Thread: Show me your knives

Originally Posted by Scouser

Big thanks Nick, theres a guy on TM selling pieces and i quote "Shed dry for at leased 20 years" shall i give it a go?

It all comes down to moisture content at the end of the day.

20 years in an open shed in the Buller vs 20 years in Central Otago will give two different moisture contents.

You ideally want 12% or less.

I put Kauri grips on my kiwi knife,although its a soft timber 20 years later they are still fine.

Nick-D,

Thanks for the Svord insight.
Viper, I’ll send you a pm.

@Shearer.
Attachment 178372

Originally Posted by norsk

It all comes down to moisture content at the end of the day.

20 years in an open shed in the Buller vs 20 years in Central Otago will give two different moisture contents.

You ideally want 12% or less.

I put Kauri grips on my kiwi knife,although its a soft timber 20 years later they are still fine.

Stabilising is the way to go for alamost all knife handle wood for elimination of moisture uptake and also adds a toughness to the wood that aids in wear resistance. I have a reasonable amount of swamp Kauri and have used it on a number of knives for those in the US who want NZ woods.

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One thing about lock down is I made some progress on orders for patient customers. A Mamba model hunter in 14c28n. Stabilized Black Walnut ( thanks John ) and linen Green micarta. Away to an Auckland based hunter.

Originally Posted by viper

Attachment 178379⁴
One thing about lock down is I made some progress on orders for patient customers. A Mamba model hunter in 14c28n. Stabilized Black Walnut ( thanks John ) and linen Green micarta. Away to an Auckland based hunter.

Shit you've outdone yourself with that beauty. What would a knife like that look like with a modest hollow grind ?

Stunning looking knife Viper.

Originally Posted by viper

Attachment 178379⁴
One thing about lock down is I made some progress on orders for patient customers. A Mamba model hunter in 14c28n. Stabilized Black Walnut ( thanks John ) and linen Green micarta. Away to an Auckland based hunter.

Too pretty to use

Top to bottom.

Puma Hunter, this is a treasured gift from a mate

Bench made Skirmish

Norwegian utility knife made by Brusletto, its nice and light and holds a decent edge.

Originally Posted by Von Gruff Knives

The 10xx series of steel (plus 01) are certainly up there for good using blades although lately I have been looking at the 80CRV2 (an improved 1084 with chromium and vandium in place of the O1)that has been getting very good reviews I am also a believer in the carbon steels for field use with a cryo treated NitroV stainless for kitchen use where stainless is prefered otherwise it is the 10XX series.

I tend to stay away from the 10xx and instead opt for O1, I figure if you are going to go and make the effort you might as well get damn fine small carbides in the process, although recently I have got hold of some nitro v and am seeing how that works out, my goal is to get some of this new cpm Magna cut, which is the first steel since aeb-l actually made for knives (as opposed to steel made for other purposes and can also be used for knives).

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Svord is L6 carbon steel. It is a basic low alloy tool steel. It doesn't really have any specific carbide forming alloys added so will have the same edge holding as the equivelent simple carbon steel (Although will be a bit tougher due to the added nickel, a function not super important in a hunting knife, simple carbon steels are allready very tough due to fine carbides).

L6 is around 0.7% carbon, and the steel Viper uses is 1084 which is 0.8-0.84% carbon, so his steel will have a bit better edge retention at a given hardness.

The Svord knives are very soft, usually around RC 56, Viper, assuming a standard custom Hest treat protocol for. 1084 is probably somthing in the realm of 59-60rc, quite a lot harder.

In short vipers and most custom knife makers simple carbon steels will eclipse a knife like a Svord.

Nah, he does not use much L6 anymore, except in his big brutes like his Bowie’s and goloks, L6 is actually pretty good for a chopper and he personality heat treats everything himself (as in behind closed doors where even his employees don’t see the temperature which is a little weird), most of his knifes are Swedish sandvik steel, which is good stuff, very clean.
Svords are good for the price, just a little unimaginative and his bevels and sheaths usually need some work, he told me once he would rather have another producer than a quality checker if he was getting more staff.

I may have gotten carried away in the last couple of weeks. I do a lot of butchery so it was time I got some more Victory knives. I am extremely pleased with The Jack knife from @Nga that arrived. And my Lion Steel B41 turned up today. I think I am done spending money on knives for a good while now.

I’m moving to Wairarapa in the near future and will be looking at the idea of opening up to teach people to make their own knives, any interest drop me a line..

Sexy as mate.

Originally Posted by Nga

I’m moving to Wairarapa in the near future and will be looking at the idea of opening up to teach people to make their own knives, any interest drop me a line..

I'd be very keen to learn how.