So, you think your knives are sharp?

First, welcome to the Cantina Mr. Fikes...

Second, I am very pleased to see Satori's comments on the definition of sharp...there are many different uses and applications. Regardless...I believe the convex to be the best all around geometry for actual using knives for all of the commonly known reasons.

Third, Yvsa is dead on about the DMTs...I've watched him do it and am totally convinced. A piece of cardboard with rouge will keep a good and properly sharpened blade in fine shape in the woods.

Finally, Mr. Fikes...I have a very nice, properly packaged and well oiled cat for trade against that pretty knife of yours.

;)

.
 
Jimmy,
What Nasty said. I hope you'll stick around for a while and join the cantina gang. You won't be the only old-timer here, for sure. But we'll welcome your knowledge and camaraderie. And, it seems, your sense of humor.
Somebody belly-up and buy Mr. Fikes a Heineken. :D I'm tapped out tonight:p
Cheers.
Bri
 
Man, I'm in heaven, good people, good info, with jokes thrown in. I should never leave. lol

Oleyfermo, Jimmy, Mr. Fikes.
You mentioned the name Steve Schwarzer. This guy doesn't by chance come to Florida often,or live here? he mabye does some water skiing, make molds and tooling, and into knives?
I'm only asking because I met a fellow with the same name and the same criteria as above, and something seemed to be a bit off, couldn't place my finger on it. Mabye he was just fed up with a youngin asking so many questions! He sure did know alot about blades though.

Just wondering if it's a much much smaller world than I ever thought!!

and yeah, Best thread ever guys!!


|M|
 
`1/2" thick leather????????
I thought it was illegal to test blades on elephant butts?
 
L6steel said:
`1/2" thick leather????????
I thought it was illegal to test blades on elephant butts?
Click to expand...

Now see here, certainly you'd be doing so at your own risk; you can expect to sign a waiver of any claim for compensation for personal injury or damage as a result of said tests. Further, we can have people thrashing about the veldt willy-nilly slicing about the nether regions of the pachydermae wildlife like a bunch of heathen Vandals, now can we?

It's not proper, and simply won't do, I should think. Not a'tall. (Sniff.)

Noah
 
Great thread all. I have learned here. Mostly that I want a Jungle Honey. :D
Welcome Mr. Fikes. I would love to get your opinions on the work of the kamis. I don't know if you have ever handled an HI khuk before, I just wonder what you would think. I'll send you one if you'd like.
 
I also have Jimmy's video. Aside from my wife looking at me and wondering if I was alright,
(I almost hyperventilated) It is unbelieveable! In some of the cuts he is using what I would
characterize as a small sword so I do think his version of sharp can be applied to khuks. That being said never forget different tools for different jobs. You would not use a scaple to
cut a tree and you would not use a khuk for brain surgery. But the idea that a large blade
can be seriously sharp AND stay that way is quite clear. That's what interests me. And yes I really wish I had a Jungle Honey, 'course Cloud Cutter is beyond sweet!!!
 
mross said:
...You would not use a scaple to cut a tree and you would not use a khuk for brain surgery....
Click to expand...

I would if I were operating on zombies...

.
 
Mordachai said:
Man, I'm in heaven, good people, good info, with jokes thrown in. I should never leave. lol

Oleyfermo, Jimmy, Mr. Fikes.
You mentioned the name Steve Schwarzer. This guy doesn't by chance come to Florida often,or live here? he mabye does some water skiing, make molds and tooling, and into knives?
I'm only asking because I met a fellow with the same name and the same criteria as above, and something seemed to be a bit off, couldn't place my finger on it. Mabye he was just fed up with a youngin asking so many questions! He sure did know alot about blades though.

Just wondering if it's a much much smaller world than I ever thought!!

and yeah, Best thread ever guys!!


|M|
Click to expand...

Hi, Mordachai

Steve lives somewhere down near Gainsville, FL, unless he's moved since the last I knew. He's been around a long, long time... was making some very nice pattern welded steel in the early eighties... and was (an still is) a pioneer in mosaic damascus. Steve's quite a character and visiting his website will give you an idea of the kind of guy he is... his 'hobbies', for example. He builds cannon that will shoot a bowling ball over a mile, for one thing. Been practicing the martial arts forever, but recently stopped... his old body is about as decrepit as mine... and is concentrating on powerlifting. Steve's somewhere around my age (58) and is trying for the US record in the bench press for his age/weight group. His best recent 'in the gym lift' was either 460 or 470 pounds... and if he can get anywhere near that weight in competition, the record's his. Not too shabby for an old geezer, I'd say. :) He's a put-up or shut-up kind of guy and always a straight shooter... which is why he and I have been friends since we first met.

Steve's always willing to answer questions from fellow knifemakers as long as (a) they sincerely want to learn and have valid questions, and (b) they've done their own research on basic stuff. He's grouchy as a bear, but don't let that put anyone off. It's when he's got this evil grim on his ugly mug that ya have to watch out :mad: For those who have doubts about his truthfulness as a reporter in a mag, ya either need to express those doubts from a LONG way off... I'd suggest email :) ... or get ready to tangle a**holes with the lad. If ya come away from the encounter minus a nose, ears, eyes... or with various damaged appendages... just remember, you've been warned ;)

Cheers!

Jimmy
 
L6steel said:
`1/2" thick leather????????
I thought it was illegal to test blades on elephant butts?
Click to expand...

Hey, L6

Legalities have always been one of those gray areas for me. I've found it best to avoid being too concerned with them. :barf:

Having said that... the *best* way I've found to test blades on elephant butts is to ride by the herd on a rhino, steer the beast past the targeted butt and make the test cut. An alternate method is to do the testing at the local WalMart, although you'd need a different steed for the ride-by. Few rhinos at WW, but plenty of elephants. Being in the 'walrus' category myself, at six feet and two hundred sixty pounds, I can say such things with impunity. :cool:

Jimmy's evil twin, Oley
 
mross said:
I also have Jimmy's video. Aside from my wife looking at me and wondering if I was alright,
(I almost hyperventilated) It is unbelieveable! In some of the cuts he is using what I would
characterize as a small sword so I do think his version of sharp can be applied to khuks. That being said never forget different tools for different jobs. You would not use a scaple to
cut a tree and you would not use a khuk for brain surgery. But the idea that a large blade
can be seriously sharp AND stay that way is quite clear. That's what interests me. And yes I really wish I had a Jungle Honey, 'course Cloud Cutter is beyond sweet!!!
Click to expand...

Hey, Mike

I thank you most heartily for the kind words... and hope you won't mind me quoting a bit from the letter you wrote to me when I'd asked whether or not you'd received the video.

MRoss: "The one that really
blew me away was freestanding arm hair cutting. I
guess next was pushing through the books. I had no
idea of what sharp really is. The rope cutting was
amazing in it's own right, ok it dragged on and on,
but that was what was amazing."

The reason I wanted to add the quote was that these tests can be easily attempted by anyone who'd like to try them. What Mike is describing here are a couple of tests for sharpness. Cutting the freestanding arm hair involves passing the blade edge down the arm... cutting the hair *without* touching the skin. While putting together that old cutting demo, I recruited a buddy of mine who is very hairy for this test ;) My arms are always bald since I have that dreaded disease known as 'knifemakers mange'. The other test involves taking a paperback book (I used to buy them by the boxfull at yard sales for a dime each), placing the blade edge across the book (or books) and simply pushing the knife blade through the book. No 'sawing' motion allowed... just a downward push.

I might also mention that the blade used for these two tests was a sort of short cleaver... a heavy duty work horse (1/4 inch thick) for chopping... and the edge was rolled in the same as on every other blade I make. No special thinning, blah, blah, blah. The jungle honey that Mike mentioned had the same edge and would do both book cutting and mowing the hair.

As for the rope cutting... a deadly boring piece of footage... but necessary. 500+ cuts in a 3/4 inch manila rope using approximately two inches of the blade edge... and it could have been stropped back to hair popping sharp on a piece of leather... hadn't slowed down at the 500 cuts. I've done a *LOT* more than that using two inches of blade... but anymore than 500 cuts will put the viewer into a coma, fer sure.

And I'll say this again. None of the things in the old cutting tape were either magic or flim flam. Forge the steel correctly, heat treat it the way it should be done, grind the blade to the correct profile and learn how to sharpen... and there ya are. My wife, Maggie, has been learning bladesmithing since the first of the year... and her blades will do the same things as mine. I've also been teaching Maggie's best friend, Dorothy Carlisle to forge... and her knives perform just as well. No mystery about it, just common sense and experimentation. If any of you are interested in seeing Maggie and Dorothy at the forge, and some of Maggie's finished work, there's a thread on the forums here at

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=349647&goto=newpost

If there's any interest by anyone in anyone seeing the DVD, I'd be happy to send a copy to the moderator who can pass it along to others after he watches it. Sort of a lending library. ;) I should state bluntly that this is not an attempt to solicit 'business'. I have a list of people wanting work that I'll never reach the end of... and even Maggie has stopped taking orders.

And Mike... I still haven't cashed yer check and don't intend to. :p

Jimmy, who talks too dam*ed much :grumpy:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top