Thoughts and Questions on Knifemaking Today

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I often test my knives in the field. I use them on my hiking and camping trips. From the info I gather, my designs may evolve and continue to be refined.
 
Robb Simonich was featured in a Blade cover and article testing the "new" S30V a number of years back......and even our National Living Treasure bladesmith was amazed.

I suggest you find the article and read it......Not all tough blades come out of a smitthys forge! :)
 
One of my favourite knife makers said this about his knives;

" I like to enjoy my knives for the short time I have them so I will carry them untill they ship out."

That, to me, sums up a great philosophy on creating these objects we all appreciate and enjoy. If a knife maker does not enjoy appreciating their own knives and spending time with them then I wonder how he/she could continue making them?
 
Kevin Jones said:
This is my opinion as well, even though many seem to make the general assumption that a beautiful or "Art Knife" could not possibly perform to a high degree.
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Surely I am guilty of this, in terms of lumping damascus steels in one category..
Is the performance something that can be measured, quantified? I find "to a high degree" to be open ended.. or subjective. Understanding your point..
David
 
RogerP said:
Aesthetics and performance are not mutually exclusive goals.

Roger
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Arent there (also) many goals of a purely visual aesthetic that have eeked their way into the collective consciousness of what a knife "should look like", having little basis in function.

Squared or sharp guards, spines, dropped edges.. not using a buttcap where it would be better off having one (Ed has written about these.. ) Good thoughts for knives.
David
 
2knife said:
Arent there (also) many goals of a purely visual aesthetic that have eeked their way into the collective consciousness of what a knife "should look like", having little basis in function.
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You mean like the exclusive use of brass for guards? Or is it functionally superior to stainless steel in some way?

Roger
 
Ed Fowler said:
Mike:
Lateral strength many times is the source of blade failure in exigent circumstances. Consider the worst possible event, you are in a wreck and have only the knife you carry as a survival tool. You need to pry a door open or dig through part of a wall such as some Trade Center survivors had to, and the knife breaks like a piece of glass. Someone may find the broken blade and wonder, but you may not be there to tell about it.

I wrote a story called chopper down for American Handgunner, a crippled transport chopper, immediately followed by three rescue choppers is trying to make it to an aircraft carrier, it almost makes it, then tumbles off the deck, hits the water upside down and sinks like a rock. Only one rescue officer makes it into the chopper, crew is tangled in cargo nets, etc. He cuts two loose, blade breaks on the third and the rest of the crew drowns.

Chris and I over the past 5 years have tested many 'tactical' folders. All but one broke before any measurable torque.

....
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Any comments on testing for lateral strength? How many makers feel it is important?

One might argue not e every knife would need this level of durability, but i'd think a tactical folder should have it. Clearly the story leaves compelling evidence for it!
David
 
RogerP said:
You mean like the exclusive use of brass for guards? Or is it functionally superior to stainless steel in some way?

Roger
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Tit for tat, Roger. ;) Maybe the brass works the same way as a Ruana brass -backed-Bowie, where the opponent's blade is deflected, thrown off by sticking into the softer metal?

But, i care to think it (brass) is more for an independence from "high society" types. A liberating thought!
David
 
2knife said:
Tit for tat, Roger. ;) Maybe the brass works the same way as a Ruana brass -backed-Bowie, where the opponent's blade is deflected, thrown off by sticking into the softer metal?
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I'm going to assume you were joking. :confused: But if you actually think that there could be some blade-trapping justification for the use of a brass guard on a hunter or camp knife, I'm all ears.

2knife said:
But, i care to think it (brass) is more for an independence from "high society" types. A liberating thought!
David
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Or it could simply be a different but equally entrenched, rigid and inflexible mindset. Depends on one's perspective. On one side "Don't ever use brass!" On the other, "Don't ever use anything else!" Neither polar extreme holds much validity with me.

Oh - and as an aside - who do you think is in a position to fork over 5 figures for a working camp knife - "high society types" or the "working Joe"?

Roger
 
"I'm not going to pay a lot for this muffler!" ;)

Back to the conversation...
(maker input please).
David
 
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2knife said:
"I'm not going to pay a lot for this muffler!" ;)

Back to the conversation...
(maker input please).
David
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Bet $1,000 that Roger has made more knives than you, and has more exposure to the "secrets" from many makers and generally a more open mind....which makes him supremely qualified to answer your loaded question.;)

I'll even spot you David, should you be cash poor, which is likely.:)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
2knife said:
Any comments on testing for lateral strength? How many makers feel it is important?

One might argue not e every knife would need this level of durability, but i'd think a tactical folder should have it. Clearly the story leaves compelling evidence for it!
David
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Hi David, I asked this question because of my short 39 years I have never had to use a knife in the sense that Ed explained. I see the need for tip and edge strength or toughness though.

A little of my backround, I have only been making knives for about 4 years and have spent the last 3 years working a second job during Michigans big game season processing deer that are brought in to the local butcher shop, to many to count. I have spent more time trapping and hunting coyote, coon, muskrat and fox with a few turkeys mixed in. At times I spend endless hours with a knife in my hand. I do not mean any mallice towards Ed but when a potential customer asks what level my knives perform I tell them with confidence that they will process any game that walks, crawls or flies and not fail them concerning edge retention or tip strength. I cannot claim thought that my knives have the lateral strength that Ed's knives have.
 
davids posts and threads are beginning to be nothing more than ads for ed fowler knives.

david no one here is drinking the kool aid my friend. you like fowler knives and he is god like to you. we get it. but please top forcing it down everyone's throats. enough already
 
Sorry, if you guys dont feel these questions deserve being asked, in fair discussion, dont drink the water.
We can let the thread die..

Thanks Mike, i enjoyed your last post.
David
 
This is a link to the warranty policy on my website (unfortunately in dire need of an update and revamp - my xmas holidays project).

http://www.dallynknives.com/dallynknives_008.htm

I make sure that I hand this out to every customer. I believe very strongly in use specific design and my testing methods follow that philosophy. I test for sharpness (paper, leather, cardboard, shaving sharpness), lateral toughness (bend/flex testing), and impact/shock resistance (batoning/hammering through brass or copper, chopping, checking for edge chipping vs. rolling).

The specific tests I use to check out a new pattern or heat treatment regimen vary depending on the design/purpose of the knife. Take a paring knife, a 6-8" chef's blade, a hunter, and a 12" chopper - as examples. Each will have different heat treatment procedures to meet the demands of it's intended purpose. I test knives according to what they are intended to do.

Here's another link to a customer's review of one of my bushwacker's over on Jerzeedevil http://www.jerzeedevil.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65454

Have a good one,
Nathan
 
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2knife, go to a knife show and talk to people and you'll find as many different ways to test a knife as there are knifemakers. Some use rockwell testers, some use files, some use brass rods. Others do no testing. Some use "found steel" and do a lot of testing up front and QC testing as blades are made. Some use proven designs, others make their own and test them for days, weeks or months. Some have loyal buyers who provide regular feedback. If I was a knifemaker I might be reluctant to discuss testing on an open forum for a lot of reasons. Least of which would be it would take too long to explain.

I agree with severed thumbs, your posts and threads are beginning to be nothing more than ads for ed fowler knives. Love of knives should not be a monogamous relationship :) nor should it be racially biased (e.g. brass and sheephorn only) :)
 
brownshoe said:
2knife, go to a knife show and talk to people and you'll find as many different ways to test a knife as there are knifemakers. Some use rockwell testers, some use files, some use brass rods. Others do no testing. Some use "found steel" and do a lot of testing up front and QC testing as blades are made. Some use proven designs, others make their own and test them for days, weeks or months. Some have loyal buyers who provide regular feedback. If I was a knifemaker I might be reluctant to discuss testing on an open forum for a lot of reasons. Least of which would be it would take too long to explain.

I agree with severed thumbs, your posts and threads are beginning to be nothing more than ads for ed fowler knives. Love of knives should not be a monogamous relationship :) nor should it be racially biased (e.g. brass and sheephorn only) :)
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Well said BS, I agree with ALL the above.
I'm seeing a trend here and I hope this great customs forum which so many of us enjoy doesn't turn into continuous internet versions of infomercials for select makers.
 
mike malosh said:
....when a potential customer asks what level my knives perform I tell them with confidence that they will process any game that walks, crawls or flies and not fail them concerning edge retention or tip strength. I cannot claim thought that my knives have the lateral strength that Ed's knives have.
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That seems more than fair to me Mike. If a customer needs a hunting knife to process game, it should be able to do just that - and very well - without fail.

Roger
 
RogerP said:
Beginning??? :confused:
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My guess is he is very passionate about his knives in his collection , and is wanting to protect their value , perhaps he feels the other thread regarding the Blade article didn't go over to well ? Which to be honest , was some of the best discussion I have seen here in awhile.

I doubt it bothered Ed much , if at all , but as a collector perhaps 2Knife was concerned ? Just my opinion of course.
 
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