This is how we test our knives

J. Neilson

J. Neilson

Joined
Feb 6, 2001
Messages
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I'm not knocking anyone's testing methods. This is just, generally, the way we do it. It help when you raise all your own food. I know there was just a post about a "good woman". Here's one for ya.
butchering%201.JPG

We used three knives to butcher this 1200 lb. steer. I used my little (3") 1095 EDC knife to skin and quarter as did Tess with her 440C "Thorn" (a small edc that I hoped would go over better, she's been carrying it for 2 yrs. now). After it got in the house Tess used her Thorn and the larger knife in the attached picture (a Cutter) to cut and bone the whole thing. My 1095 needed to be stroped once during the process, Tess's two went the whole gammut without trouble.
butchering%202.JPG

I did use an old cleaver to split the bone but, the handle broke on it and now I have to redo it. Great, another project.
;)
 
That's the way. All I got to test with is a couple deer each year. They ain't 1200 lb. either.

RL
 
Hey J, One year I had two moble slaughter guys come over when I had 6 or 7 head put down. The second fellow came to do one steer that I had traded for a bull. I couldn't believe this guy. He had about 6 knives with him and they were all about the same sharpness as butter knives if that. I ended up sharpening all his knives for him. His price was also about twice as much as my main slaughter guy. Guess with dull blades you have to charge more......
 
J & Tess, Helen the dogs and I will be up for supper one day next week. Please save me some ribs.:D :D :p I really wish we could.:( :( :(
 
J., all I can say is if you get Tess mad......Make sure Tess goes to sleep before you...:eek: :eek: :eek: She's getting real good with a knife...or you can always sleep on your stomach....:D :D :D:p :rolleyes: ;) :D
 
A real and meaningful test ,excellent. My test for a hunting knife is to do the whole deer , everything with that one knife.It tells you about the steel ,blade shape and handle shape.
 
Mete, I find all you said to be true for me too. It might feel balanced and comfortable just to pick it up and look at it but work it a while and opinions can change. Ain't nothin like a field test.

RL
 
Your right, she's definately a keeper. Peter Nap's gonna kill me for this but, both the knives she used are 440C treated here (I know Peter keeps sayin' this stainless thing will never take off):D . Tess wants me to make her a couple high carbons for the coming venison.

I was kinda backwards I guess. I started this road with stainless and then moved to high carbon and forging. Hell, never did anything easy before...

George, you know you guys would be welcome anytime.

Rene, I'm over that. When we got married, oh so long ago, she got a ring and I got a sword (long before my first knife) and she told me what would happen if I screwed up.
:eek:
 
J., what are you quenching 1095 with ? Its classified a water or brine quench, as I understand, but I have used oil. (??)

RL
 
I got some of that Texaco Type A quenchent last year and have been using that for everything. Before that though, I'd use Goddard's Goop. That stuff worked really well, too and smelled alot better than the Type A.

I've heard alot of folks complain about 1095 not holding an edge but, I think it holds fine. Once it starts to slow down you just give it a quick strop on your belt and it's a razor again.

My .02
 
The attached photo is of a D2 knife I gave a freind to take on a family elk hunt this year. I have claimed that these D2 hunters wiil do an elk without sharpening. He and his son and a nephew each killed a bull and they field dressed, skinned and quartered all three with this knife and he then boned his elk out-all without sharpening. At the end it was a little ragged, but was resharpened with a Walmart ceramic V-stick sharpener.

This was beyond what I thought D2 would do. I have also been using S30V, but I am not sure it is worth the extra cost and hassle to grind and heat treat in view of this D2 performance.
 
Yeap, I gotta agree J. That "good woman" is what completes one's life. My old man told me once that I didn't know how lucky I had it 'cuz I had a woman that all she wanted was to be by my side no matter what I got involved in doing.

Sounds like Tess is pretty much the same. Congrats to you on your good luck, and God Bless her.
 
hi guys.........just a note to say it's nice to put a face with the artist........tess makes some of the finest sheaths out there....beautiful workmanship and at a price just over shipping and handling!!!!!!!........keep up the good work guys, best wishes, greg
 
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