What is this?

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RyanW

RyanW

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I took in a knife on trade from a buddy a while back, upon arrival I noticed what I believe to be a flaw in the steel... I told my friend about it and sent some photos, he had not noticed it before. He offered to make it right which is great and not what this thread is about.

The Maker of the knife is well known. I have wanted to get one of his knives for a while now that is why I made the trade. I contacted him and he told me that he felt it was corrosion and would only deal with the original customer and couldn't help me.

I am not going to name the maker but would love some input on what people feel this could be... Best photos I could get

What I am calling a "CRACK" measures: 1.5cm and the "Dark" line continues another 1cm. My fingernail does catch on it. It does not continue through to the other side



 
Looks pretty cracky from here.

Is it edge quenched ?



If you know someone that does engine block work, they may have penetrating dye that will tell you for sure that it's a crack
However I'd give it back to the maker first before doing anything to it so he has less of a reason to deny warranty.
 
You need to provide more info.

Is the blade used or unused? Forged or stock removal? How was it heat treated?
 
I will try to gather that info Count and Karda... the maker is not really interested in talking with me about the knife. I am not really interested in going back on the original trade deal, because the other side is happy.

Just to be clear, I am not upset about this. Just curious
 
To me, with the pics and info provided and because of the darkened line on the right side of the "Dot" looking thing in the middle, I would think it was an inclusion in the steel or if forged, a stress crack from the HT which has rusted inside and opened up.
If the knife has been used for chopping, it could be a crack that has done the same.

Either way, the answer to your title question is: It's a crack.:D ;)
 
Looks like a crack to me as well. It also looks like the edge is chipped below the crack. Could it have been stressed? Still shouldn't have cracked, but stranger things have happened. An anomaly in the steel more than likely. At least that's my 2 cent guesstimate!

But I will say in my opinion, the maker should be more than interested in checking this out, no matter who owns it!
 
I don't see how corrosion could cause such a small thin crack to form there. I've found knives in the woods that where completely covered in rust that never cracked like that.

I also agree that the maker should have responded better to the situation.
 
Sure looks to me it is an inclusion that was created when the steel was made. It does happen. Sure the integrity of the knife may be good but unless the price reflected the fact that the maker was willing to give a huge discount I don't think that is a fair business practice. Frank
 
It's a crack, IMO. I can't believe the maker won't speak to you about it... that is ridiculous.
 
I have no idea what I'm talking about but I've read something similar to that flaw before. Those in the discussion seemed to believe the steel was flawed in some manner when manufactured. I'd be interested to know who the maker is.
 
The fact that the maker is not all over this is curious. But if the maker will only deal with the original owner, return the knife to your buddy (if he was the original owner). Have him contact the maker to get the answers you seek. I have had a batch of bad steel before. This looks like an inclusion revealed by grinding.
 
If I was the maker, I would definitely want it back. Just to find out what happened and I would not want it out there. Looks like a crack here, also the chip on the edge. What is the steel?
Brion
 
In my limited experience I would say that looks exactly how a crack shows itself after being dipped in ferric for a little bit then cleaned off. Later (hours or the next day) the ferric that made it into the crack will slowly leach out or show as corrosion.
 
Is it possible to show more of the blade without revealing the maker? Maybe just a pic a little further from the inclusion?
 
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