Knife Making

N690 steel has a loyal following among knife makers and users who want a stainless blade that punches above its price point without straying into “super-steel” territory.

The Rockwell hardness test is a commonly used method for measuring the hardness of a material. The test involves applying a specific load to an indenter that is pressed into the material, and the depth of the resulting indentation is measured. This test is widely used in quality control, material selection, and research and development, and is an important tool for determining a material's mechanical properties. 

In the world of premium knife making, M390 steel stands out as a paragon of performance and durability. Known for its exceptional edge retention, corrosion resistance, and overall toughness, M390 steel has carved a niche for itself among professional knife makers and enthusiasts alike.

Knifemakers use various etchants to achieve different effects, but some prefer natural etchants like vinegar, lemon juice, or wine. One natural etchant that has gained popularity in recent years is coffee.

Reproducing traditional wootz is equal parts metallurgy and patience. Miss the cooling curve or trace-element dose and you get either a plain, featureless bar or a shattered puck.

CPM MagnaCut is a next-gen powder-metallurgy stainless tool steel engineered by Dr. Larrin Thomas. By eliminating large chromium carbides, it hits the “holy trinity” of knife performance—high wear resistance, high toughness, and real-world stainless behavior—at 60-64 HRC.

Knife making takes some skills in metalwork, woodwork and designing, much endurance, carefulness and tranquility. You’ll need to take it easy and not hurry to make sure you’ll succeed. Fine projects take practice, and you might craft dozens of knives before making your excellent one. 

Scrimshaw is a traditional folk art form in which fanciful designs are carved into bone or faux ivory, then colored with ink. The maritime art form originated around late 17th century from commercial whaling and reached its peak by the mid-19th century. Whale’s teeth, walrus tusks or elephant ivory were used as scrimshaw material.

Damascus – this appealing yet enigmatic steel has captured the imagination of many bladesmiths and knife lovers. The material provides an extremely tough, strong blade that can endure gross impact with a very little degradation of the edge. Historical Damascus’s great edge retention and an inability to shatter even under severe abuse is a rare feature even by today’s standards. Many layers of a Damascus blade welded together form multiple bands and mottling patterns that are inviting to the eye and unique in each blade.