But we don't know how big the beatings are. There are very general ideas of how many hammer blows or how many flexes, but the applied force isn't measured. I still think it is fine in that it shows those few knives that managed to not completely fail with brittle fracture. But if you side load the blade and it bends, then you can't pry with it. And if you weren't prying with it, then why were you side loading it in the first place? So bending even without breaking would be a failure, imo. Or, sticking to knifeliness, how deep is the edge damage, since you can't cut without an edge. If you end up with a bar of steel at the end, that's fine if you need a bar of steel, but not if you need a knife.
Noss had discussed these things in the videos, but it all got overwhelmed by the internet's ability to focus, discard, and amplify. Either the overall idea of the test without details became a major factor in purchases for some, or it became a thing to crusade against with absolutely no merit in any way shape or form for others. Some got entertainment, but we can't be allowed that luxury in the serious business of tactical knives.
