Maker vs. Smith

akadave2

akadave2

Joined
Jun 21, 2008
Messages
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I know this has likely been beaten to death but from time to time I think about this because as times and materials change, I think the argument changes.

I make no apologies about it but I love forged knives. I enjoy the process that a smith uses to create a forged blade, with differential heat treat, the techniques used to shape forge the blade, etc etc. I know that there are much fewer types of steel that a suitable for forging compared to those made by grinding or cutting to shape, but I still feel the best knife I have yet owned is one forged and not ground or cut to shape and heat treated in a oven.

However knife steels are continuously improving, now with so many "Super steels" that forging a knife may likely be obsolete. Grain structure, carbides, corrosion resistance and all the other things built into the steel. Even the edge is affected by the type of steel, with some steels having a more aggressive edge than other steels. Its truly hi tech now. Even the methods that custom makers use are hi tech with so few hand operations as to beg the question, "is it actually hand made?". Regardless the product is as nearly perfect as can be achieved and repeatable time after time. No less a fine knife.

Im not a knife maker or an expert in any way. Just someone who has just enough knowledge to understand what he likes and how things work in general. I guess in the end, its the heat treat that differentiates a good knife from the rest all things being equal. So many variables to think about and discuss...
 
As someone who has done both metalsmithing and machining, I can tell you that from my perspective, the methods and techniques used in order to achieve the end product are secondary to the quality of the product. That said, there is nothing wrong with the aesthetic attributes found with handmade products versus those made with more advanced tools, and I have made purchasing decisions based on such, favoring the handmade.

The opposite is also true.
 
There is no answer to this question.
There's good forged and stock removed and bad forged and stock removed.

Don't get fixated on the methods used.


It's the craftman not the methods.
Don't by a method, buy a knife from a reputable maker/Smith.

I wouldn't turn my nose down at either and I'm a huge steel snob.

Yea, you have access to more exotic steels with stock removal but knives are more then just super duper steel.

slapping Maxamet steel on a bad design (too thick, poor ergos) isn't going to work

It's design, craftmanship, heat treatment and then steel choice.

So Don't get fixed on if it's forged or stock removed.

I've used both and have enjoyed the merits of both. It's all about that synergy man. The perfect geometry, ergos ,heat treatment, steel and fit and finish for the job that suits ones preferences and use.

Not one attribute stands alone for a killer knife my man. Needs that synergy.

The best makers/Smith's understand this that's why you buy from the ones with the best reputations and craftmanship within your budget
 
All bladesmiths are makers. Not all makers are bladesmiths. But a good knife maker is a good knife maker regardless of technique.
 
When it comes to performance there's really only three factors:

Steel choice
Heat treat
Geometry of the blade.

These three will decide whether a knife will cut well. (Taking into account that things like blade shape are the same for the sake of comparison)

Everything else is basically a sales pitch.

As you see....nothing to do with forging or the way the material is shaped/removed. Now...like someone else said...there are great bladesmiths and terrible stock removers....and vice versa. The method maketh not the knife if you will.

And yes....some modern steels (when done well) will outperform some of the steels used for forging in things like edge retention and CERTAINLY in corrosion resistance and maybe slightly in toughness. If you're going for nothing but performance there's not reason to go forged anymore.

That said....a lot of the forging guys have gotten so good at optimising their product. That they'll outperform a lot of the stock removal guys. But this is due to their skill, not their method.
 
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