My knife bit someone today

Magnaminous_G

Magnaminous_G

Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
2,090
I daily-carry this Keith Johnson custom sodbuster in CPM-D2 and had just touched up its edge on my Knives Plus Strop Block last night, so it was hair-whittling sharp.

Well, this evening I went to an event in a building where you have to go through metal detectors. I’ve been inside that building with my pocket knife before, so I knew I wasn't going to have any problems. The security guards basically take your knife, open the blade, and measure it against their badges. If it’s shorter than their badge is wide, then they let you take the knife in (my knife has a 2 7/8” blade).

Tonight, I walked up to a guard, as per usual, informed him I had a pocket knife on me, pulled it out of my pocket, and handed it to him. The security guards in this location have always been professional about opening your pocket knife, but this guy was acting off. First, he pulled it to half-stop and then held it like that against his badge. After he had confirmed that it was short enough, he did something weird trying to close it… and cut the crap out of his finger. He jumped back and flinched and dropped my knife. The cut was so clean that it didn’t bleed, but then I saw some droplets come to the surface. It all happened in a flash, but it seemed like he had barely touched it. While he ran off around the corner and shouted something, the other security guard didn't seem bothered, at all, and just waved me in.

That was a bit hair-raising. Maybe he wasn’t expecting it to be sharp? Whenever I sharpen a knife for someone or let someone handle my knives, I always warn them that the blade is very sharp. I didn’t even think about that tonight. Normally, the guards just open it up, check it out, close it, and give it back. Not sure what this guy was doing, but I hope he learned his lesson, and I sure learned mine.




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If he couldn't handle basic knife safety I hope he wasn't carrying a firearm.
It can be very easy to be distracted for a second but his one job really is to pay attention.

Beautiful knife by the way.
 
I hope you didn't get his DNA on that gorgeous knife. And...he learned something...
All is well with the world.
 
Mag,

I have a D2 that is recommended not to be stropped. I always shave with my knives (8Cr, 52100, AUS 6 or 8). The D2 is the only one not shaving well. Seems from your description it's taken to high polish, which many sources say not suitable for D2.

Insights?
 
Some people have to learn lessons the hard way. The unfortunate part (aside from the whole basis of this story) is that he dropped your knife, hopefully it wasn't damaged in any way.
 
Chris "Anagarika";15244845 said:
... I always shave with my knives (8Cr, 52100, AUS 6 or 8) ...
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Sorry M, no hijacking intended here - Chris, I wanted to ask you before, since you shave with your knives, do you know ( I am sure you do) the scienceofsharp.com website? It's more about razors but very interesting info generally and awesome EM-pictures.
 
Thanks for the compliments on the knife, guys. All credit goes to Keith Johnson. Look him up if you want a custom traditional. By the way, those pics are from when the knife was new in 2013. The old white Westinghouse micarta scales have aged beautifully in two years of pocket-carry. Here's the knife today. Take a look; they don't even look like the same scales anymore.


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razor-edge-knives said:
How was your knife after the fall? :D
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I lucked out. He sort of half-tossed, half-dropped the knife, and it landed in a fold of the skirt around the table where you put your stuff before going through the metal detector. The knife was unharmed. If he had dropped it on the tiled floor and damaged it, that would have been terrible. On the one hand, he's bleeding and injured. On the other hand, he ruins my knife.



Chris "Anagarika";15244845 said:
Mag,

I have a D2 that is recommended not to be stropped. I always shave with my knives (8Cr, 52100, AUS 6 or 8). The D2 is the only one not shaving well. Seems from your description it's taken to high polish, which many sources say not suitable for D2.

Insights?
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Nah, it's not that highly-polished. I'm not the metallurgy expert that some folks here are, but I've heard about D2's large carbides and how they effect sharpness. I dunno. This is my only D2 knife -- CPM D2, at that -- and I carry it daily. I've been maintaining the edge with a 30° micro-bevel on the Sharpmaker fine rods, which I think are around 2k (and which you can actually see if you look closely at the second picture above). It makes for a very nice edge. So I don't take it too high or polish it too much.

The primary bevel was hand done at about 20° with the Arashiyama 6k stone as a final step. That stone does not leave a highly-polished or mirror edge. It leaves a slightly cloudy finish that lets you see the steel characteristics. Very nice stone. I only touch the knife up with the Sharpmaker if absolutely necessary... maybe a few times a year. As long as it can still cleanly slice newsprint, it's sharp enough for any cutting task I would ask of it on any given day. If it's just a tad off of that level, I'll just bring it back with a few passes on the Strop Block. Not sure if that answers the question. I don't shave with my knives. I use a Merkur Futur with Astra platinum blades. :D
 
I don't really like slipjoints at all. I'm not into traditionals at ALL. I wouldn't ever carry one for everyday use.

But man is THAT a nice looking knife! :) I'm really glad it wasn't damaged by Captain bad ass with the cut finger.

On second thought, I might actually carry *that* knife. Very, very nice.

Brian.
 
Andy,

Yes, I know that website, by Todd right? He shared some of the SEM images here several times.

Mag,

Thanks for responding. I was wondering because the strop block IIRC is green (Chromium Oxide). Sort of answering my question or at least some clue for experiment further. I only have one D2, by BluntCut Metal Works. So I have very limited experience.
 
I hope the guy learned his lesson! Stunning knife by the way...Keith does fantastic work:thumbup:
 
I once had a guy ask to see my knife and I told him be careful, it's very sharp. He proceeded to mash his thumb down and slide it down the blade, cutting down to the bone! Stupid people.
 
First off- beautiful knife,.. And I think it looks better with age and use.

Secondly, I have NO sympathy for the guard who handled the knife poorly. I've always been taught, and continue to teach the young'ns that a knife is NOT a toy. The second you disrespect it, it will bite you.....and there you go...exhibitA- that security guard and his finger.

Better way to handle it: Sir, please open your knife so I can check it's length.....
Wouldn't you respect a guard who asked that of you in that manner?
I surely would.....

Lucky the guards wasn't like the ones in Kona Airport. We just came back from hunting and target shooting and transporting ourselves back to Honolulu along with our weapons. They were properly packed for travel--- slide bolt on rifles out of the chamber, handguns all set with slides open, empty magazines out of the firearm and set apart from the handgun to which it belongs, etc. We declare our weapons, inform them we were just shooting and came straight from the range, and proceeded to open the cases for inspection. A TSA agent stars swiping our hands and the handle of the case...when I gently and courteously remind them we just came from the shooting range, GSR all over us. He laughs and cancels the swipe test. Then a dolt macho TSA female agent grabs one of the our Sigs (with the slide open) and checks for a chambered round by inspecting down the business end of the barrel by aligning it with her eyeball for line of sight. Our entire party yells out Hey--Yo--Hey....and duck as she's waving it around and wondering what the ruckus was about. I ask for it from her, close the slide, reopen the slide again, and show her where and how to inspect for a chambered round. If you don't know how to do it, don't act like you do, just ask. Better yet, if you don't know how to operate it, leave it alone for someone who does.
 
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How we got to guns from a knife thread, I don't know. But as long as we did, there is nothing improper or unsafe about looking down the barrel of the SIG with the slide locked back and no mag inserted. Its the only way to see if the barrel is clean.
 
NMpops said:
How we got to guns from a knife thread, I don't know. But as long as we did, there is nothing improper or unsafe about looking down the barrel of the SIG with the slide locked back and no mag inserted. Its the only way to see if the barrel is clean.
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Which May be true, but (and this is a Huge exception)

You Do Not Do This with a Strangers Firearm.

I don't care who they are, where they are coming from or where they are going. You check to make sure it is safe and clear First then do him a favor to see if his barrel is clean, if asked.
 
OP: sorry for the thread jack- just thought it was relevant as it was another example of how persons who don't know how to operate equipment try to do so in an unsafe manner and put their fingers, or themselves at more risk of harm, than necessary.

NMPops: granted- I give you that- it is perfectly ok (kinda) to look down the barrel in the context of cleaning. It is NOT ok to use that 'method' to verify at a TSA pre-flight firearm inspection station. Take the flip side- had she done that same inspection that with say a first time firearm traveler who hadn't properly prepared the firearm, we can all agree that may not always end as well. Just saying.

NJBillK: Im with you 100%. There's no manual that will tell anyone that--- but its just something inherently known and adhered to. Similar to checking and clearing ANY firearm before handing to another person, or when receiving ANY firearm checking and clearing for yourself even though you just witnessed the guy handing it to you just perform the same operation.

Now if you're shoot'n the bull with the some good buddies in the backyard during a firearm cleaning, knife sharpening, and cigar smok'n session, then all bets are off (hahaha!)
 
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