Any Glass Daggers out there?

[kBob]

I believe Larry Niven once wrote a short called “What good is a glass dagger?” back around the time Jimmy Carter was beating bunnies with boat paddles.

I have wanted one since. About the time I found a piece of glass long enough and thick enough they shut down the university hobby shop and the lady that taught glass grinding for stain glass projects went away as did her gear.

Any how, anyone got some pictures to share?

-kBob

 

[Mk-211]

Look up Dragon Glass Dagger on YouTube, fashioned after the Game of Thrones series.

 

[theotherwaldo]

The nearest that I have is a knapped volcanic glass dagger with an elk horn handle.
Terrifyingly sharp!

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Mmmm...

I've considered making an obsidian knife before. You can order obsidian blades.

But I generally pack a folding ceramic knife. Ceramic knives are abundant, and pretty cheap. The blades are brittle and absolutely cannot be used for prying or any kind of knife work other than straight up cutting. But for straight up cutting, they are unbelievably sharp and hold an edge like nothing else I've ever used.

I suppose you could resharpen them with a diamond stone, but in general by the time mine reach that point they have enough chips in the blade I just toss it and get another.

These are the ones I generally get, below. Search Amazon for "ceramic knives" and you'll find plenty of kitchen knives, too.

https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Surv...prefix=ceramic+knives+folding,aps,158&sr=8-24

 

[hso]

Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass that has been highly prized. It has been used in practical as well as ceremonial blades.

James Gibson is working on a small obsidian piece for me.

Here's a ceremonial Aztec style.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122596...MIvJKW4fuZ-QIVqmxvBB1QcwNyEAQYByABEgJ8EPD_BwE

 

[kBob]

I was thinking ground and polished rather than knapped.

Had a ceramic kitchen knife in the 1980’s. Some folks bought them for dealing with potentially explosive packages. some bought them as kitchen knives. Some bought them because the sensors used in airports were metal detectors back then and one could carry those right past them ( also the “plastic CIA knife) (either would be detected today ) .some of us bought them because “hey, that’s neat! I wonder how well they work”

There was a kid (14) at my Son’s school that was a very good knapper and actually made copies of points and blades at the state museum, but his parents got a job in South America and they moved.

Neat responses so far. Thanks.

-kBob

 

[JohnKSa]

I suppose you could resharpen them with a diamond stone...

Yes. Light pressure and a very fine grit diamond stone will work. Coarse grit will put chips in the edge.

 

[hso]

As a surgical tool glass scalpels are a default for eye surgeons.

https://www.finescience.com/en-US/Products/Scalpels-Blades/Micro-Knives/Obsidian-Scalpels

 

[Thunderchicken]

I have wanted one since. About the time I found a piece of glass long enough and thick enough they shut down the university hobby shop and the lady that taught glass grinding for stain glass projects went away as did her gear.

If there is a university or college with a glass blowing program nearby (or anyplace else that teaches that) they’ll have glass grinding equipment. It’s usually used to grind the bottom of a piece flat and square but it could handle a glass blade easily too. Also anyone that does lapidary stuff will be able to deal with glass, which is softer. Just in case you want to pursue it yourself.

 

[Speedo66]

I believe Larry Niven once wrote a short called “What good is a glass dagger?” back around the time Jimmy Carter was beating bunnies with boat paddles.

I have wanted one since. About the time I found a piece of glass long enough and thick enough they shut down the university hobby shop and the lady that taught glass grinding for stain glass projects went away as did her gear.

Any how, anyone got some pictures to share?

-kBob

Here is an antique glass knife from 1939, could be sharpened, perhaps.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125452775223?hash=item1d35916f37:g:tuIAAOSwD7Ni5~Ci

 

[Carl N. Brown]

hso: Here's a ceremonial Aztec style.

That was a very interesting item.

Aside, I would like to point out to everyone that on most links, the "?" and everything after is your search history finding the page.
I try to test links by deleting the ?data and see if they still work before pasting one myself.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1225962235/large-black-snowflake-obsidian-blade
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125452775223

 

[Bwana John]

For some reason I would think you could never grind an amorphous solid (glass) blade as sharp as you could using conchoidal fracture (knapping).

 

[RA40]

I've seen similar like Speedo66 posted where the "edge" is a simple 45 degree type edge bevel. I'm not so sure how well carrying a bevel up will be since it will be pretty thin and prone to breakage. I don't imagine it being to complex but knowing how things go, it will come with "challenges".

Ground these out for beer pour shots, grinding these was easy. I did an obsidian handled knife in the early days.



Would have to find a knifemaker that does lapidary level knives and willing to experiment.

 

[toivo]

VZ makes some G10 daggers that look interesting:

https://vzgrips.com/shop/knives/vz-daggers/