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Permalink Reply by Halicon on April 1, 2011 at 14:15

Just like any other country they have their own master artisans. The stuff America has seen from those two locations are the extremely cheap resmelted steel kind with machining and no experienced hands. Nothing good comes out of that and the reputation of the serious smiths are suffering from it as we speak.

 

It is a fact that the cold-forging method originated from India. They have exquisite historical artifacts (far more beutiful than many western countries might I add) and the craft is still alive. It isn't easy to find but it sure is there.

 

There were smiths in China that I got a contact with when I practiced Sanshu and Shaolin that could source me blades that were cold-forged and entirely traditionally made with great performance, but then again it wasn't over the net.

I don't know any smith that has the time to forge the traditional way and still have enough time left over to market themselves, rather their work usually does the marketing for them.

They wake up, go to work on the initial steps and work hard in order to have everything finished for the evening when it's time to temper all the steel with the help of the setting sun (with cold-forged steel the temperature range for hardening is within a few degrees or it rapidly looses it's performance)

 

Please don't limit yourself to only U.S made knives. There is a huge world of amazing cutlery out there.

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Permalink Reply by stephen tungate on April 1, 2011 at 16:14

how do you test for quality when they look good and are sharp please tell us how to tell the difference /

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Permalink Reply by Halicon on April 2, 2011 at 9:20

I can't give you an answer to that question that will satisfy you unless you're prepared to set up a voice communication and listen to my voice for a few hours. You have to know what to look for, simple as that.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on April 2, 2011 at 20:03

I bought a finished damascus blade that was from Pakistan for a little knife making project. The blade cost around 20 dollars. I put a stag handle on it. This was my first attempt to put a knife together and it came out fair, I would say. I found the steel blade to be very sharp , so I know it must take a good edge. I think these knives are at the lower end of what Pakistan cutlers can produce but they are fun knives that a person can have alot of fun with. If you are looking for that super blade, this is probably not it, but if you are looking for a knife that you can use and have alot of fun with then this might be one to try. 

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Permalink Reply by stephen tungate on April 2, 2011 at 20:15

Yes the job of a knife is to cut if if looks good and does its job thats what counts to me. I like customs but after you spend 1,500 for it. It will sit on display and you are afraid to use it. I need one your not afraid to use do you know what i mean. .

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on April 2, 2011 at 20:23

Yea Stephen, I know what you mean. Take that knife and cut up and have fun. That's what it's all about. Good buddy!

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Permalink Reply by Halicon on April 21, 2011 at 9:45

Why would you buy a $1500 custom knife and not use it? It's customized -for you- and nobody else. For me it would feel like dishonoring the makers finely tuned skills because he could have spent that time to make a top-notch knife that someone would love to death and always have on him.

 

If you are afraid of using such a knife then you aren't ready for that level yet. Same thing with sword polishing, sure they can cost unimaginable sums but I would never give a master-level blade to a freshman because he would destroy it through poor techniques.

 

I received a $1400 custom 2 weeks ago and it hasn't phased me one bit except that I really love the level of perfection the maker put into it, like I can feel his spirit and time spent to hone his craft and my knife is the crystalization of his long ardeous work and study to be able to make something as good as that.

The only difference is that there is much more beauty in it compared to my other knives so I'm opted to clean it more often and thoroughly.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on April 22, 2011 at 14:45

stephen tungate said:

... the job of a knife is to cut ...

I think too many people forget this !!!

 

Many will understandably point out that the quality has to be present first. I agree that I can place a finer edge on a  tempered pc of "higher quality" steel than I can my steel warrior pos edc .. but that steel warrior $8.oo POS rests in my right rear pocket every day. And it earns it's keep every day. And it NEEDS to be sharpened every night.

 

The Queen Teardrop Linerlock with its Peter's Heat Treated D2 steel blade @ a 60~61 on the Rockwell C scale .. sits in my right front pocket. It does not require sharpening every night.

 

In the steel fabrication industry .. D2 punches are hardened to 60~61 Rc and then used to punch 25K to 35K holes in softer (30~32 Rc) steel before requiring re-sharpening.

 

Each of my EDC's has a purpose .. the Queen is pretty, durn tough, & scary sharp.

 

 The Steel Warrior is a POS that has gained my respect .. and when I break it .. I'm buying another !!!

 

To address you original question .. some good knives come out of India and Pakistan .. a lot of lower quality knives are purchased out of India and Pakistan and marketed as "high quality" .. there are cutlers in both those countries capable of making super knives .. I personally would judge each knife induvidually & judge it based on your intended purpose.

 

I purposely choose to carry an $8.oo knife everyday that I can abuse. I also carry the $46. Queen because it'll cut damn near anything .. 'n look good doing it !!!!

 

stephen tungate said:

... the job of a knife is to cut ...

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Permalink Reply by stephen tungate on April 22, 2011 at 21:02

dale you sure got that right.thanks stephen...

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