Gary W. Graley
“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Mar 2, 1999
- Messages
- 27,638
A lot has been said over what is or isn't sharp. I recently picked up a nice Jimmy Fikes CabinBoy fixed blade that is hand forged and chisel ground edge. This knife cuts Standing Hair, meaning you don't get near the skin, just sweep across the top and trim the hair off.
Reason for the post, well in getting this knife, I became friends with a fellow formite Win Heger as the CabinBoy was his one owner back. He had a video that Jimmy Fikes had made which demonstrates the knives/swords that he makes. Win was very gracious in letting me borrow this video. It is a rough homemade recording, but it shows some incredible tools that Mr. Fikes has made and how he tests sharpness.
One of the ways, the Standing Hair test as mentioned above.
Then he proceeded to cut over 500 cuts of 3/4" manila rope, looked like it could have gone on a lot longer but so much tape, so little time..... The knife still shaved hair and sliced newspaper when done.
One interesting test he used was to take a paperback book, rather thick one, looked to be well over 1 1/2" thick and push cut through the book, without too much effort. He then had some others standing around perform the same test and no problems, you need to have a good edge geometry in order to do this easily.
He had a neat sword that he used to chop into some thick trees, and he also rolled up newspapers to make a thick paper log that he chopped through cleanly, held in a vise with a plywood protection above the vise, don't know if I'd attempt that!
He also had a 30 gallon barrel that he chopped down through the rim to almost the next ring, he says he really wants to get all the way down. The sword had minimal damage to the edge, a slight nick was all for the force he exerted in cutting down through the barrel.
Well, one of the ~Tests~ I do myself, besides the hair cutting/paper cutting, is to see how easily the edge goes through leather, the chisel edge really is a fast cutter and goes through like the leather isn't there.
Just thought I'd share Fike's neat way of interacting with his clients, even though he isn't taking orders now, perhaps this might jog other makers into making a video showing their knives and some tests they have done.
I've seen both of the Cold Steel Proof videos and they are also interesting, bores the wife to death! but just something about watching someone cut stuff up, gotta like that!
G2
------------------
"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...
G2 LeatherWorks
Reason for the post, well in getting this knife, I became friends with a fellow formite Win Heger as the CabinBoy was his one owner back. He had a video that Jimmy Fikes had made which demonstrates the knives/swords that he makes. Win was very gracious in letting me borrow this video. It is a rough homemade recording, but it shows some incredible tools that Mr. Fikes has made and how he tests sharpness.
One of the ways, the Standing Hair test as mentioned above.
Then he proceeded to cut over 500 cuts of 3/4" manila rope, looked like it could have gone on a lot longer but so much tape, so little time..... The knife still shaved hair and sliced newspaper when done.
One interesting test he used was to take a paperback book, rather thick one, looked to be well over 1 1/2" thick and push cut through the book, without too much effort. He then had some others standing around perform the same test and no problems, you need to have a good edge geometry in order to do this easily.
He had a neat sword that he used to chop into some thick trees, and he also rolled up newspapers to make a thick paper log that he chopped through cleanly, held in a vise with a plywood protection above the vise, don't know if I'd attempt that!
He also had a 30 gallon barrel that he chopped down through the rim to almost the next ring, he says he really wants to get all the way down. The sword had minimal damage to the edge, a slight nick was all for the force he exerted in cutting down through the barrel.
Well, one of the ~Tests~ I do myself, besides the hair cutting/paper cutting, is to see how easily the edge goes through leather, the chisel edge really is a fast cutter and goes through like the leather isn't there.
Just thought I'd share Fike's neat way of interacting with his clients, even though he isn't taking orders now, perhaps this might jog other makers into making a video showing their knives and some tests they have done.
I've seen both of the Cold Steel Proof videos and they are also interesting, bores the wife to death! but just something about watching someone cut stuff up, gotta like that!
G2
------------------
"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...
G2 LeatherWorks
