Testing knives.

Steelhog

Steelhog

Joined
Jul 2, 2009
Messages
1,176
Ok hears a new one. Since my last post about the CRK knife on knifetests.com, the main responce was that you shouldnt do that to a knife and the tests are poorly done. SO hears the new one. Should knives be tested, Or should you just let time pass to tell how a knife does? I like the tests, no they are not proformed exacly the same, but when will you ever have a knife that is used exactly the same way. One thing I would like to see is more actual edge tests. So tell me, do you think knives should be tested, and if so what is the best way to test them. And I mean not just cutting through lots of rope, and paiper, otherwise we would all be useing ceramic blades. Lay out the best way to test a knife. Also no bad replys about Nos, as far as I know he is the only one who even gives us full vids of any hard use for a test, give him some credit.
 
Another member here, Nozh2002 ,does do edge testing and you can find his threads under Knife Reviews and Testing.

Knife tests are regularly conducted by members over at the Wilderness and Survival Skills area.

These are all 'real world' tests, ie, they test the knife's ability to perform in tasks for which you would normally use a knife in the boonies - shelter and fire building, food prep, etc etc.

To me they are far more useful in gauging a knife's usefulness as they give a good indication of a knife's suitability for a particular task.

And these knives may well be called upon to do many different things, as anyone heading out into the backwoods won't want to haul too many items with them, so one knife (or two at the most) will have to do for most everything.

They don't baby the knives though and tests regularly include batoning, which is a fairly rigorous activity for a knife.
 
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Using a knife at its intended purpouse is a better test than standing on it, and ponding it with a sledge hammer. If you buy a camp knife, get in the woods and use it as such. After a long weekend of using that knife to collect firewood, dig up roots and wild edibles, prepare food, cut cordage, whittle sticks, etc, you will have a good idea of how the knife holds up. The most abuse I give a knife when I first get it is cross grain batoning it through hardwood. That gives me a good idea of how strong the edge is. After that its regular use to see how long the knife holds its edge and how well it works at the tasks it was designed for.
 
When you market a knife as a "sharpened prybar, capable of hard use and abuse," expect it to be tested as such!
 
Use it for its intended purpose. I once saw a "test" here of a Byrd Finch (or maybe it was a Robin) where the "tester" batoned it and used it to carve a turkey then stated it wasn't very good at either of these tasks. No sh!t. It's a tiny little knife. Realistic test; carry it in the office for a month, open the mail, clean under your nails, open blister packs from Target.

Big giant chopper? Go chop something. Take it camping. Clear a trail. Trim a tree. Don't try to whittle with it. That why Case gave us whittlers.

Got a good mid sized utility blade? Build a shelter, make a trap, make a sandwich, prune the rose bush, break down a box. But don't beat on it with a big frakking hammer.

Frank
 
tests should involve situations where the knife will actually be used. Noss tests are not real world--you would never need to do tht kind of stuff with a knife imo. I just dont see a time or a place to chop through metal piping at least with my pocket knife.

test a knife with situations in which it will be used--that gives useful info. Im suprised Nos hasnt done fire tests yet--it is important to see which knives keep their heat treat the longest you know=p
 
Believe me, any GOOD company has already did plenty of testing before the knife ever hits the market.

You can also do an advanced search here on BF about the knife your intersted in. You can find alot of REAL life usage info that way.

I guess watching someone beat a knife is OK, but I could never get through a whole vid watching a grown man wearing a silly hockey mask for no reason that he can explain.
 
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