What is an Integral Knife?

I have a question How is the strenght comparison with an intergal vs other type's of construction( stick tang, full tang) or is this a non issue. Thanks just wondering
 
JP, denpeding upon how you were referring to when you say strength and parts are intergal. Generally speaking though the less moving parts the less problems.
 
Full integral and partials. I like 'em all.

Tai Goo. Eccentric genius:
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Rodrigo Sfreddo partial:
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John Parks, JS:
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I never miss a chance to show these two by Hill Pearce off:
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This one is the holiest grail of my collection:
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Andrew Garrett:
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Lastly, this one by Robbin Hudson, MS qualifies BIG TIME:
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Coop
 
Coop, we can always count on you to brighten up a thread. :thumb up:
Beautiful knives & photos, thank you.
 
ptgdvc said:
What I might prefer, or not prefer, isn't the question at hand.

Your definition of Integral is bit broader than mine.

How would you classify this knife, if it was made entirely of ATS-34?

P
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Integral. If you are welding ats -34 together and the bond is permanent its integral since during the weld the steels marry and become one ..kumbaya..
 
Nice to see that John Parks again. I sure wish we saw more of his work on the forums.

Roger
 
Once again...thanks Coop. You sure do "brighten" up threads with your superb photography.

I like integrals very much also. Sfreddo makes some outstanding ones and I thanks to Mr. Darom's books I can admire integrals made by Edmund Davidson as well as Dietmar Kressler's outrageously clean integrals.

Another great thread here.

Thanks,
Peter
 
fisk said:
Guys, if you do not mind I would like to put a few words in on intergals.
An intergal in the knife making community would or should be defined as thus

An intergal means one piece blade and tang, add on to that
You have knives with intergal bolsters, intergal full tangs, intergal guards, intergal guards and pommels. All of these are defined as intergals.
There are no half or full intergals but there are knives with "parts" intergal to the blade.

An intergal is a piece that comes off of the hammer or mill table with as many of the above mentioned parts of the construction as the maker intended being from one piece.

What RS did is an intergal, the reasoning being it came from the hammer as one finished forging. Did he cut and apply other pieces to it during his forge welded. sure. He did so to weld into one finished piece that he could clean up and finish. He put some parts on a 90 degrees and some other pieces but he forged welded it no different than some regular mosaic pieces that end up as one piece. If he had used screws,glues or pins to attachent the guard, bolster or pommel it would not be a intergal but it came off of the hammer as one piece.

I like the intergals. I tried them for several years off and on and never really knew how to make one till I went down to Brazil and watched them and learned how. Intergals are catching on more and more in this country and they can in their most simpliest forms be more diffiuclt to make than a traditional looking knife.
Hope this did not confuse matters more.
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Intergal is not even a word??

Regarding the word Integral your definition is at odds with what as been written in the pages of knife publications for the past 15 years.

Take the definition given in Knives 2000 for instance.

There is a whole chapter dedicated to Integrals.

Its on page 122 Jerry.

You say "An intergal in the knife making community would or should be defined as thus"

What do you mean "would or should" that doesnt make sense.

Integral has already been defined countless times in print media.

Instead of making up new definitions and new words "Intergal" why not just look back at the history of the Integral ie TM Dowell to find the definition.

Let me know if you need any more reference material regarding the history and definition of the Integral Knife.

I'm sure I can dig something up for you.

Best Regards,
 
Snody said:
Intergal is not even a word??

Regarding the word Integral your definition is at odds with what as been written in the pages of knife publications for the past 15 years.

Take the definition given in Knives 2000 for instance.

......
Let me know if you need any more reference material regarding the history and definition of the Integral Knife.

I'm sure I can dig something up for you.

Best Regards,
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That was a bit harsh of you Mike....I think Jerry was just making an error on the spelling.

IT is however entirely possible that Ted Dowell coined the term "integral", and he is also the renowned master of the style.

It is also, however, a novel and ingenious way of making this style of knife(integral) that Rodrigo came up with, would you not agree?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Snody said:
Intergal is not even a word??

Regarding the word Integral your definition is at odds with what as been written in the pages of knife publications for the past 15 years.

Take the definition given in Knives 2000 for instance.

There is a whole chapter dedicated to Integrals.

Its on page 122 Jerry.

You say "An intergal in the knife making community would or should be defined as thus"

What do you mean "would or should" that doesnt make sense.

Integral has already been defined countless times in print media.

Instead of making up new definitions and new words "Intergal" why not just look back at the history of the Integral ie TM Dowell to find the definition.

Let me know if you need any more reference material regarding the history and definition of the Integral Knife.

I'm sure I can dig something up for you.

Best Regards,
Click to expand...

So your definition of integral is....? :confused:

Roger
 
RogerP said:
So your definition of integral is....? :confused:

Roger
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I have no definition???

My Definition???

There is only one defintion and that is the recongized definition that has been repeated countless times in media print for the past decade,

Go back to my first post in this thread,

You need look no farther for the definition.
 
Snody said:
My Mentor and Friend Edmund Davidson.

Full Integral = Front and Rear bolster/guard.

I think Edmund is the King of Integrals.

I am obviously biased but then again he taught me how to make knives.
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Okay..... I guess there "is only one definition". For some people. :)

Sure hope I didn't make any typos - I know you're all over that.

Roger
 
Kohai999 said:
That was a bit harsh of you Mike....I think Jerry was just making an error on the spelling.

IT is however entirely possible that Ted Dowell coined the term "integral", and he is also the renowned master of the style.

It is also, however, a novel and ingenious way of making this style of knife(integral) that Rodrigo came up with, would you not agree?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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Its not my intention to be harsh but I'm quite passionate about the subject and Mr Fisk is offering an opinion that is not supported within this industry.

Yes, TM Dowell started the whole thing.

Yes, I love the Rodrigo, exceptional on all points!
 
Mike, that explains why I never won the spelling Bee then.

Mike if you reread my post then the first paragraph of what you referred to you can see that was what I was trying to say. Thats in my own opinion, anything I say is just that, my opinion.

STeven, yeah, I agree on Ted D, he is the first one that did it and recognized for it. Have always liked his work and they are good folks too.
 
fisk said:
Mike, that explains why I never won the spelling Bee then.

Mike if you reread my post then the first paragraph of what you referred to you can see that was what I was trying to say. Thats in my own opinion, anything I say is just that, my opinion.

STeven, yeah, I agree on Ted D, he is the first one that did it and recognized for it. Have always liked his work and they are good folks too.
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Jerry, I was just kidding about the spelling!!!

Thought you might have invented some new type of knife.

Happy New year!!!
 
fisk said:
STeven, yeah, I agree on Ted D, he is the first one that did it and recognized for it. Have always liked his work and they are good folks too.
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Ted can be a GRUFF old SOB, his talent is up there with the best in the industry, but I'll tell ya, Betty is a GEM!!!! She has been helping Phil Lobred with the AKI since the beginning, and has a gentle and kind heart.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Ted has always reminded me of my grandmother so I never had a problem with him, granny was like that too.
Yeah, Betty is a sweetie.
 
When I call a knife an integral it is ground and machined from a length of 5/8" X 2" 440c, or sometimes 1/4" X 1" 440c or Damasteel.

Sometimes it is nothing but 440C when it is finished with nothing pinned or welded to it but more often I will machine pockets into the handle section to allow fitting decorative inlays held with pins and/or epoxy.

I do not consider the use of inlays a violation of the word integral when discussing a knife.

I have several on my web site.
 
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