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- Mar 1, 2010
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I'm curious. I tend to disagree with marcinek and agree with proton. I think marcinek is just being an ass to stir crap up like he normally does. I believe the statement is true that given the right tools and technology an edge can be taken as sharp as the steel molecules on the edge allow, in theory at least.
I'd like to hear what a physicist says about it.
I'm not a physicist but here is my two cents anyway.
I have always said that sharpness is defined by the thickness of the apex. If you have tools to measure the thickness then that data is empirical. We can call the measurement whatever we wish but as it stands now, a sharp knife by necessity has a thin apex.
I differentiate sharpness from cutting performance which is influenced by many factors like blade thickness, blade grind, thickness behind the edge, and of course how perfectly formed the apex is. A well formed apex is also by definition, as thin as we can make it. A rounded apex which is not well formed, is also dull as compared to a well formed one.