Knife tests

[Paul K]

Hello
I've read your reviews and am wondering how you undertake your knife reviews in particular. How do you measure edge retention? And is this the edge as supplied by the factory or after sharpening by yourself? If the latter, what type of sharpener do you use?
thanks

Paul

 

[Tony]

Hi Paul,

The edge retention is measured through real world use, it’s a case of how much it can do before it needs re-sharpening.
The knives are used for carving a spoon which entails splitting the wood and then carving it. This is an excellent test as it needs all the different types of knife cut to accomplish and allows the user to get a good feel for the knife.
The knife is also used for butchering meat and preparing vegetables and fruit which is a case of peeling, slicing and dicing.
The knives are tested when new, then re-sharpened and put through the rigorous testing. They are all sharpened to the same standard using water-stones so that we can have very accurate comparisons of the edges in use.

I hope this covers your questions.

If you have more questions along these lines can you send them to info@bushcraftuk.co.uk then we can put them in the Q&A section.

Many thanks

Tony

 

[Gary]

Hi Paul,

As Tony says when I test the knives I actually use them and all the tests are measured against a bench mark. I also judge utility against cost and quality after all a £200 knife that can not be used in the kitchen is as next to useless as a £20 knife that can not carve a feather stick.

The Japanese water stones I use are bought from a company called AXEMINSTER tools and are excelleent value for money.

A final thought here is that if your not used to using knives get yourself something like the Frosts clipper and learn your skills with that, once perfected then you can up grade to a more expensive tool.

Gary.

 

[Paul K]

Hi guys
Thanks for the replies.
I actually use the Woodlore knife, and use the King brand waterstones as stocked by Axminster Power Tools. I find I use the 1200 and 6000 most these days, rarely the 800 or 8000. I used the 800 quite a lot at first to get the slight concave ground into a proper flat bevel but only use it these days if there is a 'ding' in the blade.

Which Woodlore/Woodsmoke courses have you guys been on....?

rgds

Paul

 

[Tone]

I think we all use or have used the Woodlore knife, It's a good knife for most things. I expect we all use the same waterstones as well!
Later on in the life of the website we will be including the ability for members to add their own views about our reviews, hopefully that will be handy for people.
Courses, I have done one at Woodlore and one at Woodsmoke and I cannot talk for Garry although I think he has done everything! He can speak for himself.
The other chaps involved in bushcraft uk all have bushcraft and outdoor experience.

We will be doing a bushcraft uk team profile page at some point, that should contain any other info you might want about the team.

How about you? What is your experience, where are you from, how did you hear about bushcraft uk etc

Cheers

Tony

 

[Paul K]

Hi Tony
Yes, if people use the Woodlore knife and use waterstones for sharpening, they usually turn out to have come into contact with Woodlore or Woodsmoke.

I found out about this website from a guy I met on the Arctic course who I believe was, in turn, told about it from Woodsmoke.

By the way, you say Gary has done most/all the courses - has he ever done some assisting on Woodlore courses? It's just that there was a Gary assisting on our cookery course back in 2001. Ex-army guy I seem to remember, into military re-enactments aswell. He told us about watching wolves in Canada while manning an OP.....

best regards

Paul

 

[Tony]

I have a carpentry background and have used Waterstones for years, they really are very good, although Arkansas stones are also very good. How do you do with your axe sharpening?

It sounds like your Mr Wilderness! It is nice that you have kept up an interest in the outdoors, especially with being in London for years, Cities tend to kill off the wilderness bug in people, you must have an antivirus in you!

Lofty’s book is great! I want to interview him for the site, give me a few months!

You mention people from other courses getting to know each other, that’s exactly the point of this forum, we all have a common bond. As time goes on the forum will get more comprehensive with different subject areas etc. It will be great, get some more people signed up if you can.

Which martial arts?

Anyway, must dash

Tony

 

[Gary]

Paul,

Yes thats me - ex army guy!! All though I've progressed from woodlore now, I still work with Ben and Lisa but I do alot of my own stuff too, just finished a weekender in fact.

Gary.

 

[harry]

So when are you going to put up some new knife reviews on the site? :sword:

 

[Gary]

Soon enough - Im testing a Kellam WILDFIN PUUKKO at the moment and a bill hook - both are proving to be very good especially the hook - even had a professional hurdle maker try it out and he thought it all sing and dancing - will it replace an axe? We shall see

 

[Chiseller]

wrong thread.....apologies...