06-19-2018, 09:43 AM
We read through this article and were amazed Thomas. This was really a comprehensive attempt to discern differences/advantages of different knife steels. Our hats are off to CATRA and Knife Steel Nerds for undertaking this study. Studies like this are how speculation and anecdotal evidence eventually get put to bed and fact rises in their place. Does one study mean the issue has been forever settled? Probably not but it is most certainly a step forward in the process.
You're never going to satisfy everyone's questions with a single test process and we, of course, are left unsatisfied to some degree with this one. There was no edge sharpness information gathered either pre or post testing. Why it was not, we do not know, but obviously the producers of the test had their reasons. We see that the tests produced, in one sample, 20 - 23 micron wide edge apexes. In the pictures provided, the apexes of three knives are obviously ground (or smashed) flat. Any of these edges would have, long before, exceeded the upper limit of the BESS scale. We understand that the purpose of the test was to gauge the wearability factors of one steel versus another but wish that the test had been more attuned to usable edges. Like we said, you're never going to make everyone happy and this small criticism is dwarfed by our appreciation of the volume of work produced by Knife Steel Nerds.
Three cheers for Knife Steel Nerds and CATRA and thank you Thomas for letting us know about this study!
You're never going to satisfy everyone's questions with a single test process and we, of course, are left unsatisfied to some degree with this one. There was no edge sharpness information gathered either pre or post testing. Why it was not, we do not know, but obviously the producers of the test had their reasons. We see that the tests produced, in one sample, 20 - 23 micron wide edge apexes. In the pictures provided, the apexes of three knives are obviously ground (or smashed) flat. Any of these edges would have, long before, exceeded the upper limit of the BESS scale. We understand that the purpose of the test was to gauge the wearability factors of one steel versus another but wish that the test had been more attuned to usable edges. Like we said, you're never going to make everyone happy and this small criticism is dwarfed by our appreciation of the volume of work produced by Knife Steel Nerds.
Three cheers for Knife Steel Nerds and CATRA and thank you Thomas for letting us know about this study!