Thread: Worthington, Elmax test

This is a knife made by John Worthington thats pictured above in Hamish's pics (the middle one with the orange handle).

First up I have to say that the knife is beautifully made, and the workmanship is very difficult to fault. Even the exposed tang has a beautiful taper to it (this puts the balance towards the front of the handle, where it should be). The brass bolster is nicely fitted, with the slightest gap between the bolster and the blade sealed by a very tidy soldering job. So no blood or water can seep into the tang eraea.

I received this knife to test via a couple of hoons (Hamish and CraigC). They had given it a good abuse, and had used it for one deer, but then they had to try to sharpen it on a steel...nah...that was like running a good edge over a judder bar. Elmax is one of the hardest knife steels (Like, 61 Rockwell), and trying to steel it is just asking for trouble. Elmax requires stoning and stropping. A completely different approach to chattering it down a steel. The consequence was that the hoons chipped the edge. Just little chips, but chips none the less. It was still sharp enough to do a deer, but I wanted to change the profile of the edge anyway, and that would deal to the little chips (just a couple) at the same time.

The great thing about Elmax is that it doesn't need to be sharpened very often. Maybe only once every several deer, and then a light strop will bring it back to razor sharp. Just keep your hoon mates away from it though. This is a Ferrari, let them use use a Toyota.

The first thing that I did was to change the edge profile from a V to a micro convex. This brought the edge from passably sharp to a razor. You can see what I did to it in the pics. I used 1000 and 4000 grit water stones, and then stropped it with Bark River black and then white compounds. Its now as sharp as any knife is.

CraigC shot a whopping big stag and managed to get it out to the chiller, so this presented an opportunity for us to try the knife out. It pretty much broke down and boned out the whole animal, plus helped me with mince and cutting steaks at home. The edge was nearly as sharp at the end as when it began. No chips, no rolls, no damage. When I got home it took about one minute to strop it's edge back to where it started. Untouched it would have likely done a couple more.

The knife is quite long (5") which I like, because in the field a short knife can be a bugger when taking the hind legs off. Maybe 4" would suit me better. But I'm sure John could make one in what ever configuration you would like.

The only thing I could fault really was the original V edge which didn't allow the Elmax to show its full potential of getting sharp and staying sharp.

I think this is John's first trial with Elmax. He's done well. Its a bit of a specialist steel and won't suit everyone because it takes a bit to sharpen. But once it has an edge it is stunning. For those who can't be bothered, but still want good steel there is still O1 and various other high quality steels to use that sharpen easier and last the distance ok.

I will keep using this knife, and make updates here.





CriagC doing some knife work...

I really like the look and sound of that

I like hard knives.... the harder the better, just got to lose one before I get another

Good info there, so I take it you always prefer a convex blade, as in the Bark river knives?

Originally Posted by oneshot

Good info there, so I take it you always prefer a convex blade, as in the Bark river knives?

Yes, or as an alternative I like to put a micro convex edge onto flat or hollow grinds. A micro convex like I put on John's knife which had a hollow grind, really works well for me.

The benefit is that it leaves supporting steel right behind the edge. A straight flat grind that is thin and sharp can leave the edge rather vulnerable to chips and rolls.

Bloody hoons

Nice write up, the Elmax sounds awesome.

Be interested to hear your thoughts on chisel grind for deer knives, but maybe a different topic.

Originally Posted by ebf

Bloody hoons

Nice write up, the Elmax sounds awesome.

Be interested to hear your thoughts on chisel grind for deer knives, but maybe a different topic.

Virtuovice on Youtube plays around with a-symmetrical edge profiles, but its quite complicated. When you are taking the back steaks out you want the flatter side running against the ribs so that the edge doesn't bite into the rib bones...and then it depends on the way that you approach taking back steaks out.

By the way, Elmax is a stainless steel.

Yeah, did a hogget last weekend with my victorinox boning knife that @kiwi39 had chisel ground on his scary sharp machine. The carcass was hanging, so one back steak with the flat side, one with the bevel side and did not seem to make that much difference. Bloody sharp (halves the bevel angle) and seems to keep the edge nicely. Just needs a slight tickle on the steel and shaving hair on your arm again.

Originally Posted by ebf

Yeah, did a hogget last weekend with my victorinox boning knife that @kiwi39 had chisel ground on his scary sharp machine. The carcass was hanging, so one back steak with the flat side, one with the bevel side and did not seem to make that much difference. Bloody sharp (halves the bevel angle) and seems to keep the edge nicely. Just needs a slight tickle on the steel and shaving hair on your arm again.

So those scary sharp machines are as good as what they sound like ?

Originally Posted by ebf

Yeah, did a hogget last weekend with my victorinox boning knife that @kiwi39 had chisel ground on his scary sharp machine. The carcass was hanging, so one back steak with the flat side, one with the bevel side and did not seem to make that much difference. Bloody sharp (halves the bevel angle) and seems to keep the edge nicely. Just needs a slight tickle on the steel and shaving hair on your arm again.

If your using a steel on a Chisel grind then your kind of putting a micro bevel on the flat edge . If it is a true Steel and not a Diamond one then no steel is being removed but you know what i mean .
I do the same thing to my leather working knife that has a Chisel grind . Super sharp with very little work , I wonder why it isn't done more often .

Ken

Ok, Si it's got a 5 inch Elmax blade, but what about the overall length, weight, thickness, handle material and did it come with a sheath or has HGD whipped one up, I know Worthington is a custom maker so could make anything to suit, but I also know that he's not making at the moment so let's play with what he's got...

Originally Posted by Shelley

Ok, Si it's got a 5 inch Elmax blade, but what about the overall length, weight, thickness, handle material and did it come with a sheath or has HGD whipped one up, I know Worthington is a custom maker so could make anything to suit, but I also know that he's not making at the moment so let's play with what he's got...

Play with what he's got???? umm this is a review of the Elmax knife steel From JW with a new convex micro edge. Thought that much was clear.

Originally Posted by Shelley

Ok, Si it's got a 5 inch Elmax blade, but what about the overall length, weight, thickness, handle material and did it come with a sheath or has HGD whipped one up, I know Worthington is a custom maker so could make anything to suit, but I also know that he's not making at the moment so let's play with what he's got...

It's a proto-type as I understand it.
HG made the sheath.
Handle appeares to be G10
The handle is roomy and comfortable.
Not sure of the blade thickness, but I know that Elamx is only produced in limited thicknesses. It's not so thick that it is cumbersome or spoils the balance.

The review was a set of impressions for a hunting forum. Not a magazine article. I did it as a favour to anyone interested.
I don't know John Worthington, and was just asked by Hamish to give it a try.
Contact John or Hamish if you have technical queries. I will just continue to report on it as I use it and see fit.

And I'm extremely interested to hear on going reports with this knife, your knowledge and experience with knife steels is always a good read.

It's also just a knife. Ya cut shit with it😆
Its not like ya gotta reload for it.....

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