usually it gets some pants, then it is off to be used for a time.

If, by then, it is not comfortable, on the block it goes.

TF

 

[dawsonbob]

Whittlin'. Big stuff, small stuff, a fuzzy or two. Then I go in and try a tomato or two. Most of mine are a lot better at whittling than they are at tomatoes, though.

 

[KEmSAT-Survival]

That is what is the first thing you do to get an idea of it's capability ?

I know some like to slice a tomato etc but for me I like to make a fuzz stick, this gives me an immediate idea of the grind, if it won't make a nice Fuzzy then it's gonna struggle at other wood working tasks such as trap making and camp items.

I can put up with thick sliced tomatoes, LOL !!!!

What do you all do ????

I send my knives to Knifetests.com. If they come back broke then I know they're crap.

So far, every knife I've bought is crap.

I keed...I got a crowbar back only slightly bent once, but it wouldn't hold an edge for shit...


I keed again...


I do what I always do:

First I figure out what I want to use them for, then I design little yard-based tests on the main functions of that desired use. Then, when time allows, I take them into the field and give them a full workout.

If they can make it through two or three days without missing a beat...they're Kentucky Backwoods Qualified.

No hammer touches them. They don't cut steel pipes. They don't get thrown or driven into concrete blocks like spikes.

Unless I intend to do that crap with them.

And so far, I've never needed to cut my way out of a locked trunk or fall-out shelter.

 

[Todd A]

I take them outside to play.

All the normal stuff, make a few traps, use it to prep and start a fire with a LMF. Maybe use it to take down small saplings to make a quickie shelter (its my land) , etc....

 

[Anrkst6973]

I cant have a clean shiny unscratched knife. Its out of the box then out to the back yard for chopping hacking whittling digging and even prying test (depending on what I bought the knife for), I figure its better to damage it brand new than 20 miles back in the bottoms when my life might depend on it. If it survives the back yard then its into the kitchen for cleaning and edge inspection, resharping and further testing on a variety of meat and veg mediums to asess its camp knife capabilitys. most of mine are better at fuzzies than tomatoes too. So far only one blade has failed the backyard test( lost its point in a stab in a board) its buried in a hole out there somewhere, I was so mad I didnt even send it in for warranty.

 

[hollowdweller]

I usually go out and find me a downed tree limb that is not punky or rotten and that is about 1.5" in diameter and then I use the knife to completely whittle it in half.

This sort of gives me some indication as to how comfortable it is since it takes a while to do, how tough the edge is and how good the tempering is.

Another thing I like to do to test the edge is to try to cut in and turn the blade slightly so as to apply more sideways force on the edge to see if I can chip it off.

 

[baldtaco-II]

I test the grips before anything else.

There's only two routes to me cutting myself; 1] The knife is a liability, or 2] I'm being a twat. If I rule out the former there's no excuses later.

I hold it in the grips I commonly use – Poking, slicing, carving off, cutting on the pull on whatever items are available. I deliberately compromise the integrity of the grip. I prefer to use pig fat / grease but if I haven't got any handy vaseline, washing up liquid, KY and so on works at a pinch. Pig fat is by far my favorite though. If I feel any sense that something could go wrong, or that my grip squirms meaning I have to hold it with excessive force I'll bin it off as a hazard. Not ideal but it's a fair representation of the grime and slime of the outdoors. If it is comfortable throughout that and retains a good amount of traction I'll move on to go do something proper with it.

 

[dawsonbob]

Hollowdweller brings up a good point about use. I'm with him in that I like to use the heck out of it (whittling, etc.) to see how the handle works over time. In my mind, a bad handle means a bad knife (for me).

 

[ZombaiO]

Batoning and whittling for me

 

[Gossman Knives]

not much....just use em.

That's what I do. The best way to get to know a knife is with daily use.
If pitdog doesn't mind, I'll add another question to the thread. How do you test edge holding? I cut loads of cardboard and do wood curls.
Scott

 

[baldtaco-II]

That's what I do. The best way to get to know a knife is with daily use.
If pitdog doesn't mind, I'll add another question to the thread. How do you test edge holding? I cut loads of cardboard and do wood curls.
Scott

The most effortless one for me is washed up rope and net. There's loads of that along the beach here and what with a the sand and other impurities in it I've found that knives tend not to like that much at all.

 

[Oregon Knife Guy]

I just stare at them...

 

[dbltap45acp]

Pitdog, do you have a link to that bumper test?

 

[THE PUNISHER]

i cut up my cheap ones...........

 

[A.L.]

Fuzzies, whittling. Like said, from that you can pretty much see what the blade is capable of doing.

 

[j williams]

for edge retention, I cut cardboard, and test the sharpness in the kitchen. Slicing meat, and veggies.