How do ya test your new knives ?

[Bushman5]

I chop 2 - 4" thick alder saplings (damn things grow like weeds here). If it chops well, and then if it debarks the woods well, its a keeper.

Alder is my litmus test because i use a lot of it for poles, rustic furniture , firewood etc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AECf7WsatoA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlntTqmQErU

 

[coote]

A quick visual inspection, and the mandatory feeling of the edge. I might run a well-used file over various parts of the blade to get an idea of what the temper might be like. Then I just sharpen it as necessary, and use it.

On occasions I've clamped a blade in a vice and pulled on the handle to make it flex a bit. Not too much. But if it survives that, it is unlikely to break in normal service.

 

[machinest]

the only knives i have that will hold a good edge are the ones i have made myself from 1095 and d-2 all the lowend production knives are crap. they will dull on a tomato.

 

[baldtaco-II]

They must have been extremely low end. I've got some low rent Victorinox kitchen knives that are very humble by kitchen knife standards and they'll do wafer thin tomato slices for ages. And compared to a good modern sports knives they are so feeble in terms of materials and hardness they nearly plop off the scale. What were you sharpening them on?

 

[Snow]

So I'm the only one that tosses 'em in a drawer or safe?

 

[WalterDavis]

So I'm the only one that tosses 'em in a drawer or safe?

Me too, me too And if they break, chip, or roll an edge on one of the others already in there, I throw them away, value be danged

 

[trentu]

I usually test with meat and veggies in the house and then move to a walking stick and lastly cardboard. By then it is time for it's first appointment with the sharpener.

 

[PropThePolecat]

I usually start with a visual inspection just to check that everything is as its supposed to be, As i dont have any woodland near me, i take my knife into the kitchen and slice some tomatoes. Sometimes if we're having chicken or fish for dinner i use the knife to prep the food, that gives me initially a pretty good idea of how it handles.

When i finally head out to the woods, i use my new knife to prep/baton firewood and maybe make a figure-4 trap/tent pegs/spears etc.