Doc Holliday Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 With my birthday looming imminently, Mrs H had kindly offered to treat me to a weekend away. Instead, I had opted for a nice quality sheath knife. Something about 4 - 6 inches blade length with a nice bone/antler handle is what I had in mind. I know the Japanese are renown for their blades, in particular Katana's, which go for a princely sum, but does this reputation transfer down to knives with foresaid blade length? I would need to know what ball park figure a Japanese blade would fetch and would they be worth the money. If anyone has any experience of this I would be most grateful to learn it. ATB, Doc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted December 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Oh, and with a folded metal patina on the blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 i have a "green river knife"...it is hollow ground ...bought it about 15 years ago for £78.00...i use a diamond file to sharpen it up and you can shave with it....i will post a pic if you are interested..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photon Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Do you mean a laminated blade or one that has a forged finish on it? May i suggest having a look on Heinnie Haynes site, prepare to be lost for some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Speak to Stuart Mitchell you will never look back, one of the best knife makers in the UK. http://www.stuartmitchellknives.com/phone/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBeaky Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Speak to Stuart Mitchell you will never look back, one of the best knife makers in the UK. http://www.stuartmitchellknives.com/phone/index.html +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 What sort of ballpark figure does a custom knife from Stuart cost? I know it will vary widely depending on what you specify, but some idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBeaky Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 What sort of ballpark figure does a custom knife from Stuart cost? I know it will vary widely depending on what you specify, but some idea? As you say, they vary widely. Ask Stuart - he's not shy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 As you say, they vary widely. Ask Stuart - he's not shy. I probably will do at some stage, but no spare cash for shiny things at the moment. I was just wondering if I was going to have to sell my kids for medical experiments or donate a spare kidney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn2233 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 I probably will do at some stage, but no spare cash for shiny things at the moment. I was just wondering if I was going to have to sell my kids for medical experiments or donate a spare kidney. some here for sale http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/showthread.php/90065-YDS-Stuart-Mitchell-knives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 I probably will do at some stage, but no spare cash for shiny things at the moment. I was just wondering if I was going to have to sell my kids for medical experiments or donate a spare kidney. Sorry BB but one or the other will not cut it you need to sell both kids and wife plus a kidney. Couple of three hundred will see you a very nice blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Sorry BB but one or the other will not cut it you need to sell both kids and wife plus a kidney. Couple of three hundred will see you a very nice blade. Cheers Phil, that give me a better idea. Better start saving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 With my birthday looming imminently, Mrs H had kindly offered to treat me to a weekend away. Instead, I had opted for a nice quality sheath knife. Something about 4 - 6 inches blade length with a nice bone/antler handle is what I had in mind. I know the Japanese are renown for their blades, in particular Katana's, which go for a princely sum, but does this reputation transfer down to knives with foresaid blade length? I would need to know what ball park figure a Japanese blade would fetch and would they be worth the money. If anyone has any experience of this I would be most grateful to learn it. ATB, Doc. I have some Japanese edge tools, some modern, some very old. They are nice but the lamination does have its up and down sides. Up side is a keen edge which is great if the quality really is there but a negative if you chip it as it takes longer to bring it back. If you decide you want to go British, I have a Ray Mears/Alan Wood knife for sale in superb condition and with the best Curley Birch scales I've ever seen. As you probably know, Alan's knives are legendary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 (edited) Malc, I've always fancied a Damascus blade. Do they have the same up/downsides as Japanese laminated blades? Edited December 29, 2014 by Blunderbuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 (edited) Malc, I've always fancied a Damascus blade. Do they have the same up/downsides as Japanese laminated blades? They are pretty but (to my knowledge) have no functional advantage over modern steels. The Japanese developed their folding and laminating techniques to get the best out of the materials and equipment they had available hundreds of years ago. In my opinion its similar to barrels. Damascus barrels were superseded by whitwoth fluid steel, now we have cryogenically treated super steels. New technology wins. Edit - ah just re-read your qn! See you were asking about damascus vs japanese traditional rather than damascus vs modern.. Edited December 30, 2014 by theshootist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBeaky Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 (edited) There are some very pretty damasteel patterns around, and lots of folk who make blades with them. No advantage over plain steel these days, but pretty nonetheless. Edited December 30, 2014 by CaptainBeaky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 I love the look of Damascus steel, I was given an old Damascus barrelled hammer gun about thirty years ago, it was BP proofed but I submitted it for nitro proof and it passed! I think I'd quite like a knife with a Damascus blade Sorry to hijack the thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 heres a couple i made earlier ,both hn51 damascus steel folded 200 times .i buy the blanks and make the handles from antler soaked through with rainproofer to stop the porus problem .nice thick blade holds an edge . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted December 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 Nice looking knives Clakk. I like the shape of the top blade. Is there any advantage to one over the other when it comes to using it? As in one more suited for general use and the other more suited for gutted/skinning? I'd imagine the bottom one would be better for skinning but please correct me if I'm wrong. I like the damascus steel also but is it more likely to chipping/breaking because of the differing steels/metals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted December 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 I've also seen some knives with a semi tang rather than a full tang. What would be the benefit of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 spot on doc bottom shape is a trad skinning profile ,the top is more a g.p blade.the multi folding makes a very very hard steel but is tempered to help stop brittleness.like any hard steel itl take more work to sharpen and regain shape if chipped ,but they look amazing .carbon steel holds its edge longer but theres something about the damascus pattern on a blade that makes it a want one kinda knife.to be fair theyl be used at home but no way hosey are they going in the ulloo with me.a bright orange 10 quid mora does the field cutting ,u lose that hay ho no worrys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 full tang going all through the handle gives more leverage as the whole force is on the blade.if you have a half or semi tang blade some force exerted goes on the handle whatever its made from.also if you encase a partial tang in your handle then its some insulation from touching metal when its cold like now.when its minus 1 and theres snow on the ground metal to skin contact isnt wise.the basic thing is strength is length <stop sniggering>.the smaller your length the less pressure itl take Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBeaky Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 heres a couple i made earlier ,both hn51 damascus steel folded 200 times .i buy the blanks and make the handles from antler soaked through with rainproofer to stop the porus problem .nice thick blade holds an edge . Are you sure you don't mean 200 layers? Folding 200 times would give you about 1.6 x 10 to the power 60 layers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 (edited) well spotted it is 200 layers ,misread the blurb from the blank makers .200 layers not folds .probably why there 3mm thick at the spine but does have a nice balenced feel Edited December 30, 2014 by clakk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigman Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 (edited) Low layer Damascus around 20 I think using 15n20 , o1 , 52100 , lovely patten and holds amazing edge the maker is Bones61 Edited December 30, 2014 by bigman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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