What tests do you use for toughness?

DeadboxHero

DeadboxHero

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 22, 2014
Messages
5,512
What do you guys do to test your blades to see how tough they are?
 
Your customers are the best source of feedback for the knives intended purpose but I do some extreme testing for quality control. Hammering the edge into mild steel and impact steels like S7 and 1V I've shot with a magnum handgun. I do it so they don't have to.
Scott
 
I agree with both of the above posts. I test my knives by using them the way they were meant to be used. If its a chopper, I chop with it. If its a hunter/skinner, I gut, skin, & process game with it. Etc., etc., etc.. I also push some blades to destruction, especially when I'm working with a new steel. Once you know what a given steel can do in a certain application, customer feedback usually reinforces that the conclusions you've drawn from testing are accurate.
 
I have a few tests, for most of the blades I build. I don’t build really thin slicers like you though! Mainly outdoor blades, hunting and skinning, and utility. I usually test by chopping into various hard woods, then move onto elk antler, chopping, and battoning through the tips of the antler. If all is good, and no major damage, I usually move onto, aluminum, then mild steel. Usually hammering through, and checking for damage. Then onto a flex test, several different bends, then try to break it. This is usually for me trying to dial in my heat treat and geometry, just to see what my blades can hold up to. Most people I sell knives to, seem to use them for a multi tool!! So I try and build some tough knives.
I had one customer, for some reason, he chopped through his elk ribs, why? I have no clue. I’ve never had to when breaking down an elk! He brought me the blade to sharpen, and had some really small chips in it. I’ve done these tests with 15n20, 8670, 3v, cruforge v, cruware, M2, next up is 4v. and now I’m heat treating stainless. Tried the elk antler test on aeb-l the other day. I’m impressed by this steel so far. Some of these tests are a little extreme! But that’s just me!!!
 
My opinion may not mean much, but i do a lot of whittling with my slip joints which have revealed many issues i wouldnt have noticed otherwise. Blade kicks poking fingers, blades loosening up, tips breaking, glue breaking between liners and scales, uncomfortable when held in common whittling grips. I definitely agree with testing for the intended purpose.

As far as heat treating, i have tried heat treating several scrap blades differently and testing, and i cant really tell any difference in edge retention. So i guess i am in for heat treating tests.
 
rodriguez7 said:
I have a few tests, for most of the blades I build. I don’t build really thin slicers like you though! Mainly outdoor blades, hunting and skinning, and utility. I usually test by chopping into various hard woods, then move onto elk antler, chopping, and battoning through the tips of the antler. If all is good, and no major damage, I usually move onto, aluminum, then mild steel. Usually hammering through, and checking for damage. Then onto a flex test, several different bends, then try to break it. This is usually for me trying to dial in my heat treat and geometry, just to see what my blades can hold up to. Most people I sell knives to, seem to use them for a multi tool!! So I try and build some tough knives.
I had one customer, for some reason, he chopped through his elk ribs, why? I have no clue. I’ve never had to when breaking down an elk! He brought me the blade to sharpen, and had some really small chips in it. I’ve done these tests with 15n20, 8670, 3v, cruforge v, cruware, M2, next up is 4v. and now I’m heat treating stainless. Tried the elk antler test on aeb-l the other day. I’m impressed by this steel so far. Some of these tests are a little extreme! But that’s just me!!!
Click to expand...
AEB-L & this year Nitro-V Are two of my Fav with the 3rd being 440C for a few 11 3/4” Chef for the past 7-8 years and I’m very settled In those three for my knives. A few Skinners too and great field reports on those too! About 18 years ago I had someone in Georgia call me and say he broke a skinner of mine working on a Hog and wanted me to replace it.. I asked, how he did it ? He said hammering on the blade with a Framing hammer!:oops: I politely Said! How about using a saw?...He hung up! I’ll work with anyone but a Skinner wasn’t built to be hit with a large hammer to drive it through Bone :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top