Why are people making knives so Thick?

[rodriguezryan14]

Well he’s the one bashing my work on another thread too. He’s the one basically saying I don’t know what I’m talking about! Unless I missed something! He is being sarcastic! All I stated was that I make some thicker knives as my preference for what I do. I stated the fact that some manufacturers use more brittle steel, so they make thicker knives to make up for it! And this is why I don’t usually get on the forums much anymore. People are quick to point out that they know more than someone that actually makes and heat treats their own knives! I have a preference, and so do most of the people I make knives for. I was trying to tell him originally that a thick knife can cut just fine if it’s ground right. He said I make sharpened pry bars. I have made some, but that’s not exactly what I make. A knife like he was talking about won’t work an entire bull elk start to finish easily! I make thick knives designed to cut well!! But not all of them are thicker stock.

According to the sense given in the actual words, this appears to be an acknowledgement of your experience as a hunter rodriguezryan14 , distinguishing you from his generalized comments, but you chose to see it in a sarcastic light, and type up storm at him. So no he really didn't.

 

[David Mary]

You seem like a perfectly sane and calm individual who definitely wouldn’t blow up at any customers if they had an issue with one of your knives.

Right. Speaking of doing oneself favors....

heat treat and test to destruction all my blades

I have plenty of happy customers out there.

You realize these both can't be true, right? So your frustration with a perceived sleight is making you contradict yourself.

Do yourself a favor...

I am actually trying to help you. Dial it back. Read the room. Shiny footprints (thank Sal for that one). And all that.

 

[rodriguezryan14]

You definitely seem like a perfectly sane and calm individual who definitely wouldn’t blow up at any customers if they had an issue with one of your knives, whom folks should feel comfortable giving money to.

Also, if your work is on display in that other thread, I don’t expect you’ll see many sales here. Anyway, have a great afternoon!

I’m not looking for sales. I just simply posted a thread. Because I don’t like your childish comments, doesn’t mean I blow up on a customer. I completely warranty my work. But I also don’t sell on this forum.

 

[coolbreezy37]

I prefer my knives thicker. I use my knives as demo tools that cut adequately. I don’t need the sliciest knife for my uses. 3/16 to 1/4” thickness has always worked for my needs. If it poor geometry, I can re-profile it with no issues. I’ve got enough experience to do what needs to done with almost any knife, I just happen to prefer thicker ones.

 

[eveled]

I believe most makers would struggle making a truly thinly ground blade. So they make thick ones and tell us they are better that way.

 

[Quiet]

I’m not looking for sales. I just simply posted a thread. Because I don’t like your childish comments, doesn’t mean I blow up on a customer. I completely warranty my work. But I also don’t sell on this forum.

Odd then that you purchased the correct membership level in order to be able to do so. Just a confidence, I’m sure.

 

[Quiet]

I believe most makers would struggle making a truly thinly ground blade. So they make thick ones and tell us they are better that way.

By all accounts David Mary makes some real screamers, and there an awful lot of completely satisfied customers here, so clearly some makers are doing it very well!

 

[rodriguezryan14]

Right. Speaking of doing oneself favors....




You realize these both can't be true, right? So your frustration with a perceived sleight is making you contradict yourself.

Do yourself a favor...

I am actually trying to help you. Dial it back. Read the room. Shiny footprints (thank Sal for that one). And all that.

How so? Just curious. I heat treat in batches. I make one out of each batch to test. And I get it. I understand you are. Thank you. I just didn’t like his childish comments.

 

[David Mary]

Screamers, eh.... do I detect a new model name?

 

[coolbreezy37]

Screamers, eh.... do I detect a new model name?

I’ve handled one of your knives before, it was insanely sharp. I think it was AEB-L or LC200N.

 

[David Mary]

Those steels practically sharpen themselves

 

[Crag the Brewer]

How so? Just curious. I heat treat in batches. I make one out of each batch to test. And I get it. I understand you are. Thank you. I just didn’t like his childish comments.

I'm not trying to poke the bear, so to speak.... But maybe explain WHY you like thicker knives. What does a .250" or whatever thickness do that a . 125" doesn't as well?


me personally, I only like thickness for some wedge effect on battoning, and if a chopper needs some weight.

But You might have some better reasons that we haven't thought of

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Those steels practically sharpen themselves

Idk I'm doing a chef's at 63-64 and it's killing me on the grind.
Talk about taking Forever.......ugh

 

[GB940Rookie]

What is with knives being thicker than 1/8"? Hunting knives and others .2 inches thick seems like massive overkill, especially with modern steel. Has someone confused them with a hatchet?
If the knife is supposed to be good at cutting or slicing then it is counterproductive.

I agree that it is rare to need a blade thicker than .125 for strictly hunting purposes.
I don’t see too many hunting knives over .187.
Most knives that thick are geared towards something other than hunting.

 

[Danke42]

I like thick knives and I cannot lie
You other brothers can't deny

 

[David Mary]

Idk I'm doing a chef's at 63-64 and it's killing me on the grind.
Talk about taking Forever.......ugh

You're obviously talking about AEB-L, then, since LC200N doesn't go past 61. You need fresh sharp ceramic abrasives, 36 grit, and a grinder that won't lose speed when you push HARD. You have to push to move metal. With all steels, I find. And of course you have to manage heat, since pushing hard will generate it quickly.

 

[stabman]

Thick knife still cuts things.
J. Diotte bushcraft knife, 0.208" thick 154CM blade, 4 inches long:

 

[Auglaize117]

By all accounts David Mary makes some real screamers, and there an awful lot of completely satisfied customers here, so clearly some makers are doing it very well!

He certainly does. Thin edges are his specialty......

 

[Crag the Brewer]

You're obviously talking about AEB-L, then, since LC200N doesn't go past 61. You need fresh sharp ceramic abrasives, 36 grit, and a grinder that won't lose speed when you push HARD. You have to push to move metal. With all steels, I find. And of course you have to manage heat, since pushing hard will generate it quickly.

Yeah, I'm a pansy and I often think I'm not pushing hard enough.

I freehand, without those 90 degree mounting fixtures that so many people use to hold their knives while doing bevels....

The harder I press, the more I think about jabbing my thumb into the belt....haha.

Yes, AEB-L.
Yes ceramic.... But I'm starting out with 50 grit.

Idk why, but I rarely use 36.
Seems 50 doesn't break apart/dull as much for me? 50 seems to last longer

 

[rodriguezryan14]

I'm not trying to poke the bear, so to speak.... But maybe explain WHY you like thicker knives. What does a .250" or whatever thickness do that a . 125" doesn't as well?


me personally, I only like thickness for some wedge effect on battoning, and if a chopper needs some weight.

But You might have some better reasons that we haven't thought of

More of a preference. I don’t use 1/4 inch thick for much of anything but choppers. But I do baton a lot of wood when I’m out, so I like thicker stock, like you said, for the wedge effect when battoning, also for mild chopping around camp. I just prefer a thicker knife for extended trips. .180 is about my preference! I do carry a thinner blade for certain things though! I have a dedicated caper and boning knife in thin stock. But those are usually in my backpack! For a bull hunt this past year, my knife I carried when I packed in was .20 thick, A8 mod. It cut wood, skinned and quartered a bull elk, and did all my little camp tasks I needed. Including cutting through some bone when I left my saw at camp.