The "Ask Nathan a Question" Thread

Some manufacturers will run high performance steels soft because they are heat treated as a blank and then ground hard on a Berger grinder and the high hardness steels erode the grinding wheels too fast so they run them softer. Kind of defeats the purpose of the steel.
 
Er, cough, sigh, I’d truly hate to overstay my welcome here, or come across as obnoxious, but since we’ve been offered to ask questions, here I go: Is there any chance that we might see a new Skinner, or Skinner-like, knife in the near future? I mean, in case the answer is positive, I’d love to pre-order two. Thank you and please excuse my impertinence. Hey, cheers. :thumbsup:
 
I know the question wasn't directed at me, but I don't know what you mean by 'reinforced tip'

my production version is .03" at the bevel transition which isn't chubby, but it's not needle like either

the only way I can think of reinforcing the tip is to steepen the primary bevel out to the point of the knife, in which case you'd lose a little sliceyness at the front of the blade, where it's need most
 
Lorien said:
I know the question wasn't directed at me, but I don't know what you mean by 'reinforced tip'

my production version is .03" at the bevel transition which isn't chubby, but it's not needle like either

the only way I can think of reinforcing the tip is to steepen the primary bevel out to the point of the knife, in which case you'd lose a little sliceyness at the front of the blade, where it's need most
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I believe he was talking about Nathan's explanation of the 'reinforced tip' on the UF and DEF due to the cross-section.
 
XtianAus said:
Hi Nathan, wondering if you could explain why you decided not to reinforce the tip on the Dek considering it is a defensive style knife?
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The tip is one of the weakest areas on a blade. There are a couple approaches to reinforcing a tip such as twisting the primary grind more obtuse and grinding it less to leave more material. I dropped the shoulders on the Shiv to an area directly behind the point rather than at the spine.

Some offensive weapons have reinforced points to defeat body armor or to be used as a tool to open a hole in a wall etc. A defensive weapon could also have a reinforced point, but there are always compromises in a design such as weight or reduced cutting utility.

A while back a user was mowing grass and noticed he was about to be jumped by a Pitbull. He noticed the attack in time to draw his EDC and it protected him from the lunging dog and he was not seriously mauled. The EDC was not designed as a weapon but any knife can be used as a weapon. The idea of the DEK1 was a compact everyday carry utility knife that was dressy and slicey and a very nice fine cutting tool that also happened to be designed as a weapon. This is as much about the handle shape as the blade. While there is an argument to a reinforced point for some weapons there is an argument against one for a small fine cutting tool. And in the case of the DEK1, the absence of a reinforced point makes it a lighter better cutting tool and it is no less of a weapon.

Sort answer: in the balance of things, in my opinion it was a better knife for the way that Lorien and I envisioned it without the extra meat at the point. It isn't a super duty hard use tactical knife, it's a high performance fine gentleman's knife made for cutting things and perhaps the occasional person.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
The tip is one of the weakest areas on a blade. There are a couple approaches to reinforcing a tip such as twisting the primary grind more obtuse and grinding it less to leave more material. I dropped the shoulders on the Shiv to an area directly behind the point rather than at the spine.

Some offensive weapons have reinforced points to defeat body armor or to be used as a tool to open a hole in a wall etc. A defensive weapon could also have a reinforced point, but there are always compromises in a design such as weight or reduced cutting utility.

A while back a user was mowing grass and noticed he was about to be jumped by a Pitbull. He noticed the attack in time to draw his EDC and it protected him from the lunging dog and he was not seriously mauled. The EDC was not designed as a weapon but any knife can be used as a weapon. The idea of the DEK1 was a compact everyday carry utility knife that was dressy and slicey and a very nice fine cutting tool that also happened to be designed as a weapon. This is as much about the handle shape as the blade. While there is an argument to a reinforced point for some weapons there is an argument against one for a small fine cutting tool. And in the case of the DEK1, the absence of a reinforced point makes it a lighter better cutting tool and it is no less of a weapon.

Sort answer: in the balance of things, in my opinion it was a better knife for the way that Lorien and I envisioned it without the extra meat at the point. It isn't a super duty hard use tactical knife, it's a high performance fine gentleman's knife made for cutting things and perhaps the occasional person.
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Thanks for your explanation
The Dek tip is less thick than I am use too.
That said, I am sure it is plenty durable enough. I just overthink it sometimes.
I have broken a 0.23" 1095 knife, prying. I know prying isnt advised for a knife. But it wasnt gross abuse, it was fairly light prying. That said, it was a questionable HT and questionable company. Just that now, it causes me to overthick knife tips and look for something I dont need to worry about.
Again, I am sure the Dek is more than capable, considering your quality, knowledge and the design philosophy for this knife.

All in all though, the Dek is possibly the most comfortable, well designed, appropriate-sized knife I have ever held. I freaking love this thing.
 
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XtianAus said:
Thanks for your explanation
The Dek tip is less thick than I am use too.
That said, I am sure it is plenty durable enough. I just overthink it sometimes.
I have broken a 0.23" 1095 knife, prying. I know prying isnt advised for a knife. But it wasnt gross abuse, it was fairly light prying. That said, it was a questionable HT and questionable company. Just that now, it causes me to overthick knife tips and look for something I dont need to worry about.
Again, I am sure the Dek is more than capable, considering your quality, knowledge and the design philosophy for this knife.

All in all though, the Dek is possibly the most comfortable, well designed, appropriate-sized knife I have ever held. I freaking love this thing.
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Can you describe the prying that broke that knife? Perhaps I could set up a demonstration that would ease your mind.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
Can you describe the prying that broke that knife? Perhaps I could set up a demonstration that would ease your mind.
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I was stabbing into and then prying apart wood of a log while on a hike. I did this after some battoning and it snapped a large chunk of the blade I think on the 3rd or 4th pry

It was just a budget blade and a schrade with questionable quality (hence my lack of hesitation and my misuse for 'fun'). Even though the steel, and HT is questionable, I still pause and hesitate with quality blades that arent reinforced, because although this was pretty much a piece of junk, it was still a 1/4" hunk piece of steel.

I'd love to see a demonstration if you are willing to do so. I always appreciate your videos as a whole and have seen them all.

Said knife below

oVmOuVf.jpg
 
XtianAus said:
I was stabbing into and then prying apart wood of a log while on a hike. I did this after some battoning and it snapped a large chunk of the blade I think on the 3rd or 4th pry

It was just a budget blade and a schrade with questionable quality (hence my lack of hesitation and my misuse for 'fun'). Even though the steel, and HT is questionable, I still pause and hesitate with quality blades that arent reinforced, because although this was pretty much a piece of junk, it was still a 1/4" hunk piece of steel.

I'd love to see a demonstration if you are willing to do so. I always appreciate your videos as a whole and have seen them all.

Said knife below

oVmOuVf.jpg
Click to expand...





A reinforced point will help prevent snapping the tip off, but it sounds like you actually broke your knife back in the blade a ways back from the point? Still, not a problem, but it will be impossible for me to set up a demonstration on a 4" log while whacking on an inch or two of the tip with the DEK1 due to the shorter blade length. But I'll try to put together a video with the DEK1 doing something as similar as possible.
 
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