My little knife test... "The North Pole"

[Nemo]

Hello,

I got a little test for the sharpness and ergonomy of knives I reviewed.
No big deal. It's not a critical test. (There is a lot of other tests)
I call it "The north Pole".
I just use and empty plastic soda bottle and try to cut in half, not the bottle, it's very easy, but the bottom of the bottle.
It's like crossing the Artic and reaching the North Pole. The center of the bottle bottom is very thick and the friction with the plastic is maximum.

The North Pole to reach and to cross is visible as the white dot in the Cola... now it's preferable to use an empty bottle !

Try it, you will be surprised. You will check any hot spot in the handle ergonomy, how the geometry works...
To much force the bottom will collapse, to much sawing and it is stuck...
Not all my knives are able with the same ease to cross the North Pole with a clean longitudinal cut.

But as much as I am fond off the great coating on the RC knives, it gives a lot of friction resistance near the North Pole. I wonder if some of you with uncoated knife could make a comparaison with the coated knife.

Cheers
Nemo

 

[texastonydobbs]

cool lil' test nemo

 

[52100]

Nemo, have you tried the test while wetting the blade? Just curious if that reduces the blade friction during the slice. It helps a lot while slicing rubber.

 

[Nemo]

IMHO it won't change the results (often there is some soda is the "not so empty" bottle...)
Your milage may vary...
Just try it ! And be careful !

 

[52100]

Roger that. I should have some soda bottles after Thanksgiving. I made a run to the store with empties just last week (mostly brown glass ) so I don't have any testing material right now.

 

[chewbacca]

Nemo,

Having done this a few times, do you think blade thickness is the major factor?

 

[theonew]

I have done this a few times and found it surprisingly difficult

My Spyderco Mule in M4 with 10 degree per side edge bevels does it pretty easily though :thumbup:

 

[Nemo]

I think so... But the blade needs to be rigid enough.
SAK are good example. But the handle and the ergos are very important too... you apply a lot of force during the test.
Grind is important. I have notice how slightly convex grinds seem to shine.
One of the king of the hill is my Spyderco Dodo. Here this the S shape edge which shines before the grind and thickness of the blade !
I'm certain an uncoat RC3 will be another one !

 

[GlockASP]

Interesting......