- Joined
- Oct 2, 1999
- Messages
- 834
This past saturday (08-05-2000), Phillip, myself, and our good friend Bob Clark, set out to test one of our tanto blade folders.
We had intentions of making the test so that the knife WOULD be useless by the end of the day. Most of the tasks that we put this folder thru are not what you would expect a folding knife to be able to withstand. We were all very surprised and happy with the results.
The Test Subject:
Jones Knives Tanto blade folder
lock - locking liner
length closed - 4-1/2"
length open - 7-7/8"
blade steel - 1/8" ATS-34 Rc 60
scales - black G-10
liners - .060 6Al4v Titanium
Here is a pic of the test knife. This is a scan that was done AFTER the tests were completed.
The Test (this is in the order that we did it) :
1 - We chopped a 1" X 2" pine board in half.
I didn't think to time it but it probably took about 2 minutes to complete. Upon completion, the knife still shaved hair with ease.
2 - We made several cuts of some regulation fire hose. This hose has a rubber core that is covered with canvas. It also has an outer protective covering of canvas. The knife sliced thru the hose like it was butter. The test knife also shaved hair after cutting the hose.
3 - Next we did some chopping on an unknown wood. Although we don't know exactly what type of wood it is, it is extremely hard and tough. We didn't attempt to chop our way thru the block (it's 4" X 4"). We just wanted to chop something a little more resilient than pine. The folder performed well, however, there was some play in the lock area. Evidently the chopping was causing some deformation of the stop pin. Although there was some play in the blade, the folder remained usable. As a matter of fact, after all of the previous testing the folder sliced paper with ease.
4 - The next test had me a little worried. I think it would make just about any maker sweat. We actually hammered the tip of the blade thru a piece of .060 mild steel. We used a rubber mallet to hammer the butt of the knife. The hammer obviously did no damage to the frame of the knife. To our surprise, neither did the steel. We drove the tanto tip
about 3/4" into the steel. We inspected the tip after we removed it from the steel and found that it had not been damaged. In fact, the forward edge still shaved hair with ease.
I was really surprised with the outcome of this test.
5 - We decided to stress the whole knife by THROWING it at our homemade knife throwing target. Normally, you wouldn't expect a folder to withstand throwing. We didn't expect it to survive being driven thru steel either. My good friend Bob Clark did the first couple of throws. He completely missed the target a few times but he did get it to stick once. The misses caused some mud to build up inside the frame. We didn't bother to clean it. I took the rest of the throws and got the knife to stick twice. All in all, we threw the knife at least a dozen times. The throwing caused some of the screws to loosen and scratched up the blade and scales (bouncing off the target was rough). Other than that, there was no major damage to the knife.
6 - This next step (literally) was going to do the most damage to the knife, or so we thought. We placed the open knife on top of two boards. We left enough space in between the boards to get Bob's foot in there. Bob then stepped onto the knife using his whole body weight (about 230 pounds). The knife really flexed during this test. I was sure the knife was going to be destroyed. At the very least I would not be able to fold the blade closed. Well, the blade closed as normal, but now when we opened or closed the blade there was a rough feel as if two parts were snagging on each other. It turns out that the thumbstud was rubbing the scale on the front side of the knife. The only thing that we can figure is that the pivot pin was bent when Bob stepped on the knife.
7 - We went back to the throwing target and did some prying by hand. We drove the blade in between two of the removable center boards
and proceeded to pry. Again, the knife flexed
a good amount. We still hadn't rendered the knife useless. The blade was still in good working condition as well as the frame.
8 - Last but not least, we went back inside and cut some more fire hose. The knife still cut the hose but would not shave hair very well.
Pictures of the tests can be seen here:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=126319&a=7569654
THE CONCLUSION:
This test was done as a learning experience for ourselves. We put this knife thru tests that you would expect most folders to fail. We didn't expect it to survive and be a useable knife. Sure there was some damage done and the knife is not in perfect working condition, but it is still USEABLE.
I have faith that once I switch to a harder stop pin and replace the pivot pin with a hardened one, I will have one hell of a good product.
That is what testing is all about. Finding the weaknesses (if any) and correcting the problem.
I know that some people will think I am crazy for posting that my folders have weaknesses. I am not worried at all. I am being honest and open. I wouldn't have it any other way.
------------------
Barry
Jones Knives
"NEW Knives"
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=126319&a=5922856
"For DUTY and HUMANITY!"
Curly, Moe, & Larry
We had intentions of making the test so that the knife WOULD be useless by the end of the day. Most of the tasks that we put this folder thru are not what you would expect a folding knife to be able to withstand. We were all very surprised and happy with the results.
The Test Subject:
Jones Knives Tanto blade folder
lock - locking liner
length closed - 4-1/2"
length open - 7-7/8"
blade steel - 1/8" ATS-34 Rc 60
scales - black G-10
liners - .060 6Al4v Titanium
Here is a pic of the test knife. This is a scan that was done AFTER the tests were completed.
The Test (this is in the order that we did it) :
1 - We chopped a 1" X 2" pine board in half.
I didn't think to time it but it probably took about 2 minutes to complete. Upon completion, the knife still shaved hair with ease.
2 - We made several cuts of some regulation fire hose. This hose has a rubber core that is covered with canvas. It also has an outer protective covering of canvas. The knife sliced thru the hose like it was butter. The test knife also shaved hair after cutting the hose.
3 - Next we did some chopping on an unknown wood. Although we don't know exactly what type of wood it is, it is extremely hard and tough. We didn't attempt to chop our way thru the block (it's 4" X 4"). We just wanted to chop something a little more resilient than pine. The folder performed well, however, there was some play in the lock area. Evidently the chopping was causing some deformation of the stop pin. Although there was some play in the blade, the folder remained usable. As a matter of fact, after all of the previous testing the folder sliced paper with ease.
4 - The next test had me a little worried. I think it would make just about any maker sweat. We actually hammered the tip of the blade thru a piece of .060 mild steel. We used a rubber mallet to hammer the butt of the knife. The hammer obviously did no damage to the frame of the knife. To our surprise, neither did the steel. We drove the tanto tip
about 3/4" into the steel. We inspected the tip after we removed it from the steel and found that it had not been damaged. In fact, the forward edge still shaved hair with ease.
I was really surprised with the outcome of this test.
5 - We decided to stress the whole knife by THROWING it at our homemade knife throwing target. Normally, you wouldn't expect a folder to withstand throwing. We didn't expect it to survive being driven thru steel either. My good friend Bob Clark did the first couple of throws. He completely missed the target a few times but he did get it to stick once. The misses caused some mud to build up inside the frame. We didn't bother to clean it. I took the rest of the throws and got the knife to stick twice. All in all, we threw the knife at least a dozen times. The throwing caused some of the screws to loosen and scratched up the blade and scales (bouncing off the target was rough). Other than that, there was no major damage to the knife.
6 - This next step (literally) was going to do the most damage to the knife, or so we thought. We placed the open knife on top of two boards. We left enough space in between the boards to get Bob's foot in there. Bob then stepped onto the knife using his whole body weight (about 230 pounds). The knife really flexed during this test. I was sure the knife was going to be destroyed. At the very least I would not be able to fold the blade closed. Well, the blade closed as normal, but now when we opened or closed the blade there was a rough feel as if two parts were snagging on each other. It turns out that the thumbstud was rubbing the scale on the front side of the knife. The only thing that we can figure is that the pivot pin was bent when Bob stepped on the knife.
7 - We went back to the throwing target and did some prying by hand. We drove the blade in between two of the removable center boards
and proceeded to pry. Again, the knife flexed
a good amount. We still hadn't rendered the knife useless. The blade was still in good working condition as well as the frame.
8 - Last but not least, we went back inside and cut some more fire hose. The knife still cut the hose but would not shave hair very well.
Pictures of the tests can be seen here:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=126319&a=7569654
THE CONCLUSION:
This test was done as a learning experience for ourselves. We put this knife thru tests that you would expect most folders to fail. We didn't expect it to survive and be a useable knife. Sure there was some damage done and the knife is not in perfect working condition, but it is still USEABLE.
I have faith that once I switch to a harder stop pin and replace the pivot pin with a hardened one, I will have one hell of a good product.
That is what testing is all about. Finding the weaknesses (if any) and correcting the problem.
I know that some people will think I am crazy for posting that my folders have weaknesses. I am not worried at all. I am being honest and open. I wouldn't have it any other way.
------------------
Barry
Jones Knives
"NEW Knives"
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=126319&a=5922856
"For DUTY and HUMANITY!"
Curly, Moe, & Larry
