- Joined
- Jul 28, 2006
- Messages
- 3,953
Well how about a thread to bring some ideas from buyers and makers of custom knives together? 
I would like to know what buyers/collectors of custom knives expect or would like for makers to include in our testing of our blades or steels? I'm not saying this would be done every blade because of the damage but working on new heat treats or when you get a new batch of steel in.
My current method is to heat treat and temper a 4" drop point. I do cutting/edge retention testing on cardboard and rope (I do perform this test every knife) and the brass rod test. I'll then hammer the cutting edge through a nail in several spots on the edge, then bend the blade over to test the springyness of my differential heat treat. Lastly I break the blade in 3 pieces to examine the grain structure and compare it to an as forged blade that has been broken in 3 pieces.
What would you have me add or subtract from my testing or suggest to other makers that we do to ensure that we're providing you with the quality blade you deserve as our customer?

I would like to know what buyers/collectors of custom knives expect or would like for makers to include in our testing of our blades or steels? I'm not saying this would be done every blade because of the damage but working on new heat treats or when you get a new batch of steel in.
My current method is to heat treat and temper a 4" drop point. I do cutting/edge retention testing on cardboard and rope (I do perform this test every knife) and the brass rod test. I'll then hammer the cutting edge through a nail in several spots on the edge, then bend the blade over to test the springyness of my differential heat treat. Lastly I break the blade in 3 pieces to examine the grain structure and compare it to an as forged blade that has been broken in 3 pieces.
What would you have me add or subtract from my testing or suggest to other makers that we do to ensure that we're providing you with the quality blade you deserve as our customer?