Jade

[WNZer]

Has anyone ever tried sharpening a knife with jade? They say that it is harder than steel, I have just a little peice about the size of one of those small "field touch up" stones, its in the form of a Maori pendant. I hear Jade is quite valuable over there, so if there are any rigours you would like me to put it through, let me know???

 

[OldJimbo]

Most rocks are harder than steel. What's needed is lots of uniform sharp edged uniform crystals in a matrix that holds together. Since your piece of jade will not have small crystals, I don't think you'll get far other than polishing the steel.

 

[torjusg]

Some inuits used jade for making axes.

Torjus Gaaren

 

[ditchfield]

Not just inuits. There was a lovely jadeite axe head found on the Somerset levels just downhill from my house. The raw material came from the French alps originally and is evidence of substancial trade routes. T'was a ceremonial or decorative item rather than practical, not due to the negative properties of jade but merely because of its value, beauty and thin blade. Bit off topic though

 

[WNZer]

Not just inuits. There was a lovely jadeite axe head found on the Somerset levels just downhill from my house. The raw material came from the French alps originally and is evidence of substancial trade routes. T'was a ceremonial or decorative item rather than practical, not due to the negative properties of jade but merely because of its value, beauty and thin blade. Bit off topic though

Off topic, Ya, but you gave me a good idea, I am going to make it into an arrow head, It would look cooler then steel with the feather fletchings