Help an Ultra-Noob figure things out

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

kingpin008

Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2006
Messages
5,435
Location
Howard County, Merry Land
Afternoon all. I'm not really a "knife nut" like some of ya'll are, but I find myself getting more into certain aspects of blade ownership/collecting in recent months. Right now I'm mostly interested in utilitarian/EDC-type folders, but there have been a few threads regarding fixed blades that have caught my interest (and my eye!).

One problem I'm having, is that I'm pretty much entirely ignorant as to the basic "anatomy" of a knife - fixed, folder, or otherwise. For the life of me, I can't tell a bolster from a tang. Wharncliff? Drop point? Tanto? I have no clue. And let's not get started on the various types of steel.

Long story short, is there any way that one of you fine folks could take a picture or make a video in which the basic parts of both a folder and a fixed blade are labeled? Or, if such a thing already exists, a link would be great.

Also, I know that there have been discussions of the different steel types on here before, and I will be reading up on them shortly. Are there any that describe the various blade types, their origins, and uses?

Thanks. :)
 
Well, as far as learning about steel goes, when I started getting more heavily interested in knives a couple of years ago, someone directed me to this: Spyderco Edge-u-Cation and I found it immensely informative. It will help answer many of your questions, to include what various grinds, blade profiles, etc.. are. Some of it is specific to Spyderco, some of it (like the steel descriptions) are more general.

Other companies, Benchmade for example, provide similar resources, though they are generally related to that companies products. Still interesting though! Honestly, for me, a lot of my education came/comes from simply spending large amounts of time looking at knives both on company websites and retail websites like KnifeCenter and New Graham. Company websites informed me about that companies products, the retail websites let me look at and read reviews on more knives than I would ever be able to see in real life. I also ask questions here, and I lurk on BladeForums.

I am probably not a noob about knives anymore, but neither am I that knowledgeable. What you will see mentioned pretty frequently, and what I have found to be true, is that knife people are some of the nicest people around and are always happy to answer questions or give helpful opinions. I have to tell you, knife collecting/using/talking/looking at is awfully fun, and there are more facets to it than you might think. I mean, maybe you are the type of guy that wants to collect Case knives, or art knives, or stilletos. Maybe you just want to find one good, solid knife that you can use and appreciate for years. Maybe you just enjoy knives and enjoy buying them and using them and building a base of knowledge through experience (which is kind of where I am). Maybe you like fixed blades, folders whatever. Maybe you eventually start making them yourself. My point is that it's an awful lot of fun, and it is addicting!
 
one thing you do need to know, buy knives of GOOD quality stel. will hold an edge better and longer than the knives at the asian mom n pop stores.
 
IMHO D2, VG10, 154 CM, ATS 34, 440C, S30V, CPM154, and CPM S35VN are the very best of the best of Knife steels.

Damascus knives are very pretty. But there is no evidence that they are superior to Tool Steel counterparts.

If a knife company makes up a name for it's steel. Good bet it is is some cheap tool steel.
 
Last edited:
If a knife company makes up a name for it's steel. Good bet it is is some cheap tool steel.
Click to expand...

What? Even INFI? Blasphemy! :D

kingpin, it helps me if I can understand, or make a logical association why a shape is called something. A clip point? I remember some of the top edge of the knife is "clipped" (removed). Drop point? The edge drops down in a curve from the spine. And so forth...
 
JShirley said:
What? Even INFI? Blasphemy! :D

kingpin, it helps me if I can understand, or make a logical association why a shape is called something. A clip point? I remember some of the top edge of the knife is "clipped" (removed). Drop point? The edge drops down in a curve from the spine. And so forth...
Click to expand...
LOL, kinda like SK5 and San Mai III.
 
Wharncliffe vs Sheepsfoot

I'm inclined to disagree with Jay Fisher on his classification bundling the sheepsfoot and Wharncliffe blade shapes.

In my experience, I have seen the Wharncliffe designation used more on knives having a convex spine curve and a straight cutting edge, where the spine and edge meet in a usable point, i.e. a point that can be used as a point (for piercing purposes).
Case-Seahorse.jpeg

The sheepsfoot designation is more often used on blade shapes where the convex spine curvature is more pronounced, meeting the straight cutting edge at approximately a right angle, making the point unusable for piercing applications.
Kershaw-Sheepsfoot.jpg . . . CRKT_Tuition_01.jpg


Disclaimer: I am not an expert, nor am I an authority in the field of cutlery or knifemaking, whereas Jay Fisher has some recognition there.

Despite this, I disagree with his assertion that Wharncliffe = sheepsfoot.

But that's just me. I could be wrong.

 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

TTv2
  • Locked
Large size folding knife recommendations
Replies
1
Views
284
hso
hso
W
  • Locked
Normal to name knives?
Replies
16
Views
745
russlate
R
S
  • Locked
Good all-around fixed blade for Alaska
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
snow
S
Devonai
  • Locked
CRKT Hissatsu Folder: Kydex Sheath?
Replies
10
Views
2K
Devonai
Devonai
W
  • Locked
New CRKT Minimalist
Replies
14
Views
2K
Madcap_Magician
M
Back
Top