Your thoughts on Carbon Fiber based Knifes?

Y

yojimbo1969

Joined
Sep 2, 2009
Messages
14
Hello all,

I just ran across a series of knives by which I'm intrigued. They're not your standard randomly-hold-a-block-of-carbon-fiber-up-to-a-belt-sander versions that I'm used to seeing passed off as "Combat" or "Fighting" or "Special Ops" knives on eBay. Here are the examples of which I'm speaking.

(Direct Links to eBay removed by OP. Sorry guys, didn't mean to cause a fuss).

They've also given me an idea of how to incorporate a steel cutting edge into the design without laminating an entire layer of steel to the CF like Warren Thomas does with his fine examples of CF/Steel laminated blades/knives.

Anyway, just wanted to pick the collective brain of this fine family of knife enthusiasts for your thoughts on CF based designs (particularly in a SD or Backup role) before I proceeded with my prototype. Figured you'd be able to present me with some pros and cons that I haven't thought of.

Thanks in advance!

Yojimbo1969
 
Last edited:
Are they your knives you're linking to ?

Linking to live auctions is not the done thing here.
 
I've always liked this kinda stuff, but for everyday carry/use, it's a no-go.
 
The name Ronin sounds familiar. And who tagged the thread already?

Somethings fishy.
 
Join date is Sep 2009, my guess is SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM, SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM

LOVELY SPAM
WONDERFUL SPAM (spam spam spam)


Also those things are garbage. They are not cutting tools, they are purely throw-away weapons. And, if you get caught carrying one, good luck in court!
 
SPXTrader said:
The name Ronin sounds familiar. And who tagged the thread already?

Somethings fishy.
Click to expand...

Hi all. Not my knives, just something that caught my eye today while I was perusing eBay. I'm new here, so if I've done something wrong, please let me know and I'll rectify it immediately.

BTW, I tagged the thread. Just thought it would improve the search return.

I was more interested in what everyone's thoughts were on the family of knife and the design themselves. Would it be better to just post pictures?

Thanks!

Yojimbo1969
 
Com'n guys, lets at least give him enough rope to hang himself with ;)
 
yojimbo1969 said:
Hi all. Not my knives, just something that caught my eye today while I was perusing eBay. I'm new here, so if I've done something wrong, please let me know and I'll rectify it immediately.

BTW, I tagged the thread. Just thought it would improve the search return.

I was more interested in what everyone's thoughts were on the family of knife and the design themselves. Would it be better to just post pictures?

Thanks!

Yojimbo1969
Click to expand...

Removing the links to the e-bay auctions before a mod does it for you would be a good start...... if you're not just spaming us that is :rolleyes:

Carbon fiber makes a great choory/shiv but is not exactly fantastic for an EDC knife.
 
I think there's simply too much likelihood for a carbon fiber laminate blade to just get scratched to hell and back. If someone did it with g10...that might be a little more interesting. But it would still probably suck. :)
 
I really don't see the point of all carbon fiber unless you are trying to get past a metal detecter which in my opinion is a horrible idea.
 
Haze said:
Removing the links to the e-bay auctions before a mod does it for you would be a good start...... if you're not just spaming us that is :rolleyes:

Carbon fiber makes a great choory/shiv but is not exactly fantastic for an EDC knife.
Click to expand...

Thanks Haze, done.

I'm really thinking about it's application in a strictly concealed, SD/Backup role. A role where the only time one would use it's edge or point to cut/penetrate would be to end a critical situation by incapacitating an attacker. I've sliced myself on fiberglass panels pretty good in the past, so I'm pretty sure the capability is there.

The reason I thought of laminating a steel edge to a main body of CF is for edge retention reasons, which would allow it to be used in an EDC role.

Please keep the feedback coming, especially if you have constructive ideas, or better yet, personal experience to share.

Thanks!

Yojimbo1969
 
Do a search on Warren Thomas Knives. ;)
 
Charlie Mike said:
Do a search on Warren Thomas Knives. ;)
Click to expand...

Howdy CM. Thanks for the feedback. I'm actually very familiar with Warren's stuff. Really nice. I referred to him in my initial post, but that probably got missed with my flub up... (I'm not new to knives, just internet forums).

I like his work a lot (especially his folder mods), but I've got an idea of how to laminate a steel edge between two pieces of CF (kinda like Scandi blades), so as to avoid having a completely exposed layer of steel that would also requires using a chisel ground bevel.
 
I do not like carbon fiber blades. Its great in other applications, but give me steel for cutting purposes please. And as a backup/SD purpose...there are plenty of neck knives for that reason. Look into hide away knives for eg.
 
I have no use for carbon fiber composite blades either. I suppose they look nice, but looks is not why I carry a knife.
 
Last edited:
Whats the point and what could you really use it for?


I bet the edge retention sucks.
 
If you really have your heart set on carbon fiber knives you need to get some of the thicker CF tiles and not use the thin stuff.

You're not going to get a functional edge that is going to be anything worth shouting about but you can get an edge that will cut. Every time you cut with it you will lose material though so any edge is not going to last long at all, the point will stay functional for longer but will still go fairly quickly.

I have made a couple of CF knives and have put an edge or point on CF scraps to test how it cuts and the like so I know how it functions. I made a letter opener (that was actually for opening letters) and that has done really well as it's seen nothing more that a folded edge of paper in it's life.
I also made a dagger and a tanto that were not going to see any use but could have easily stabbed through the same materials as a metal knife could but still have the obvious problems I've already mentioned.

If you want a cool/unusual knife for a collection or a prison choory type knife for a few stabbes and maybe a slash then CF could be a good choice I suppose. Other than that it's not a great deal of use, if it was every body would be using it and not the handfull of makers (at best) that do.
There is also the legal issues of carrying non metalic knives that are probably best avoided TBH.

Warren Thomas makes knives that have a carbide edge on the titanium laminated to the carbon fiber or G-10 so they are not the same as just using raw CF for the blade and actually have good cutting performance. He also does steel/CF laminate blades but they are not as common as the Titanium ones.
 
Haze,

Thanks for taking the time to provide such detailed feedback.

I have never been under the impression that CF is or would be the end all, be all for knife design; I'm simply intrigued by the potential to create something different than anything I've seen out there thus far.

Thanks for participating and responding with something more insightful than "Carbon fiber sucks".

Yojimbo1969
 
Last edited:
I would cut a small piece of a good steel (like CPM-M4) and sandwich that into the carbon fiber blade. That way your cutting edge is still made out of steel, but the knife is very light because it would be mostly carbon fiber.

But if the entire blade is made out of carbon fiber, you can literally baton a regular steel knife straight through the blade easily. Carbon fiber is simply too weak.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top