Will Terra Cotta destruction replace rope cutting?

Fred.Rowe

Fred.Rowe

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
May 2, 2004
Messages
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Is there a chance that chopping a terra cotta pot or figurine in half will replace the old standard rope cutting test as a measure of a blades ability to cut? If this becomes the standard, what might the proper geometry of such a blade be? How thin would the edge have to be to cut terra cotta? Just a guess but I would think i in the range of 0.50" to 0.75". Something in this range will produce the proper affect when making contact with this brittle material. This type of blade might not be of much use when it came to gutting a squirrel or cutting tent stakes, but it might be useful when driving them into the ground.

Just having a bit of fun here but what is going on with Forged in Fire when the blade that sliced cleanly through three tatami mats loses out to one that did not but instead could smash a terra cotta yard ornament just like a hammer? My wife Debbie, who was watching the show with me said, what the hell :eek: she knows very little about the art of knife making, but she new this was just weird.

What has happened to our standard of judgement? I hope this is not indicative of the direction we are headed.

Just my 2 cents, Fred
 
I thought it was to test the blade's ability to flex and return as well as resist chipping. I kind of thought they both failed. Not crapping on the craftsmanship of either man, both built fine examples under a time limit it. Not to mention something they had not done before. But one bent and the other didn't cut as well, right? Isn't that kind of a wash?
 
I don't know who designs the challenges for the contestants. But I don't think tv producers are interested in the standards of our craft or industry. They are interested in entertainment and ratings. Is there any need to fill a tatame mat with rice and blue dye? If something will smash into pieces and/or fill the air with brightly colored debris it will look better on camera, especially in slow motion. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
 
i think a terra cotta hillary clinton would have been a better choice, but thats just my opinion. honestly it looked like it bashed through it rather than cut it. and i sure hope those hams went to a homeless shelter !
 
The tests are generally stupid, and one of the "expert" testers is a fool .... IMHO.
 
I remember when Shiva Ki cleanly cut a bundle of 8 full size terra cotta figures in half!
 
Did the test cutter slap the target with the flat of the blade?

I've seen a few broken and bent blades from absolutely flat strikes on the show.

Knife fighting and stick fighting are not sword cutting!


The show is fun to watch. I really enjoy putting faces, and attitudes to makers who's work I've followed.

Pigs, tatami mats, sugar cane horse legs make great targets.

Some of the tests are not well thought out.
 
Darrin Sanders said:
Why in the world would anyone wanna use a knife to cut rope?.
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Knives are knives dammit! They are for slicing apples and whittling whistles. ... that's it!

You want to smash terra cotta, use a sledge...
You want to breach a door, use a big crowbar
You want to cut a pig in half, use a Cold Steel product(seriously... any model... I saw the proof)
You want to cleave tatami mats, use a katana
You want to split firewood, get a hatchet
You want to cut rope, find yourself a... er... rope cutting tool thingie

While you're at it, get a larger backpack or duffle bag... cause you're gonna need it to carry all the right tools for the job!

It is what it is. They can test how they want. It is all in good fun to entertain the masses. I say it's better than a series dedicated to finger knitting.(not that it too couldn't be extreme. )





That was my passive aggressive way of stating that I really don't follow one camp when it comes to how knives should be used. Go FREEBLADE and leave your hang-ups at home.
 
Tv in shop, movie time. Retirement is supposed to be fun. :)
 
While some of the materials they are forced to work with and the tests their blades undergo make me cringe the upshot is my 7 year old daughter enjoys the show. Her and I just watched it together and if allows her a glimpse of what Daddy tries do in the garage then it's a win.
 
Varga Knives said:
While some of the materials they are forced to work with and the tests their blades undergo make me cringe the upshot is my 7 year old daughter enjoys the show. Her and I just watched it together and if allows her a glimpse of what Daddy tries do in the garage then it's a win.
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My kids are entertained by it too. I don't bother watching, but my kids do. I think it is drawing a bunch of people to the custom knife table and may wind up helping you knife makers some day.

Randy
 
Cutting through terra cotta is kinda silly, but then again so is cutting through rolled up beach mats. All of it is a compromise because they really run out of things to cut.

I would like to see is a post Forged in Fire BBQ where the blades are tested against various parts of multiple animals and then they cook it up for everyone :)

But come on we all know no matter what they do on the show somone is going to complain about it, that is one thing the internet has taught me.
 
Slightly on topic:

I was told that earlier this year at a knife show one of the former FIF contestants had a table. A goofy fellow came up and started talking a bunch of BS about knives and test cutting. He asked the maker if he knew about the great new show, Forged in Fire ... and started telling him all about how great the tests were and how they proved how good found materials were for making knives. The former contestant avoided a wasted afternoon with a blithering idiot by only saying, "Yeah, I heard of it."
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
... and started telling him all about how great the tests were and how they proved how good found materials were for making knives.
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I had the exact opposite experience. I have had many clients, who know I make knives, tell me how the show has taught them how hard it is to find good materials to make a knife and how hard it was to make one. Also every single person thought the cutting tests were problematic in the show.
 
Well how about that - FiF has started a new season and I didn't even know about it! I see there are two shows already shown. I've got my DVR set to record the FiF shows, and I'll bet those two episodes are there now to watch. I'll have to check - the wife enjoys watching also...... Just wish they'd get rid of that one clown they've got for a judge..... AND focus a bit more on true craftsmanship and true testing.

Ken H>
 
The friendly competition and quality of work are really good this year. The fact that these smiths have been there before is a big factor in fewer dumb screw-us.

The materials choice on episode #2 was sort of hokey, as anyone in the same circumstance would obviously use the springs.

I couldn't figure out why the gal just bundled the wrap in a ball on her handle and didn't even try to make it neat or comfortable.
 
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