Knife Making Myths...Busted!

[@jimarnold1335]

I actually am a metallurgical engineer, and you nailed it, Walter. So, so many myths in blade making…

[@ReadyUpGo]

Thanks for casting the light of reality that only an experienced and proficient professional can do. As a 72 year old beginner, I needed this. Thank you. You rock!

[@dameongray6412]

And here I thought I started late in the game I mean that respectfully my hat is off to you sir

[@ozarked2363]

I'm a hobbyist knife maker. I had a co-worker who would not take no for an answer and wanted me to make him a hunting knife. I think I told him no 4 times before I finally gave in and agreed. He was very general in what he wanted so I made him a full tang knife with walnut scales and mosaic pins. He loved it and we agreed on $160. After he paid me I told him the breakdown on my time and material costs. I had $75 in materials the bulk of which was the leather sheath for it. I had about 40 hours of time in it because I screwed up the scales twice during the gluing process. If you do the math that's barely $2 an hour for my efforts. That's why I'm a hobbyist knife maker.

[@einarlotric]

You could charge more for your services and not give in to peer pressure, never undersell your work. None of my work is sold under 250.00 dollars. Forged work can sell for over a thousand. 👍🏼💯😎

[@juanedoses8715]

@@einarlotric if you're a hobbyist mabey you don't feel comfortable charging top dollars for a hobbyist made knife.

[@einarlotric]

@@juanedoses8715 my point wad that the material and the skill, time put into making them , makes his work more valuable than factory made knives where they are all the same. Whereas his work is one of a kind which increases value.

[@ozarked2363]

@@einarlotric I don't think I under sold my work. I doubt my work is worth what yours is worth. I wouldn't have paid $250 for it. It wasn't worth that much. I'm a hobbyist maker with hobbyist tools. I wouldn't have felt right about it. I never quoted him a price when I agreed to make it. He never asked the price until I presented it to him. I told him to inspect it thoroughly and think about it. He did and offered $160. It's not the customer's fault that I'm a hobbyist and screwed it up twice. Had he given a specific style blade and handle material that he wanted I might have felt better about a higher price. I'm not doing this to make extra money. I do it because I really enjoy the process and I really enjoy learning to improve my skills which happens every time I finish a knife. This is the only one that I have sold. All the others were gifts to friends and family. I also made a smaller version of the same knife for his 8 year old son. I gave it to him after he paid me for his knife as a gift. I enjoy giving them as gifts more than I will ever enjoy selling them. My first grandson was born in March and I've already made him a knife for when he's old enough. I know I'm not normal, but I'm too old to change.

[@einarlotric]

@@ozarked2363 nothing wrong with your morals and integrity bud. Keep doing what your doing. I was just saying your work has value to it. 💯👍🏼

[@patrickmurray9409]

In close to thirty years of selling my sculptures, I was supposed to have thousands in the bank. Not quite bills get paid , tools wear out etc. We do this because we love what we do.

[@0ddSavant]

No doubt. Rich is always at least one level above where you currently are. So long as poor is at least one level below where you are, you’re ahead of the game. Cheers!

[@alfonsedente9679]

Yall should ger that printed on a tshirt

[@Hungrybird474]

The best reason to do anything

[@francesmendenhall189]

Sculptors are the smart 'smiths. you don't have to grind your work after you forge it.

[@dr.froghopper6711]

@@francesmendenhall189i do.

[@Cortalpsychmajor]

I use 1075 for most of my knives and don't get any complaints. My reason for using it is the simplicity in heat treating it. I have a coal forge and a household oven, hope that explains it.

[@iamshredder3587]

That's fine. Nothing really wrong with 1075. I mean it is what it is, a good basic simple carbon steel that's cheap, readily available, relatively easy to work with and heat treat and can make a passable knife blade that will get the job done in most cases. As are most simple carbon steels. Just please then start getting or spreading the idea that it or any carbon are equivalent or even superior to modern high performance high alloy martinsitic stainless chromium tool steels. (And/or that forged blades are somehow equivalent or better either. ) They're not. Not even close. Personally I think this (or these two combined) is one of the biggest myths in the knifemakeing world. And one of the silliest. In fact I'd go so far as to say it alot of cases it's at total scam level. Often a unhealthy and even dangerous one... especially when you start getting into knives used for human food preparation like kitchen knives. (And imho no carbon steel blade has any business being anywhere near human food or used for regular human food preparation. Or even many of the lower grade and lower chromium stainless steels or ones with more dangerous alloys. ) This myth/scam is especially prominent in the Japanese cutlery market. But it's everywhere too unfortunately. I'm not a big fan of big government regulation and a bunch of clueless corrupt beurocrats micromanaging every little aspect of our day to day lives.... but I also think this myth can only be perpetuated and people can only get away with it because of the knifemaking world being so very unregulated. About the least of any industry really. Where anyone can claim to be an expert or authority without any sort of training or degrees or anything much to prove or disprove it... and they can make pretty much any claims too without having to back it up. Which opens it right up to these sort of problems and to unscrupulous makers and all these sort of problems and nonsense. I mean you go walk into a place from any other metalworking industry.... industries with actual trained experts and strict guidelines and regulations and tonnes of experience, like say the aerospace industry or whatever.... and try telling them that they should use simple carbon steels and forging because they're superior to modern performance alloys, and you'd be rightfully laughed out of the place! Cause it's silly. Not true. And dishonest. Frankly it's perpetuated because it can be great for the backyard knifemaker who can pop out a bunch of blades quick easy and cheap with minimal equipment, skill or know-how and often still charge a premium price for aless than premium knife and blade steel. But it's bad for the customer and consumer. And I think in the long run is bad for makers and bad for the business as awhole and gives knifemakers a bad name.

[@tbhUSuckOo]

@@iamshredder3587 carbon steel knives, cutlery and pans have been used for thousands of years, theyre not dangerous for food preperation. Or we'd all been poisened by now

[@lawrencelewis1036]

Humble and honest, and a excellent knife maker.

[@T3_forge]

I’m a FnF contestant and I agree with your perspective. There are uncontrolled factors that the viewers never see. Long time fan of your work!

[@billmullins6833]

Never been interested in working with metal but I do love watching a bladesmith such as yourself work. Thank you for dispelling those myths for someone such as myself. I recently discovered my son has gotten into metal working including blades. Naturally I asked for a handmade knife - not because I collect knives but I knew my son would get a kick out of making his old daddy a nice knife. It is a pure pleasure to watch someone turn a piece of steel into a functional knife. You guys rock!

[@destructionjunction8195]

just started making kitchen cutlery. thank you for articulating some of these points. conveying some of these things to potential customers can be tough. thank you!

[@jeremylastname873]

One thing about Damascus is that the heat treat and temper treatment is typically, at best, a compromise between the best approach for one of the constituent alloys.

[@davidhamilton7628]

Exactly

[@FuckYouYouFuck]

That's why steels with the same heat treatment are paired. 15N20 paired with 1084 or 1075, or far more rarely O1 paired with L6. The one common combination that doesn't match is 15N20 paired with 1095.

[@flashpointbravo]

@@FuckYouYouFuck why os 15N20 paired with 1095 a poor combination? I know very little about metals and I’m genuinely curious.

[@FuckYouYouFuck]

@@flashpointbravo 1095 is a shallow hardening steel that needs a fast quench, 15N20 less so, 15N20 is a eutectoid steel with 0.75% carbon, 1095 is a hypereutectoid steel with 0.95% carbon leading to different optimal heat treatments.

[@flashpointbravo]

@@FuckYouYouFuck thank you. I ask because I’m genuinely curious about the craft and I have a knife made of those two steels which was given to me by a good buddy. Although it’ll never devalue to me because of materials or construction, it’s nice to know a little about the components.

[@sronnau99]

I’ve been watching you for 5 years man. I really value your teaching. Thank you for this video!

[@tinsoldier5621]

I make my own Damascus, but favorite steel is still good old fashioned D2. Great information Walter.

[@kyleeames8229]

The “Damascus” one surprised me. I never disputed the matter of whether pattern welded steel was Damascus but I was surprised to learn my understanding of its history was wrong. I knew that Indian/central Asian metal workers figured it out-I got that part right. I thought that was the best steel on Earth for centuries before the technology was lost for millennia, then the Industrial Revolution happened and we discovered a bunch of alloys which were equal/superior to it in their respective applications. In the last few decades or so we rediscovered the technology and began pursuing as an art form despite it technological obsolescence; analogous to how we still make the beautiful works of kinetic sculpture that are mechanical timepieces despite the demonstrable superiority of their electronic counterparts. This was a real eye opener for me. +1 subscriber. I look forward to more educational content.

[@a.frakes1535]

I can verify everything Walter said about FiF. Season 9, episode 26, that’s me. The guy that got eliminated first round could have outsmithed all of us if it wasn’t for the crazy parameters we were working under.

[@daw162]

I figured after seeing the early episode with murray carter and the guy who narrowly beat him, they put on such a display of workmanship (first season?) that the shows handlers just wanted something a lot less good, more crazy and more disasters.

[@shotout74]

Always enjoy these videos. Really appreciate someone who is willing to share their hard won experience and knowledge.

[@randallbanta2021]

My grandfather was a stickler for thermocycling , normalizing , and temp control during the forging process anytime that hardenable steel was used. He made very few knives(no money in knives), but lots of tools.

[@grizzbknives2542]

Always one of my favorite Blade Smiths and Teachers to watch...thanks for putting this one out there. I sent this to some of my friends who I get tired of explaining these points to...

[@jansdelossantos7353]

Always nice listening to an experienced voice. Thank you, and do stay safe.

[@0ddSavant]

“Damascus steel is the best steel. *Pause* Uh, no.” You could have just left it right there. Thanks for the content. Cheers!

[@MikeJones-vb1me]

Yes!!! All of this yes! I’ve had these conversations and arguments with people over and over throughout my 10 years in this craft

[@javierantoniovarasgenestie5313]

Knowledge is not wisdom. You have both. Thanks for this video.

[@johnjude2685]

Not a Blade Smith but a hobbyists enough to know Forge is a drama show that not fair to measure a Smith's worth but little educational and a floor show and great topic with some factual stuff to pick out of the floor show 👍 Thanks for real people as yourself.

[@fredbrooks1386]

I love learning different points of view. As well as thought provoking diys ……thanks my friend. Statements you said apply to so many things other than knife/sword making!

[@bryanledford4323]

Thank you so much for your personal perspective on Forged in Fire. I had a very similar experience (s09e13); my expectations of the "competition" did not meet the reality once I got on the floor. Sometimes things just happen and things go sideways, and to be honest, remembering your episode and what round you went out made me feel better about the experience. I duplicated the challenge when I was home and everything went right...on the show, not so much. But that's what happens. Thanks for sharing this!

[@haroldgodwinson5043]

Thanks for all your videos Walter. I first started learning knife making from watching your videos. That was nearly 8 years ago now and I think I've come a long way since. You played a seminal role there, as I'm sure you have for many knife makers. I'm glad you addressed your Forged in Fire experience. From memory, you had to make a blade out of canister damascus. I remember someone else had an inlay (or "taco" style) blade design. I know from my own experience that canister damascus is many orders of magnitude more difficult to accomplish than an inlay. Yet, you all had the same time limit. As much as I enjoy Forged in Fire, it's things like what I've said above that make me conclude it's not necessarily a true representation of the skill of a blade smith.

[@tymz-r-achangin]

Finally someone who is willing to not get caught up in the bullsh-t gossip of the main stream diversity of subject matters on knives You made a lot of good sense in the video

[@lunkydog]

When you were on Forged in Fire, I believe you were one of the first, definitely in the first 3 contestants to make canister Damascus. You also only had 3 hrs to do so. After your show, any subsequent canister challenges were given 4 hrs. I don't believe any of the other 3 on show would have even been able to make a blank in that amount of time. Ironically, the home shop challenge for the 2 finalists was a Japanese blade which you would have won hands down.

[@theman4884]

Which episode was he on?

[@lunkydog]

@@theman4884 I have no idea, but it was probably 4 yrs ago. Back when they still had more talented contestants. Edit:Just looked and his response video is 5yrs ago and as I remember he didn't put it out until atleast 4-6 months after the show aired. Wikipedia says season 3 but doesn't give the number.

[@MrTimmmers]

@@theman4884 Don't bother looking, he didn't last long.

[@theman4884]

@@MrTimmmers It was season 3 Episode 14 "The Naginata".

[@rroyr5698]

Your wisdom on knife making is unparalleled Walter, thanks.

[@michaell397]

I wouldn't say unparalleled as many/most of we the Knife Makers beat our head against the wall on these outlandish myths continually. "Home run on the Ti myths Walter"!!! What Mr. Walter is here, is dead on point! Hit the nails squarely on the head. Mr. Walter, you have to admit the Forged IN Fire is for us Pro's at least is the best Comedy ever put on the screen. I get a real kick out of it. ;

[@guysview]

Walter you are a BREATH OF FRESH AIR ! ! ! ! !

[@Dont_Poke_The_Bear]

Agree on all points. Also, I love and hate what FIF is doing to the community. Looking forward to the next Pops knife. The lion killer was great and I ordered some AEB-L this week to use for my own.

[@brysonalden5414]

As is almost always the case, I agree with you 100%, and thanks for busting these myths! I wish some custom knife buyers would watch this one, they would learn some important facts.

[@lasersailor184]

I explain to everyone who stops by my tent when I'm selling my knives this simple fact: Forged In Fire is a reality show. And just like every Reality TV show ever, the contestants are set up to fail. Success in reality television isn't good television. People don't tune in to NASCAR to see 300 laps of people staying in their lane and the starting grid being the finishing grid. They watch to see the risks, the failures, and the occasional crash.

[@Capthrax1]

I agree about forged in fire. I can take a 8 inch knife and finish grind to 45x in 30 mins cause of all the speciality tools and one off tools I've made to make that process easier . But give me constrains like not choosing familiar steels and making knives I don't normally make and I'm going to be a lot slower and prone to mistakes

[@T3_forge]

FNF contestant, there are a lot of things that you don’t see. Dave the guy that won my episode wasn’t familiar with the grinders so I showed him on set. And I would do it again because the majority of blade/blacksmith’s out there are very cool people!

[@Capthrax1]

@@T3_forge when you were there, how do the abrasives work? do you get fresh belts every time you want, do you get your choice of belts?

[@Azmodon]

Wootz is patterned because of vanadium, seems like an easy deliniation for real vs. "fake" damascus.

[@donscottvansandt4139]

Great info! I've been collecting knives sense I was very young. I've got knives made of very hard steel and ones not so hard . Mostly folders but as I'm getting older I like long knives. My favorites are a little softer . They're much easier for me to sharpen . Some of the harder ones seem to dull almost as fast as the softer ones? Is it the angle of the edge? I like a very sharp blade... what is the best angle for skinning VS woodcarving?

[@sethhofstetter8161]

Files, people, from coarse to fine. A good set of files is expensive, but will save you tons in abrasives!

[@clantonaw]

I've never met a knife maker that was in the black in terms of return on investment. Belts, tools, grinders, stock materials, handle materials, time invested, propane.........I've done ok for myself but I'd be lucky if the sum of my efforts amounted to breaking even. I'm sure there's a few mastersmiths out there that do ok with 10k-15k quillon dagger orders but by and large, most of us hammering and grinding out bushcrafters, camp knives and 1095 skinners aren't paying cash for that new Ferrari any time soon.

[@superpedro7295]

The best knife channel in you tube. Thank you

[@billwolf4512]

Great spot, I really love & respect your work. Keep up your excellent work & videos.

[@davidwoolfenden6961]

My pet hate is those guys demonstrating how "scary" Eharp their knives are, particularly the ones that show you where they have shaved their arm hairs with an axe. You don't put a razor edge on an axe or an axe edge on a razor for obvious reasons. each bladed tool has a purpose and the edge of each blade is sharpened according to it's end use.

[@lunkydog]

I bet you can shave hairs with every one of the New Zealand and Aussie competition axes when they are first unsheathed in lumberjack competitions. Maybe not after the contest, but no one on that level is going in with less than 100%

[@patrickwoolery6000]

My personal favorite is “old auto springs from (insert year, make, model of hard to find vehicle) are the ultimate knife steel.”

[@wizardforge7734]

Hello from Ukraine! Using your advices in creating tactical knives. Thank you 🤝

[@lloydscharf6897]

I learned a long time ago to never turn down an opportunity to learn something new. also never underestimate the source. Many times while trying to help a newbie, they would see something from a different angle and suddenly I understood "WHY" something worked. I've been watching "Forged in fire" reruns for several moons and have been surprised by how bad many of their MIG welds appear to be, and that they seldom/never TIG weld. I was watching a different knife making video and the topic of "Soak time" at heat before quenching was mentioned. Would longer soaks result in better performance of the knives in there tests? Finally as stated in the "Star Trek" shows "IDIC" LL&P

[@Six660]

Nice one mate. Keep "banging on" ...

[@whitecaps775]

Good info and perspective, Thank you for taking the time.

[@joefergerson5243]

Spot on👍 Mr. Sorrels

[@bahur47]

When I still watched FiF (I stopped at season 4) your episode was one of the most unbalanced challenges. One guy gets solid piece of steel, the other tube with powder.

[@theman4884]

Which episode was he in?

[@eliasdincer640]

very informative

[@pezorama]

I remember when you lost on Forged in Fire, I was super bummed. But I knew it didn't mean you sucked. I'm an artist, and if I entered a contest where I had to paint with watercolor instead of acrylic, I'd probably lose. That show is just supposed to be fun and entertaining, not really about who's a true life good Smith.

[@Hungrybird474]

Thanks for sharing sir

[@uncletello]

Do you have a video where a beginner could take a farrier's rasp, untemper it, make a knife(chopper?), retemper, and then handle and sharpen it? I have a few extra rasps as I am learning bow making and have thoughts of also making a few knives. Thanks...and am enjoying your videos!

[@eswb1]

Tello, I’ve made several knives from farrier’s rasps. Our shoer leaves the worn out ones with me. The problem is that most rasps or files are made with either 1084 or 1095. The former is a deep hardening steel, and should be quenched in oil, and the latter is shallow hardening, best quenched in water. You can split the difference and use something like Super 8 Second or Parks 50. But still, if you’re assuming one steel and it’s actually the other, your results will be sub-optimal. That said, you can still make a good, serviceable knife using rasps. The pattern left when grinding out the teeth looks very cool, imho. You’ll want to anneal the rasp first. Heat it to critical temp, “bright cherry red,” i.e. get it hot enough that it’s non-magnetic, soak it at that temperature for about five minutes, then let it cool overnight in a bucket of ash. There are other methods, but this has worked for me several times. That will get it soft enough to cut and grind. Then just go about your normal shaping, grinding, drilling, polishing etc. routine. I normalize before heat treatment, and I’ve never had one of these crack or warp drastically during the quench. When heat treating you have a decision to make. If you know the brand of file you may be able to contact the manufacturer and find out what steel they use. That would eliminate your guess work. I’ve made several of these, use them myself and have never been disappointed. Is the heat treatment and tempering optimal? Maybe, maybe not. But they’re pretty good knives. They’re sharp, tough, and hold a good edge. And they look strikingly different from what most people - and all companies - are making. I encourage you to give it a try. I think you’ll be happy with the results.

[@uncletello]

@@eswb1 Thank you for the time and all the information!

[@SkunkworksProps]

I think the best way of looking at the tools thing is to say you don't need fancy tools to make a great knife. You do need fancy tools to make a great knife quickly. It's the old fast/cheap/good triangle. Pick two.

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

Good stuff. It will be interesting to see what the laser will be able to contribute. The chefs knive sounds amazing.

[@Jimmy-iz2rx]

I think your comments regarding the "perfect knife" and how all knives are simply trade-offs where you're trading one quality for another... could also be used for the Forged in Fire competition. What I mean by that is it doesn't mean how skilled a knife maker you are, some factors come down to luck in that your target temper happened to match the tests, or tapers, grinds, design etc. Especially for the last two competitors who have no idea what the tests will entail.

[@AlphaTangoLima]

I agree with everything you say but one statement. 8670 steel from Pops is the best steel in the world. I may be bias though. Great video and all things we all argue as tool makers.

[@tykellerman6384]

Excellent Walter thanks🤠👍

[@ericmacfarlane6695]

Completely agree about titanium, with one exception. I remember seeing a couple titanium knife models from one single manufacturer, where they were marketed for EOD. I thought it was an interesting option for environments where use of a ferrous metal could potentially be hazardous (such as disarming a bomb). I’m not sure why the techs couldn’t just use a dedicated titanium probe rather than probing with a nearly useless knife shaped object, but what do I know? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@benjaminhague2675]

Titanium makes a good diving knife too, light weight (for hold air travel) and corrosion resistant but strong enough to cut fishing lines and nets e.c.t

[@edwardsmall5580]

Could you comment on a forged blade qualities versus stock removal using same carbon material?

[@Peter-od7op]

Great vdo just getting into making knives with my 18 old son ty

[@davidlee8551]

Excellent! Thanks.

[@ryanblystone5153]

Thank you

[@andreasfjellborg1810]

I have a hunting knife made from Sandviken powder steel, super sharp, super hard, super durable and wont rust(forgot it in the boat for 2-3 weeks and not a speck of rust, and it was resting in a puddle of rain water). A real pain in ass to sharpen though. but love the weight, and the style but would rather have the same knife in carbon steel even if the powder steel is superior in any way except when it come to sharpening. So it pretty much depends on what steel suits your need, that's the best one.

[@whitecaps775]

Was wondering if you could do a video or add a comment to one about belt choices for use with spray coolant. Seems some belts break down rather quick. Would like your opinion if possible.

[@jackdorsey4850]

Thank you very informative

[@peters6850]

I made a folder for my brother that had titanium liners, I cut it with an angle grinder. It was cool to see blue sparks instead of orange

[@therory6888]

Good video Walter. Thanks.

[@Smallathe]

A very cool video. Loved it!!!

[@garetkonigsfeld2]

I wish they would pay for the pain staking work. My hands are killing me. But I just can't stop grinding, sanding, and polishing. Awsome videos thanks for sharing.

[@aaftiyoDkcdicurak]

I remember in Forged in fire when they disqualified a guy because he didn't do any forging on his knife. I remember them saying "the show isn't called ground in fire"

[@chuckbowie5833]

Missed these!

[@jamesspry3294]

Good work Walter! Titanium is about the same as Aluminium, just a tad harder and a bit lighter. You don't see many Aluminium knives...

[@theman4884]

Does pounding on the steel do anything to the steel?

[@davidpiraux1262]

I absolutely agree 100%

[@alankohn6709]

to be fair Damascus as in the steel produced from a particular mining area in the middle east in the middle ages did through the make up of the ore and the skill of the makers make higher quality blades that had a pattern and yes woot steel is as my father said the same dog but different leg action there is a very good documentary available on KZbin about scientists working wit Alfred Pendray to rediscover it. The modern Damascus, Damacine, water pattern and so on should technically be be called Damascus Pattern or Patterned steel but either way it is of the quality of the steel used and the skill of the maker

[@daveh777]

I always jokingly refer to "Forged in Fire" as where I learned how NOT TO MAKE A BLADE. I've learned so much from the mistakes I see on that show.

[@slimjim7411]

I figure most knife makers buy stock steel in the type, width, length, etc that they like and mostly grind. Guys who spend a lot of time with the hammer and anvil are typically more budget guys who literally enjoy turning junk into blades, or guys who are trying to make some unique layer patterns. Which is honestly my favorite type of blacksmithing when someone takes a railroad spike or a old coil spring and hammers it into a blade.

[@ehisey]

There is actually a full support network for grinders that does CNC blank cuts, bulk heat treats for hard to handle steels, custom metal mixers, etc. FOr the guys making a living but not up tot he "master" level this support network lets save time and effort for abit of money on the donkey work or special equipment needs so they can focus on making the fit and finish fo the knifes which is the big differentiator.

[@coppertopv365]

Easier to Sanmi the railroad spike with an edge off a bit of leaf spring. Railroad spikes Suck. Low carbon mostly, like mild steel ..

[@julienplouffe1000]

I got a katsu knife it say vg10 on the blade with a titanium handle so perfect a bit hard to sharpen but keep it sharpness like no one

[@philochristos]

I love Forged In Fire, but one thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't accurately represent what the blade smiths who go on that show are capable of. It's a little misleading.

[@robohippy]

I was in a specialty cooking store looking for a mulberry knife/Chinese slicing cleaver, and the woman at the store told me that 'forged' blades were better because because they held their cutting edge longer..... That got a big eye roll from me. No, it is how the metal is heat treated, and the type of metal used that makes for best edge sharpness and retention.... She did not understand. Me, woodshop mostly, but I think I knew most of what you were talking about...

[@oogenshire]

which episode were you on?

[@theman4884]

Which episode were you in?

[@taironus]

On the sanding and grinding comment, thats why i generally stick to tooling art and architecture when i blacksmith, but most folk when they find out i blacksmith dont think "brackets, tooling, railings" they think knives and swords. ive only made 2 knives i was happy with, one was a drawknife. until i got my wilton grinder i wasnt even interested in standing in front of a central machinery belt sander for 16 hours. that being said i started 2 damascus billets, one is done the other is in the prep phase. i'd already have lost the forged in fire challenge, we re at least 2 hours in on the prep. with all that time invested i sure hope this billet turns out at least as good as the last one.

[@dragonwing4ever]

depends entirely on the knife then there a "best" or preferred steel to use for that type or blade

[@karlpron]

Titanium ... The best metal there is. Even ten thousand layer katana which cuts through tank barrel without a scratch doesn't stand a chance against titanium. Only sacred Ferrum is strong enough to defeat Titanium. P.S. Have you got a hardness meter? If you got, could you show how soft is titanium compared to normal, hardened carbon steel? I think it would maybe finally convince some thick skulls that unobtainium, sorry, titanium isn't the Holy Grail of metallurgy.

[@dockeryjt]

If your knife is going Mach 3 must be titanium.

[@tracycastleberry9040]

I am a hobbyist. I get interested in something just long enough to see if I can do it then move on to another one. I.ve made a couple blades, they look rough intentionally. You can see the hammer marks and tell it was forged. A knife is made for cutting not chopping, splitting, or using as a pry bar. The only thing I want is for it to hold a sharp edge. It's just a hobby for me, one of many from fly tying, flint knapping, blacksmithing to right now making a long stimmed tobacco pipe just to see if I can. Knife makers work hard and make beautiful knives Unfortunately in this day and age knives are not carried as often and people aren't willing to pay what a hand made knife is worth

[@RaspK]

To be fair, stock-removal techniques are comparatively modern, and the reason for the knife-smithing myth is a two-parter: a) knives *_were_* primarily forged for most of human history, as the process wasted a lot less iron and steel, and time (at such periods where the only "power tools" we could mislabel as such would be e.g. watermill powered grinding wheels); b) modern media often misrepresent how anything was made in the past and when (e.g. mixing up armours and weapons from different eras, casting iron knives etc.).

[@dockeryjt]

Are you saying a watermill grinding stone is not a power tool? Lathes and other machine tools ran off of water power long before electricity.

[@RaspK]

@@dockeryjt I badly phrased that, and I agree the term does apply properly; what I meant is that we can't classify them in the same category, because they are different types of power tools than modern ones (not in the sense of how much power they can put out, but in terms of constraints such as needing installations with appropriate power sources).

[@lancemillward1912]

myths make knife making exciting

[@sapphirecdsc]

Referring to No.4, I really salute you, for a long time, someone gut it right... Wootz (Crucible Steel) is originated from mid-Asia, around a thousand years ago, and it is random... Damascus steel is originally from Damascus/Syria (doh...), 600years older than Wootz, and of arranged patterns... A proved fact we teach to our students... Am a PhD. in Engineering...

[@mikehanson7081]

Been making knives for approximately 25 years. The goal in using different steel is to get closer to that perfect blend. The problem starts when you think about the hundreds of different knives. Each one has a different job to do so they require different characteristics in the steel to best do that job. As far as Damascus steel goes, the wavy pattern or water mark was something associated with the steel from Damascus, the place. Japanese steels also would show that water mark from the quenching. It also has something to do with the water. Way back then they used water from the lake or river or what was available. If the water was a little dirty it would leave a more pronounced water mark. When steel is that hot it is porous. I've had discoloration from impurities smoking off in the forge leave a discoloration completely through the blade.

[@gordons.dempseyii1345]

I love my titanium knife, it is better than stainless steel. It is a dive knife.

[@grahamdwells]

I think your episode of forged in fire should have been a level playing ground.

[@genghischuan4886]

I have to disagree I found the Reate EXO for me its the perfect knife....... that said Ive been really looking at one of mine thinking about making a copy but a few changes.

[@Friedbrain11]

Having machined titanium, I can tell you it is not good for a cutting tool. It is almost unsharpenable and dulls very quickly. Difficult to machine and even though it has interesting features it just is not the best metal for a lot of items.

[@juanedoses8715]

XLNT thanks!

[@emesser7087]

One thing about the Damascus 🙂 the vikings and some germanes did the welding I think as far as I know the oldest example of a sword where different steels where welded together was made 300bc so it's 2300 years not 200 on Europe. The celtic did that techniques as far as I know history 🙂

[@simonhopkins3867]

It's not Damascus 😂🤣... Would the real Damascus please stand up video comments section was hilarious at the time. Stay safe buddy

[@handlesaredumb1]

Quit watching forged in fire when the "judge" who is judging blades freaked out about the guy making a rapier. The rule was it had to have a Hamon, guy was heating and quenching repeatedly to do it, which is a practical method, and the "judge" said "oh no what is he doing he's ruining his blade".

[@mikafoxx2717]

Dude never heard of the triple quench apparently. One might argue it's effectiveness compared to triple normalize but it sure works for a Hamon. You temper out any stress anyways on the way back up.

[@gahtsno1]

a hand forged knife is good, if it keeps an intruder off or puts him instantly under ground.

[@Daves_Not_Here_Man_76]

The best knife is made out of unobtanium quenched in the tears of a virgin mother unicorn. The 2nd best knife is the one you made that does the job you made it for.

[@gundanium3126]

Even Excaliber was not the perfect sword, for had Arthur brought Clarnace the sword of peace as Merlin urged him to he may have survived (I am not spelling it right its the sword Mordred used to kill the king).

[@mrfunkybassist]

The perfect knife is the one not in my collection which is why i have to keep buying more lol