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The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel

All Blog Posts (1,189)

Powder Steel Damascus

Someone asked about making damascus with powdered steel. Here is a brief overview based on my knowledge and experience. This info is based on making carbon steel damascus. You can introduce small quantities of stainless to carbon steel damascus and continue to treat it (and heat-treat it just like carbon steel). Most of time you see a repeating pattern in a blade, you are seeing powder steel damascus. Often when you see bolsters with the same pattern, you are seeing powder steel damascus. Here… Continue

Added by Paul J Granger on January 19, 2010 at 11:29 — 5 Comments

A True Tale of Life and Reality...MY REALITY.

WoundedEagle's Trail

The world today is a complicated, confusing place that is slowly sapping Humanity of its spirituality and inner peace. This reality is something we are urged to accept and apply in our daily living, but this is not a requirement of life! We need to make a conscious decision to change for ourselves…without influence of those around us.

Lets turn from the chaos for a moment and focus on our basic needs for… Continue

Added by Jim Norman on January 16, 2010 at 22:00 — 2 Comments

Hugo Koller cutlery

I've been searching for the last couple of years for any information about Hugo Koller knives, I have not found any real concrete evidence of when the company was formed, or an exact date it was sold to Puma, I do know it was started sometime in the mid 1800's, exactly when-??? I have about 20 pieces from this manufacturer and they are a real, top quality knife, if anyone here can share any info about the company please do so, I would appreciate it very much.

Added by Jim Nix on January 15, 2010 at 18:11 — 1 Comment

What is Damascus?

Someone asked me recently, what is damascus? Simply put damascus steel is what you get when you take two or more types of steel (usually), put them into a forge, bring them up to welding temp (about 2000 - 2100 degrees), pull them out and quickly hammer them together into one solid pice of steel.

Typically you will start with 5 - 10 layers of steel approx one inch wide, 3 inches long and 1/8th" thick.

They will be stacked together in alternate layers. One end of the stack will… Continue

Added by Paul J Granger on January 15, 2010 at 12:00 — 5 Comments

KnifeMaker iKC Chat Online!!!

Hello all you iKC members out there!! Did you know that iKC has a CHAT feature? On the lower right hand side of your screen is the chat option. Just click on the words "iKnifecollector Chat" and the chat box will open up!

On iKC there is always someone online, but it seems like there are few people who use this chat option. When i asked around about it i learned that people just didnt know it was there! It is a great way to quickly talk to someone, and not have to wait for the email… Continue

Added by CaptJeff Saylor on January 14, 2010 at 16:44 — 4 Comments

Knives Don't Scare People.....

I had a bit of a revelation while at work the other day. A co-worker used his knife to open a letter that came for him. There was really nothing unusual in that activity in and of itself. However this person received "the look" from most of the people around him, including myself. He looked around at the "shock and awe" upon the faces of the others, and reacted with the ubiquitous WTF? attitude. Since I was the nearest to him, he commented to me... "You non-knife people are so… Continue

Added by kage on January 13, 2010 at 23:06 — 14 Comments

URGENT: Pro-Knife Bill Needs Your Help!

Please sign this petition to support New Hampshire pro-knife bill HB1665 written by Rep.Jenn Coffey. The New Hampshire House will consider the bill later this year.

The effect of petitions is often nil. Online versions carry even less weight. Should you even sign the thing? Yes. Definitely yes. Even if you don't live in New Hampshire, should this bill get passed and put into law it would set a president for other states to pass similar bills. Unlike other petitions, this one has some heavy… Continue

Added by Brad Hyde on January 12, 2010 at 13:00 — 1 Comment

In Memoriam Do you remember the first time?

Our lives are filled with a deluge of thoughts and image impressions. Our memories are, to put it in computer terms, like files on our hard drive. All day, every day, our internal video camera is recording everything our senses encounter. Just think of the shear amount of data our brains record on a daily basis and many studies conclude the brain retains this information for our lifetime.

And while it is interesting to ponder all that, I'm just an old knife guy who can't… Continue

Added by Scott King on January 10, 2010 at 7:30 — 2 Comments

smarter then a 5th grader

If you are standing on the north pole,which direction are you facing? and don't tell me it's all down hill.

Added by rein heht on January 9, 2010 at 18:33 — 4 Comments

Latin Motto - EDC

SEMPER ARMATUS
S.A.
"Always Armed"

SEMPER ONUSTUS
S.O.
"Always Loaded"

Added by kage on January 8, 2010 at 9:04 — No Comments

Have a Drink on Me

Drink To Excess ...

For The Sot
Is The Only
True Inheritor Of The Earth.

To See Life
As It Is
Can Be Done Without Much Thought.

But To Envision
A New World
Requires An Inordinate Amount Of Lubrication.

Added by kage on January 8, 2010 at 8:05 — 1 Comment

Thursday

Thursday:

You just can't seem to get a hold of Thursday;
Monday is Monday is Monday
Tuesday you're recovering from Monday
Wednesday is Hump-Day
Friday is party time
Saturday is the weekend
Sunday is for relaxin'
But Thursday... It's just there.

Added by kage on January 8, 2010 at 7:55 — No Comments

On Judging a Man (his character therein)

Judge Not A Man
By Whether
Others Love
Or Fear Him.

Judge Him Only
By Whether
Animals Or Children
Go Near Him.

Added by kage on January 8, 2010 at 7:53 — No Comments

Ponderings Over The Kitchen Sink

If plates are called saucers, and Aliens travel in Flying Saucers, I wondered if there is a correlation between the two? After all Crop Circle patterns are really nothing more than plate patterns. So, if I can find the right Crop Circle pattern that matches my plate pattern, maybe the Aliens might beam up my dirty dishes and have them cleaned? Merde! My plate patterns don't match any Crop Circle patterns.

Hhhmmmm.....

If Baptists wash away sins with water, maybe… Continue

Added by kage on January 8, 2010 at 4:50 — No Comments

A Toast

Toast:

Remember The Past.

Look To The Future.

Live In The Present.

Added by kage on January 8, 2010 at 3:00 — No Comments

Latin Motto for Blade People

QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CULTER MEAM

Pronunciation - kwee may AH-maht, AH-maht et cull-ter MAYahm.

Abbreviationn - Q.M.A. A.E.C.M.

Literal Translation - "He who loves me, loves my knife as well."

Modern Translation - "Love Me, Love my Knife"

Added by kage on January 8, 2010 at 2:48 — No Comments

Various Instructional Knife Making Links

Those of you in the early stages of knife making might find these links useful.

Good luck! Be sure to use common sense and always be very safe and cautious!

Remember: you only get two eyes, two ears, two lungs and ten fingers. Try to

make them last at least 100 years.

General knifemaking links:…

Continue

Added by Paul J Granger on January 6, 2010 at 8:46 — 4 Comments

are you smarter then the 5 th graders?

Question: What caliber cartridge is on the remington bullet knives?

Added by rein heht on January 3, 2010 at 13:02 — 4 Comments

Ensign Knives designed by Buster Warenski

Buster Warenski designed Three different Drop Point Hunters for Ensign Knives in the Late 70 and early 80's. They all had leather sheaths and were marked Ensign in a large diamond in the center of the blade. Some had engraved bolsters and some did not. It is not clear to me whether Buster did the engraving on contract or whether someone else at Ensign did the engraving. If you own one of these knives and would like to sell it, please let me know at jimbucket2@aol.com . I would also like to see… Continue

Added by James R. Buck on December 29, 2009 at 9:46 — No Comments

The Next Generation of Collectors - Where are they coming from?

It’s been so hearting to see folks here on iKC who for 50 years or more have collected knives. I watch Versus Network and the Outdoor Channel and they have Cabalas, Mossy Oak and other corporate sponsored teen hunts and – God Bless them, Bass Pro Shops have seminars for youth. It’s a fact not an argument that hunting has saved the American Turkey and it’s created a healthier whitetail population with proper management. It’s also the same for most migratory birds too. It’s the passion behind the… Continue

Added by Frank Evans on December 26, 2009 at 18:01 — 6 Comments