Category: Knife Learning (page 3 of 3)

App gives chart for knife steel compositions

July 20, 2012 / Tim / 2 Comments

Most people’s smartphones are full of silly games like Doodle Jump or Angry Birds, but a new app brings back the functionality and reference that made smartphones such revolutionary items: the Knife Steel Composition Chart app.

OK, that might be a bit of an overstatement, but the app is definitely a must-have for those knife nuts out there. The app offers an easy reference for information about steel. Not only does it give you information about the composition of steel, but it gives some notes about the qualities and properties of the steel.

Here’s the description of the app from the iTunes store page:

Knife Steel Composition and name cross-reference database. Includes popular, high end and exotic alloys used in knife blades. About 4700 alloy names, over 900 compositions. Alloy names for 17 different international standards, proprietary names and their equivalents. Easy alloy composition comparison with bar graph in 3 modes: mass percentage, molar masses and atomic count per 1000 atoms.

S30V real name is CPM S30V. All Crucible CPM steels used in knives are in the database, including their aliases.

The app is available on iPhones and Android. It’s worth a download to learn more about the steel of knives you have or a knife you’re potentially buying from the store. Check out the links below to download the app.

Anatomy of a Knife: 10 Key terms every knife enthusiast should know

May 4, 2012 / Tim / 1 Comment

When describing the basic parts of a knife, the terms seem pretty simple. You have the blade and the handle. It’s when you start talking to knife experts that terms like quillon and choil made you feel completely uneducated. So, whether you’re interested in talking to some of the big boys in the knife industry or simply want to learn more about knives, these are some key terms every knife lover should know.

Tip or Point: We’ll start at the, well… tip. This is the very top of the blade, which is also known as the point. The tip is a part of the knife that has various styles and designs. For example, some points are Tanto points, clip points, spear points and many more. If you want more details on the full range of blade shapes and variations at the tip, I encourage you check out Jay Fisher’s educational post.

Spine: The spine is the widest part of the actual blade and is also known as the back.

Edge: This is the thinnest part of the knife and, therefore, the sharpest. The edge is also sometimes designated the cutting edge to distinguish it from false edges, which are unsharpened. Generally, when someone mentions the edge, they mean the cutting edge.

Grind: The part of the knife between the spine and the cutting edge is known as the grind.

Ricasso: When your blade thickens before going into the handle, it’s called the ricasso. It’s that unsharpened part of your edge between the grind and the handle.

Bolster: Knives with bolsters sometimes have two: a front bolster and a rear bolster. These reinforce the knife in critical areas. It’s the thick part of the knife blade that transitions into the handle. It’s usually smooth and found typically on forged knives.

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Make Your Own Knife for Fun or Survival

April 5, 2011 / Tim / 6 Comments

If you’re serious about knives, then there’s no doubt you’ve looked into how knives are made and have maybe even yearned to make your own.

About a month ago, I wrote a post on how to make your own knife out of a file. While making a knife that way is definitely legitimate, it requires some less common tools and machinery, which you would never find in the wilderness.

There’s actually a much simpler way to make a cool looking knife by flintknapping, which can also come in handy during survival situations.

For anyone not familiar with knapping, it dates back to prehistoric times and is often done with flint, obsidian, chert or other specific stones. Basically what you do is take something like copper cylinders, hammer away material and flake off the ends to make it sharp. Then affix a handle and you’re finished.

It actually only takes a few materials and tools to make a great looking knife that’s extremely sharp and functional.

If you’re good at flintknapping, you can also make some money. In a recent article in the Newark Advocate, writer Dick Martin said he knows a guy who sells his work at arts and crafts shows for $10 an inch.

So, if you’re interested in making your own knife whether for money or sale, here are some basic instructions on how to go about doing it.

Five uses for the machete

October 16, 2010 / Tim / 0 Comments

machete A ubiquitous sidearm in Latin America and many developing countries, the machete is becoming increasingly popular in Europe and America as well. Lighter than an ax or hatchet, it not only has a wide variety of agricultural uses, but is also a great camping accessory. Here are a few common uses for a machete.

Cleaning brush, foraging a path

This is where the machete truly outperforms almost all other blades. With its broad cutting service and light weight, the machete is the ultimate bushwhacking tool. If you’re traveling through dense woods, a machete is the best way to expedite your journey by removing vines, bushes and thorns that are obstructing your path. It is also a great tool to use to clear a campsite.

Splitting firewood

Why opt for lugging around a hatchet or an ax when a machete can do more? A properly sharpened machete can easily split logs and, if need be, even fell small trees.

Chopping food

If you brought vegetables or other provisions that need to be cut into smaller pieces, a machete is capable of doing the job. A machete can slice up pretty much anything you can eat, so you can forget about needing to lug around a large knife for cooking. It’s also great for splitting coconuts and other fruits.

Fending off wild animals, killing venomous snakes

In an ideal world, you’d never encounter an angry rattle snake or a hungry mountain lion. But the bottom line is that no matter how cautious you are, the great outdoors are full of uncertainties. With a machete, you can not only slice through snakes, but fight off a larger predator if need be.

Shaving

Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but many people do shave with machetes. Just make sure you have plenty of shaving cream and a steady hand before you try it. Need a tutorial? Check out the video below.

6 ways to use a pocket knife

September 2, 2010 / Tim / 1 Comment

Swiss army knife The pocket knife is an iconic tool carried by outdoorsman, craftsman and everyday men and women across the world. The reason for its popularity is clear; it’s simply one of the most functional tools available today. Here are a few great uses for carrying a pocket knife.

Opening Boxes, Letters, Packages, etc.

There’s nothing worse than spending half of Christmas morning watching your brother and law struggle helplessly with a Land’s End box. Of course, if you were carrying your trusty pocket knife, you would be spared this annoyance and could move on to other gift-giving.

With their variety of blades, pocket knives are excellent tools for opening boxes. Don’t want to sully your hands opening letters? Impress your co-workers at the office by opening them up with your pocket knife.

Camping

Camping without a knife is unforgivable. From shaving down kindling to roasting hot dogs on the fire, you need a pocket knife. Of course, there’s always a chance you might have to fight off a rogue bear with your pocket knife as well, like this guy did.

A pocket knife with tweezers can also come in handy if you’re out in the wild and end up with a tick or a fat, nasty splinter.

Fishing

This one couldn’t be more obvious. A fisherman without a pocket knife isn’t a fisherman; he’s just a lonely guy drinking beer next to a lake. From cutting line to removing hooks, a trusty pocket knife is mandatory for any fisherman. Plus, if the fish aren’t biting, at least you can use the bottle opener on your knife to pop open a cold brew.

First Aid

From cutting bandages to fashioning tourniquets, you never know when a pocket knife can come in handy. They’re also great for freeing hostages who have been bound in rope, though hopefully you’ll never encounter that.

On a more serious note, if someone does get injured while you’re outdoors, a pocket knife can also be used to carve messages to other parties along the path.

Peeling Fruit

This one I swiped from a great post on the blog the Art of Manliness. There’s really nothing tougher-looking than sitting on your stoop and gnawing on an apple you peeled with you own blade.

Protection

A pocket knife doesn’t make much of a weapon, nor is it designed to be one, but if you do find yourself in a sticky situation it may be enough to fend of or at least slow down an attacker.