knifemakers vs knife testers

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
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From time to time, I come across threads that expound on the virtues of certain blades by their owners. The makers of course won't blow his own trumpet.

Then come the knife testers. That's when the debate starts. There are some standard tests that knives must be subjected to before they receive their passing marks.

Knife testers will scientifically prove that their tests are fair, logical and exacting. Their methodical approach is usually explained in detail.

Sometimes, a knife by a well known firm or reputed maker does not meet the mark. Who do we believe? The maker or the tester?

I have read threads in the past when the issue exploded or imploded, depending on how you view it.

It may be fun to hear the various opposing views but the two guys on the opposing sides don't think it's so funny (meaning the knifemaker and the knife tester).

How do we settle such an issue to the satisfaction of both parties?

Or, can it be settled amicably at all?
 
The only big problem that I see is the matter of intended use. As long as the maker publishes the intended use of the knife, and the tester tests with the published intended use in mind, there's no real problem. Unfortunately, makers need ninja spec-ops folding prybar advertising to sell knives in today's climate, which keeps them from writing up any real world statements on intended use. If a manufacturer were to state its realistic idea of intended use, nobody would buy the knives.

The problem seems to be with the customers and their perceptions, not the makers and testers. People have been erroneously fooled into thinking that a knife is more than just a knife.
 
I do not use my knives for chopping cinder blocks, hardened steel nails, frozen wet/green wood, bone or knots in trees. We have endless test reports on these sharpened prybar applications.

Edge geometry and heat treatment are the most interesting to me personally. The rest is snooze material.

Regards,
FK
 
I tend to think that RC hardness is stressed too much among the makers and most knives are too brittle. If I buy a bowie with an 8" blade and it breaks with light prying I am not going to be happy with that maker. A person usually does not buy a large blade for light work. So when a tester chips or breaks a blade and the only thing a maker can do is bad mouth the tester I tend to think the maker isn't getting his heattreat done right.
 
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