Theoretical Question: Is it possible to make a knife without bleeding on it?

Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Messages
3,911
Every knife I've made at some point has cut me, however slightly. Each one seems to want to be christened with the makers blood. It occurs to me to wonder whether a knife is truly a knife before it is has drawn blood.

- Greg
 
ummmmm. Actually, yeah- I made a cake set for a family member.

Actually, I think I bit myself on the grinder on that one. That or the vise, or hammered my ever loving thumb. I'm sure SOMETHING happened.
 
Every knife I've made at some point has cut me, however slightly. Each one seems to want to be christened with the makers blood. It occurs to me to wonder whether a knife is truly a knife before it is has drawn blood.

- Greg

You're absolutely correct. Until you mingle your DNA with the steel it's not complete. This is exactly what sets custom, hand made knives apart from commercially made knives and why they don't quite feel right when you get them. Back in the good old days when you would quench the blades by running it through a slave you didn't have that incomplete feeling when you bought a knife.

- Paul Meske
 
I guess I'm lucky, I can only recall cutting myself on one knife, an early one that I decided to hand sand it some more after it was sharpened.
 
I've made a lot of knives without actually cutting myself, so yes it can happen. Then again, I've cut/burned/squished my fingers, epoxied my pants to my leg :eek: and banged my head against the wall multiple times on individual knives, so maybe it averages out? ;)
 
While I don't make knives, I've always been of the opinion that a knife is not really yours until it cuts you. Up until that point, it's kind of like a girlfriend. After? Duh, the honeymoon's over, and you can work on a REAL relationship. Just don't do anything stupid, cuz she won't hesitate to hurt you if you give her a chance.... Yeah. I know some women like that.
 
In 11 and 1/2 years... I can't remember a single knife that hasn't bitten me in one way or another. Now that I have a belt grinder, it too seems to have a hunger for human flesh!!:eek:

I think it's just part of the game now and just strive to minimize the collateral damage. :D
 
I've only cut myself once when making a knife. Actually, the knife slipped out of the sheath and nailed my finger.
 
(yes you can make a knife without it making you bleed) shhh don't tell ayone I told you
Its a good thing my computer isn't in the shop ;)

Del
 
When you shed blood during the knife making process, it makes the knife better, even if it is because of some power tool.
 
I saw in a magazine once where someone successfully made a knife without bleeding on it but I didn't believe it.
 
after a while you learn to avoid the things that bite you, and save the cutting yourself part to the end and only shave hairs on your arm. Every once in a while I still get cut if I stop paying close attention to what I'm doing

-Page
 
As Page said, the bleeding seems to diminish as you learn where the danger lies.
But I still ordered some Celox just in case. ;)
 
Back
Top