review request: DiamondBlade Knives

[scotchleaf]

Anyone got one? Overhyped?

 

[Johnny Warner]

I have three and IMO the best cutting edge I have used todate. I spoke with the owner last year and was informed he skinned and caped two Brown Bears at his Driftwood lodge in Alaska and the blade was still shaving afterwards. That is a great testimonal as his lodge is on the coast of the Tsiu River which is surronded by sand dunes. Skinning any animal with sand in the hide can only dull an edge quicker. The only downside is the knives are a little pricey but not out of range once you consider the price of a custom made one.

 

[Grampa]

I was recently given the Wayne Goddard designed model.

Very sharp, as claimed. I hit bone a couple of times with it, and got some small edge rolls - which is actually quite impressive - you'd think something that hard and thin would chip, but it did not.

Downside: The sheath absolutely sucks! It was a kydex lined leather sheath that simply would not hold the knife in! If the sheath got tipped or turned (as in a fall, etc) the knife just fell right out! Not a good thing!

I got it replaced with a custom sheath from Sharpshooter Sheath Systems - excellent! Holds it snugly, with no movement or cut-through, yet removes smoothly!

 

[knarfeng]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=530952

 

[me2]

The process used is quite interesting. I'd like to see some results from testing with simpler steels, since they started with D2. Last I checked, the process inventors were still quantifying some of the characteristics of the blades after processing.

 

[Broos]

I got the Monarch folder just after it came out. It is the same folder as a Knives of Alaska folding knife, but the upgrade from 154CM to FFD2 costs around $280, so the FSP'ing is quite an upgrade is price. I thought about getting some of the newer carbon fiber scales, but instead tinkered with mine to make the blade sit in the handle a little further, and also modified the handle shape a little. Probably voided the warranty, but I'm OK with that. I thought the design was a bit bulky and blade short, but I got over it because it is really a working knife and the large handle and semi-skinner blade is a design that is good for a hunting knife.

The steel is expensive, & testing shows it to have performance similar to some of the highest edge retention steels out there (S90V, 10V). In use in the kitchen and outside I've patina'd the blade some, but the FFD2 zone is stain-free. It sharpens easier than S90V and 10V. It will get really sharp pretty easy with loaded strops or shapton waterstones. I haven't touched it with DMT's and likely won't unless it really needs it (that strip of FSP'd D2 is pretty spendy!).

I really like the steel, and like the folder better since modifying it. Further modifications are likely (I want the handle a bit different still). If you got the dough, buying one and having STR turn it into a framelock would be an expensive but really sweet user.

I am happy with mine, and valuing the exclusive and innovative process that went into the edge is part of why I got it and my satisfaction. I never had much problems dressing game with a Schrade sharpfinger or old Western fixed blade in the days before I bought $400 knives, so you gotta love 'em and be interested some way to really justify the expense of $400 using knives.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Good review, Broos. I like that style handle. Did you modify it much from the original?

 

[Broos]

Not really - just sanded some off the top and bottom - you can see on the last pic I left the finish on the edge of the G10 kind of rough.

I did it without enough thought, and the tip was left exposed after I got done (doh!), but I got it to hide by taking a little metal off the blade where it hits the stop. Detente still works (with a mod), so I got lucky with my boneheaded move. There is still a little room to make the handle a little more streamlined and contoured, so I may do just a little more.

 

[scrappy]

I have read only good stuff. nobody seems to slam it but some claim it isn't what it claims to be. most like it and when I look at the "sientific testing" some people get different results. I have been thinking of buying one also.

 

[scrappy]

I am impressed that in their testing all blades were the same shape and size with the same geometry. all were tested from the same starting point in refrence to sharpness.

 

[nozh2002]

Anyone got one? Overhyped?

I have one - Summit. It does not show any miraculos performance over cheaper carbon steel progression tempered.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=509097

Aftre my tests - 800 manila rope cuts, handle slabs displaced a little bit, which I did not exepct from $400 knife (and all other knives I tested did just fine - no one have any problems after 800 cuts).

Overall, it looks more like kitchen knife.

Only what differes it from any other knife - extreme sharpness out of the box. Only recently Kershaw start delivering hair whittling sharp knives, but Diamond Blade was first.

I think this is why edge last unusually longer initially, but when I test it side by side with Laury Carbon Progressive tempered for $10 blade, sharpened to the same level, Lauri won.

Thanks, Vassili

 

[truckfarmer]

Seems the main selling point is you don't have to sharpen very often. Is it really too hard to sharpen a knife once in a while? Also, I heard they laid off a lot of their workers cause production was way down. Are they in trouble? Going out of business would make warranty worthless!

 

[Broos]

When it comes to discussions about FFD2 here, you gotta choose who to believe when it comes to edge retention - Noz or the 2 BYU ME professors & W.Goddard & Phil Wilson (also an ME).

Wear resistance of FFD2 is much greater than plain carbon steel (generally indicates better slicing edge retention).

Hardness is 2-4 Rockwell C points higher than high carbon ran hard (hardness is recognized as the best property to indicate edge retention in general - downside is potential for brittle behavior).

FFD2 has grain size of 1/2 micron (extremely small). Would indicate an ability to get really sharp, and better toughness than the same alloy w/larger grains.

If you look at the known physical properties, they are a real good indication of performance characteristics. When test results fly in the face of these general guidelines or anything else to logically explain them, I question the results or try to find an explanation before accepting them.

 

[nozh2002]

Seems the main selling point is you don't have to sharpen very often. Is it really too hard to sharpen a knife once in a while? Also, I heard they laid off a lot of their workers cause production was way down. Are they in trouble? Going out of business would make warranty worthless!

I just resharpen my Summit to hair whittling sharp without any trouble. It takes same effort as for any other steel.
To me it is not a problem to sharpen, but it is better to have knife which do the job without interruption to resharpen.

I decided to give it another try and test it again, this time with my edge not one from manufacturer.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[nozh2002]

... I finish my testing:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=589139

Results are not bad. It fall to 8 oz, sharpness pretty fast - after 20 1/2" manila rope cuts, but then keep it same up to the end of the test - 200 cuts. This is unusual results when it stays same sharpness for so long. However, a least in my test terms (which is limited to 1/2" manila rope cutting 200 times with measuring sharpness on statistical thread test) there are steels which performs better. But it is much better then D2, so Friction Forgind does make difference.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[Fort Henry Custom Knives]

I was recently given the Wayne Goddard designed model.

Downside: The sheath absolutely sucks! It was a kydex lined leather sheath that simply would not hold the knife in! If the sheath got tipped or turned (as in a fall, etc) the knife just fell right out! Not a good thing! I got it replaced

Aftre my tests - 800 manila rope cuts, handle slabs displaced a little bit

be interested some way to really justify the expense of $400 using knives

I think these quotes (from a wide array of users) are telling - the price ($400 +/-) of these knives place them well out of reach for all but the extremely devoted or extremely curious knifeknuts. For that price range in Knives most expect great performance and great Fit and Finish of all components (and toughness, and great looks, and great ergonomics, and and and) or maybe that's just me.

I also don't own a Rockstead folder or a David Boye Dendritic steel knife........ doesn't mean I wouldn't like to have them...

 

[ADD]

I think these quotes (from a wide array of users) are telling - the price ($400 +/-) of these knives place them well out of reach for all but the extremely devoted or extremely curious knifeknuts. For that price range in Knives most expect great performance and great Fit and Finish of all components (and toughness, and great looks, and great ergonomics, and and and) or maybe that's just me.

No, I think that is a very fair assessment and well done HBE.


But still, this appears to be a fairly new knife company with a new technology and some very bright people behind it.

Hopefully, with some more experience in the field and a better grasp of the market things will improve, as all new technologies tend evolve. :thumbup:

Growing pains perhaps....

 

[Esav Benyamin]

But still, this appears to be a fairly new knife company with a new technology and some very bright people behind it.

Hopefully, with some more experience in the field and a better grasp of the market things will improve, as all new technologies tend evolve. :thumbup:

As I understand it, the technology is new but the company is a subdivision of Knives of Alaska.