not2sharp
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 20,859
We spend a lot of time on this site discussing many cool and interesting knives and talking about the seemingly constant evolution in materials and technology. But, I would argue that most of the achieved performance of any of these tools is more dependent on the skill, adaptability and resourcefulness of the user than on the specifications of the knife. A well designed good quality knife will always be appreciated, but the human element is something we should factor in and consider.
In recent decades we have seen contests like Bladesports and Knife or Death evolve. While these are a step in the right direction they are necessarily limited in approach and at best limited in revealing real world utility.
Let’s consider what a real world test might look like.
1) We would begin with an easily replicated and measurable task. Something like cutting a 1” strand of Manila rope and collecting the severed material into a container of a defined size.
2) We would add a fixed duration to the tasks. Perhaps 10 minutes.
3) We would need a scoring system; perhaps a count of the number of cuts achieved.
4) The rules would be simple, easy to understand, and flexible enough to allow each user to leverage their particular skills. I would allow the user to go with their choice of knife. It doesn’t matter if they choose a pen knife or a two-handed sword, in whatever materials they prefer. What’s counts is the number of cuts achieved, and that the material cut is collected within the specified container. The scoring ends when you run out of time or container space. The user is free to clean, sharpen or redress their blade as often as they wish with whatever manual tool they prefer; all of it falls under their time allowance.
It’s a test designed to allow for choices. Do you go with a simple steel that can be easily and quickly retouched, or the latest super steel that would take longer to wear/or sharpen the edge. Do you go with a small blade that is nimble and precise or a larger blade that offers more edge but may be slower and less precise and perhaps more exhausting (this is the reason the cuttings are collected). The user can choose to cut or chop, over whatever flat surface they may prefer (wood, plastic, glass, etc.) They can even choose to cut free hanging rope, but once their container fills they are done, so their cuts would need to be that accurate.
Such a test would likely add more color to our discussion of knives. How to would you approach this and do you feel that testing like this would be worthwhile for you?
N2s
In recent decades we have seen contests like Bladesports and Knife or Death evolve. While these are a step in the right direction they are necessarily limited in approach and at best limited in revealing real world utility.
Let’s consider what a real world test might look like.
1) We would begin with an easily replicated and measurable task. Something like cutting a 1” strand of Manila rope and collecting the severed material into a container of a defined size.
2) We would add a fixed duration to the tasks. Perhaps 10 minutes.
3) We would need a scoring system; perhaps a count of the number of cuts achieved.
4) The rules would be simple, easy to understand, and flexible enough to allow each user to leverage their particular skills. I would allow the user to go with their choice of knife. It doesn’t matter if they choose a pen knife or a two-handed sword, in whatever materials they prefer. What’s counts is the number of cuts achieved, and that the material cut is collected within the specified container. The scoring ends when you run out of time or container space. The user is free to clean, sharpen or redress their blade as often as they wish with whatever manual tool they prefer; all of it falls under their time allowance.
It’s a test designed to allow for choices. Do you go with a simple steel that can be easily and quickly retouched, or the latest super steel that would take longer to wear/or sharpen the edge. Do you go with a small blade that is nimble and precise or a larger blade that offers more edge but may be slower and less precise and perhaps more exhausting (this is the reason the cuttings are collected). The user can choose to cut or chop, over whatever flat surface they may prefer (wood, plastic, glass, etc.) They can even choose to cut free hanging rope, but once their container fills they are done, so their cuts would need to be that accurate.
Such a test would likely add more color to our discussion of knives. How to would you approach this and do you feel that testing like this would be worthwhile for you?
N2s