Monday, January 31, 2011

Buying a Cheap Emerson Knife

There are very few knives, if any that rival the respect and adoration obtained by a set of knives made by the Emerson Knife company. A young company in knife making  terms, Emerson knives have been featured in movies, museums, been sent to space, have had books written about them, and are now standard issue for many nation's special forces operators. Emerson knives are one of the most durable and combat ready knives available.

Born as a poor boy in Wisconsin, Emerson was raised as a farmer and craftsman. He quickly became interested in the martial arts and knife making. In 1978, he created his first knife from scratch, a balisong knife that he needed for his study of a Filipino martial art, but was unable to afford one. A legend was born.

His classmates were impressed with the quality and compatibility of the knife with their martial arts studies, and asked Emerson to make them a set of knives as well. Word spread and Emerson knives quickly known for their exacting quality. It was only a short time later that Emerson decided to secure his future as a great maker of knives by narrowing his niche to folding knives only.

It was then that he made the pledge to only create the best knives from the best materials available. Hailing from the aerospace industry, he understood that there were some incredible metals available that had the potential to make a knife an indestructible object. He then incorporated rare materials such as titanium, carbon fiber, micarta, meteorite, along with rare hardwoods for his blades. This all came at a time in the early 1980's in which these materials were never ever heard of, which set the Emerson knife apart from the rest of the herd.

It wasn't until 1988 that he started making knives with the exclusive purpose of arming martial artists. An avid martial artist himself, he realized that some of the students he was training with had a strong need for a knife that they could use in the gym, then fold up and take with them outside of the training area. He stripped down five folding knife models his company currently made and the first martial arts folding knife was born.

Emerson's popularity started growing on the West Coast as a specialty knife maker. It was in the mid 1980's when a group of Navy SEALs approached his company with a requirement to make a combat effective Emerson knife. Referred by his fellow knife maker and competitor, he quickly obliged and created a special knife labeled the CQC-6, for "close quarters combat". The unique properties of the knife made it corrosion resistant, easy to clean, and highly effective in versatile situations such as hand to hand combat.

The entrance into the Department of Defense was a good gateway for Emerson to be approached by a few other government agencies, and before he could even get his company to the point where they could mass produce blades, they were contracting with NASA and other foreign governments to create their blades.

Owning an Emerson knife means owning a very special knife for a special purpose. No matter what the price, even if you can find a cheap Emerson knife, you'll find that you're getting the highest quality knife in the industry.




Jeff Russell is a veteran knife collector and knife enthusiast. He runs Standard Knife [http://www.standardknife.com] a website dedicated to great knives at great prices [http://www.standardknife.com]

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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Utility Knife to Artful Weaponry, the Knife Leaves Its Mark in History

As ancient as mankind itself, the knife is the earliest form of weaponry for which there has been no substitute. Essential for survival, the knife was developed out of necessity and has evolved through the ages. From knives made of flint, to copper, to iron, humans have a unique relationship to this tool, creating it out of the strongest material available and adorning them with patterns and decoration. A knife is a personal possession that is valued for its craftsmanship and usefulness.

Perhaps the most recognized knife in the world, the Bowie Knife has an intriguing history. The story begins in 1831 when Jim Bowie brought a whittled wooden model of his ideal knife to blacksmith James Black. Several weeks later, Black had produced two knives. The second was a modified version of Bowie's design. Bowie chose Black's version as it had a double edge. Soon, Black was inundated with requests from customers who wanted a knife like Bowie's. The knife's unique shape and hallmark large blade became popular for its use as both a weapon and as a tool for fishing and hunting.

The knife also gained popularity as a result of a fight Bowie was involved in Texas with three men hired to hill him. Bowie killed his would-be assailants and the reputation of the Bowie knife was established. After Bowie's death five years later at the Battle of the Alamo, both he and his knife became immensely famous.

Over the years, many knives have been referred to as Bowie knives. The term has become a generic one for any large sheath knife. Despite all the variations, it is said that for a knife to be considered a Bowie knife, it must be long enough to use as a sword, sharp enough to use as a razor, wide enough to use as a paddle, and heavy enough to use as a hatchet.

Forged in Japan during the Heian Period when Confucianism and other Chinese influences were at their height, the tanto knife lacked any artistic value and was created purely as a weapon. Later, it developed into an aesthetically pleasing weapon. Yoshimitsu was the greatest tanto maker in Japanese history and during his lifetime the tanto achieved a place of artful design.

A smaller version of the katana, the tanto differs from others as it was designed primarily as a stabbing instrument but possesses an edge that can slash as well. Unlike the katana, tanto are forged in hira-zukuri, meaning they have no ridge-line, unlike the shinogi-zukuri shape of the katana. The classic Japanese tanto shape has the point of the knife in line with the spine of the blade and a graceful belly curve. With a blade length of only 6 to 12 inches, the tanto cuts soft targets very well.

The tanto were most often carried by samurai, the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. Although commoners rarely carried a tanto, women sometimes possessed a small tanto in their obi, or shash, for self defense.

A 12-inch fighting and utility knife, the Ka-Bar was first used by the U.S. Marines in World War II and has been carried into battle by Marines since. Originally designed as a hunting knife in the 1800s, the Ka-Bar reached popularity with soldiers who needed a knife suited to trench warfare. Its final shape was decided by the Marine Corps, who introduced a slightly longer blade, a smaller fuller, or beveled groove, on the flat side of the blade, and the stacked leather handle. From box cutter to can opener to hand-to-hand combat, the Ka-Bar is the preferred piece of equipment with the U.S. Marine Corps and has become a symbol of the Marines.




SafeCutters distributes the Klever Kutter and Klever Koncept, two of the safest utility knives available. Klever Kutter virtually eliminates the risk of workplace injuries, while the permanently shielded blade protects packaged products. It has been approved by the Department of Homeland Security for safe air transport.

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Friday, January 28, 2011

Serrated Knife

Food is essential part of our life. Most of the foods can't be eaten raw so they have to be cooked. Cooking makes food edible, digestible and tastier. There are many preparations needed for the cooking. Among the preparation one of the most frequently used is cutting and chopping the food items. Therefore kitchen knife which is a common knife is indispensable for any kitchen to prepare food. Kitchen knives are made from various different materials which are stable and durable. There are specific knives that are designed for particular tasks.

A serrated knife commonly known as dentate or toothed blades refers to a knife that has serrated blade or teeth along the border. They are universally used for cutting harder surfaces. There are many attributes which is making serrated knife popular among the masses. The serrated pocket knife has become enormously accepted because of their improved ability to cut.

There are many tiny minute razor-sharp points on the cutting edge of serrated knife. The food item that has to be cut is not directly contact such an serrated edge and therefore the force applied at each point of contact is somewhat larger and the points in contact are in a sharper angle with the food item that has to be cut. All this finally leads to cutting of food items in the line of the serrated blade.

A serrated blade works by firstly; the niche increases the real cutting surface of the knife. The teeth of the serrated knife edge pierce the surface of anything that is being cut and shields the niche cutting edge from getting dull.

Secondly due to the, serrated knives do not need to be sharpened as recurrently as straight edged blades.

Thirdly the teeth or serrations make serrated knives perfect for cutting things that are hard on the outside and soft on the inside such as bread or tomatoes. They are also chiefly fine on fibrous foods like celery or cabbage.

One of the most important advantages of serrated blades over plain edge blade is that they can cut through more or less anything faster than a straight edge blade.

Serrated blade knives are gaining popularity among the kitchen knife makers for these knives preserve their cutting edge for a long time that too without necessitating it to be sharpened in comparison to the plain knives. For instance Henckels Knife Ever sharp line uses micro serrations to expand the sharpness of the knife. Moreover these knives do not burden your pocket but it is recommended by professionals that cheap serrated knife may not serve the role well and get wear out early so at least fairly priced knife should be selected.

To increase the life of the serrated blade knife it is best to sharpen it once in a while. Whenever the knife gets dull then make sure to sharpen it with serrated blade sharpener. There are many companies which manufacture superior quality serrated knife sharpeners to suite the customer need.

So after learning the pros and cons of serrated blades if you think that serrated knife will serve you well then the internet is the best place to start your search for best quality of serrated knives. Buying process needs the customer should be exposed to the best and maximum range so as to get the best deal. Online shopping will help you acquire the best serrated knife from the wide range of styles, designs, and price ranges. It is a serrated knife is unquestionably a versatile and useful tool in your lovely kitchen.




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Thanks To : Best Tactical Knife

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Knife Set With Block - Choosing The Correct Knives For Your Household Kitchen

When choosing a knife set with block it is always worth considering, firstly, the type of steel that is used in the knife blade and also how it is made as this will determine how long the knife will last and how easy it will be to sharpen.

Generally, there are 2 processes in which knives are manufactured, stamping and forging. A stamped blade is simply cut from a sheet of metal followed by shaping or pressing it into the shape of a blade. Forging, however, involves taking a piece of metal, heating it to a high temperature and grinding it into the shape of a blade, making it much heavier and more durable than a stamped knife.

Many knives today are manufactured with a high blend of carbon stainless steel, which is good, as anything else will be prone to rust and corrosion over time. The edges are also tapered to make it easier to sharpen. Although everyone wants to have high quality kitchen knives (at reasonable prices) not everyone is happy with high maintenance, such as professional chef knives that have quality, light weight, precision blades but need re-sharpening every time they are used.

In order to find the right type of knives for you to use in your kitchen it is always worth knowing exactly what you are going to be using the knives for, for example, cutting, slicing, boning, chopping or dicing. This is why a knife set with block is designed today to be more suited to household uses as they contain a variety of knives for many uses.

Most decent sets will usually contain around 7 knives, but can be up to 15 depending on how seriously you take your cooking preparations. These are some of the more common ones contained in a set:

  • Chef knife - It has a triangular blade around 6 to 12 inches long giving it good leverage. It is basically an all-purpose, professional knife that usually requires sharpening more often than the others

  • Paring knife - This is the most commonly used knife. It is like a 3 inch extension of your hand, used for paring and chopping fruit and vegetables

  • Serrated knife - It has a long wavy, saw-like blade used for slicing things like bread or any fruit and vegetable that tends to bruise easily

  • Boning knife - These have quite a narrow, durable blade used for slicing meat off bones

  • Slicing knife - Again used with meats but having a long, thin blade it tends to be used for preparing joints of ham, roast or turkey into very thin slices for serving

  • Butcher knife - This is the pre-evolution of the chefs knife. It has a long blade with many uses and is usually much heavier and more durable than the others in the set. Consequently, it does not require sharpening that often

  • Cleaver knife - This can have either a curved or straight edge and is used for heavy chopping or cutting through bone and the likes

You could always decide to purchase your knives separately, but not everyone knows what knives are required for what purpose, therefore, can end up with an incomplete set lying around, unsafely in their kitchen draw. So for the everyday household kitchen it is advisable to always select stainless steel knives in a block set as many come with lifetime guarantees to suit any budget, along with being complete and multi-purpose.




So in order find a quality, stainless steel, presentable looking knife set with block in a variety of colors to suit any household kitchen, go to http://www.knifesetwithblock.net

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Plain Or Serrated Knife Blades?

When it comes time to choose a knife - whether part of your kitchen cutlery set or a utility tool - one of the biggest differences between the available blades is whether the edge is plain or serrated. Many knife customers end up wondering which is better. Both choices have the potential to be great knives, but it depends on the intended use of the knife.

There are two main types of actions you'll be doing with the knife. With push cuts, you'll be pushing through the item being cut. Actions considered push cuts include peeling an apple, chopping wood, and shaving with a straight razor. In slicing cuts, on the other hand, the cutting action is performed by sliding the edge of the knife across the item being cut. These actions include slicing a vegetable or a piece of meat, or sawing a board in half.

When it comes to plain or serrated blades, the conventional view is that the serrated edge is ideal for push cuts. The serrations tend to grab at the surface, slicing through it. Serrated blades are also ideal for cutting objects with a hard exterior and soft interior, such as tomatoes and bread. The high points of each serration touch the object first, and these areas have higher pressure, allowing them to puncture the surface easier. This makes serrated edges a great choice for cutting through tough objects such as rope or wood. Even a dull serrated edge may be surprisingly adept at slicing jobs, though of course knives always work best when they are as sharp as possible.

A plain edge, meanwhile, is better for slicing, particularly when the activity requires precision control and accuracy. Plain edges are preferred for precision work, such as the utility knives favored by hobbyists. A plain edge can attain a razor-sharp edge. With a sharpener of between 1200 grit and 6000 grit, the knife edge is so thin and sharp that it will cut through most materials smoothly. When sharpened with a coarser grit, leaving an edge that is not quite as sharp, may actually be better for some applications, as the blade will develop rough, "micro-serrated" edges.

With all of this information, which is better to carry for everyday use, a knife with a serrated edge or one with a plain blade? Unless you know that the majority of your activities will be either slicing or pushing actions, it may actually not matter too much. As long as you keep it sharp, either style should work fine for most applications.

Another option for everyday use is a blade combining plain and serrated blades. Usually, about half of the blade nearest to the tip is a plain edge, while the side of the edge closer to the handle is serrated. Many people feel that this is a good compromise, though particularly on smaller pocket knives it can mean too little of either style of blade to be of use.

Regardless of the type of knife you choose, always keep it sharpened. A well-sharpened plain blade will nearly always be better than a dull serrated one, and vice versa. Your sharpening strategy may also depend on the type of cutting you do; those who do a lot of push cutting should aim for the sharpest blade possible, while slicing is best with either a slightly coarser-ground plain edge and a serrated blade.




Sharpen 'Em has a every brand of knife sharpener for the ultimate in knife maintenance. Also check for current specials on our sharpening systems

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Monday, January 24, 2011

Finding Knife Sharpening Machines at Good Prices

It used to be quite difficult to sharpen knives, however since these times knife sharpening techniques have come a very long way. Traditional bench stones are still available however there are now many more alternative options to this. There are many different types of knife sharpener and cutting device, which one you choose to use will depend on the types of tools you are sharpening.

Bench Grinding Wheels for Sharpening

Grinding wheels have an abrasive surface which is used to grind away any chips in the metal and at the same time sharpen the knife. There are a number of different substances which are used on these bench grinders, including aluminum oxide. This is the most common type of material used for grinding wheels although there are other varieties of oxide which are used. Aluminum oxide is well suited to sharpening steel, wrought iron, annealed iron and bronze.

Zicconia alumina is another material which can be used, this is a mix of aluminum and zirconium oxide. This wheel is very long lasting and is good for sharpening alloys and steel.

Another material is ceramic aluminum oxide, this is one of the newest materials which is used for grinding wheels. It is extremely strong and is used in situations where accuracy is key. This is often used with another material in different proportions depending on what they are grinding.

Grinding wheels are available in a number of different shapes. The most common is a simple straight wheel, these have a cutting edge which faces forward. Another common type is the cylinder wheel, these have a revolving cylinder with the cutting edge on top.

Another thing that you need to think about when choosing wheels is the grit size. A lower number means that it is coarse, a larger number means that it is a fine grain. 10 for example would be very course where as 100 would be very fine. Fine grains are desirable for putting the finishing touches to work, while rougher ones are good for other applications.

A Bench Grinder for Sharpening

Bench Grinders aren't exactly that expensive and can be used to sharpen a number of different items including knives. These can be mounted directly onto the surface of your workbench. Bench grinders are available in a variety of different sizes. The motor is normally up to a maximum of 1 horsepower as these are quite small machines. Look for a good one which has a tool rest so that you can keep the wheel steady so you can be very accurate.

Chain Saw Sharpeners

The blades on a Chain saw are like nothing else, and so if you own one you need to invest in a chain saw sharpener. You can purchase automatic sharpeners, these are by far the easiest option. This is where the chain saw is put into place and a grinding wheel is lowered to sharpen the blade. These are pretty expensive however they do guarantee even sharpening.

Few people can afford automatic models and so may turn to manual sharpeners, these are much cheaper and very precise. You lock the chain saw into place with a manual lever while you sharpen it. Most of these come with a number of different heads which makes it suitable for more chainsaws.




Linden Walhard's short articles are published on plenty of web pages with information about chain saw sharpener and chainsaw sharpeners. You can see his writings on chain saw sharpeners and chain saw sharpener at http://www.insidewoodworking.com

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Sunday, January 23, 2011

Folding Knife Or Fixed Blade - A Knife For Every Need!

Folding knife or fixed blade? These are generally the two types of knives. Many knives have taken on the name of the person or company that created them. For example, a "Bowie Knife" has been around for many, many years and is well known by its name and general characteristics. Jim Bowie of Alamo fame is credited with the creation of this knife, although some historians believe it may have actually been designed by his brother, Rezin. Knife makers give these knives various names, but they amount to little more than semantics. However, knives that have a particular name, such as the "Bowie" knife are also recognized by what they are used for. An example would be a hunting knife, fishing knife, or tactical knife.

Folding Knife

Folding knives are often kept in pockets, and are often referred to as such. They are available in many different styles, and often include multiple blades for various uses. They make great tactical knives. A blade for everything. They are usually legal to carry as long as the blade is fairly small. Around two inches in most places. They are safer and more convenient than the fixed blades. Folding knives have a pivot point and typically have a lock mechanism, which allows the blade to close into the handle only when unlocked.

Folding knives are naturally, by design, not as strong as fixed blade knives. They are a common general purpose tool and are used extensively for camping and hunting. They tend to be more compact and lighter, allowing them to be easily carried and concealed. The "Switchblade knife" is a spring-action knife, snap-blade knife, or any other knife having the appearance of a pocketknife. They typically have a blade two or more inches long that can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, or other mechanical action or device. So, a pocket knife without any type of "automatic release" would not be considered a "switchblade knife".

The Butterfly Knife, also known as a gravity knife or balisong is typically illegal. They are designed to be deployed rapidly with a flipping action of the wrist, producing a slashing action. They are a folding knife that has two handles that rotate around its tang. They are opened by centrifugal force. Both the switchblade and the butterfly knife have an evil or threatening reputation because of their slashing action.

Fixed Blade

Hunting knives were the very first knives, and are the most popular of the fixed blade type. They have probably the most recognizable shapes in the cutlery industry. Hunting knives are used to cut, slice, gut, pierce, skin game, field dress, dress out, cape, trim, quarter, manage, clean game, de-bone, and generally process game animals. There may not be any one particular hunting knife that can perform all hunting chores, but there are a few that are much better than others.

Hunting knives often have intricately carved and decorated handles made from a variety of materials from around the world. These include exotic wood, bone, horns, rubber, and many other durable materials. Hunting knives are often kept in a sheath close to the hunter's waist, although some sheaths attach to the back, leg, chest, or arms depending on the hunter's preference. Fixed blade hunting knives generally have no moving parts, which means that you won't spend time in the field tightening screws or adjusting springs.

A tactical, self-defense, or combat knife is typically designed for accessibility and durability. It must be a versatile tool, and is fashioned to stand up to the rigors of special operations. After all, it may be needed to spear dinner, cut firewood, slice through the skin of an airplane fuselage, or break the glass of an helicopter. It must stand up to the most extreme environments. In short, it may be the last line of defense. A tactical knife is typically a full tang fixed blade, however, not all are fixed blade. Also, hunting knives and tactical knives are often used interchangeably. Many of the same needs and functions exist for both the hunter and the hunted.

Dirks and daggers are more sinister. The reason I say more sinister, is because by their very design, they are only good for thrusting type cuts. Dirks are known as a Scottish weapon, and were designed for piercing damage. Dirks and daggers are often used interchangeably, but a dirk is defined as a long dagger. It often has a handle designed to protect the hand. Dirks are traditionally shorter than swords. Some dirks are also designed and balanced for throwing.

Machetes are a type of survival, or tactical knife. They typically have one edge, with a blade that widens at the tip. They are used extensively in many tropical areas for clearing brush, and cutting through jungle growth. Many cultures rely on them for farming purposes. Having said that, there are those who do use them for weapons.

Cutlery knives are used in the preparation of food and can be made from many different materials. Most of the cutlery used today is mass produced by large companies. Product lines and options have been simplified and standardized and in many instances the quality of the knife is gone. I am generalizing. There are those who still make quality cutlery, and there are knife makers that still take pride in this type of knife. A good chef lives by his set of knives. They are a big part of his trade. A great carving knife has a sense of balance. A butcher knife on the other hand, is designed to work with a cutting board. It has a straight spine that is sharpened, and the curved part is not. The butcher can slice and dice without shifting his weight. There are many other types of knives related to food preparation.

Blade geometry is very important for a good knife maker, but the steel type he chooses is even more critical. A blade is typically concave, or hollow ground. The handle usually has built in comfortable finger grips, and may have a pocket/belt clip for easy access. They can also accommodate a lanyard that helps keep the knife close and convenient.

Fixed blades do not fold. They have either a full tang, or a stick tang that makes them extremely stout and secure. Fixed blade knives are generally more robust and larger overall, which adds to the safety of the knife along with the strength. This strength makes them the knife of choice for outdoor use. They almost always come with a sheath to protect the blade and to allow carrying the knife in a safe manner. In fact, they are known as "sheath knives". Fixed blade knives do not need to be oiled like folding knives, and do not need to be cleaned as regularly.

Whether folding knife, or fixed blade, whatever your need may be, a good custom knife may be the answer.




Dennis N. Darger at Wet Jet Precision can be reached toll free (888) 707-5077 to discuss abrasive water jet cutting technology that can profile your blade blanks, leaving you the time to give your knives the very best edge possible. Keep in mind, that water jet cutting is a cold cutting process that does not cause a heat affected zone. Services are nationwide. View their work at http://www.my-waterjet-cutting-service.com and/or email Dennis at dennis@my-waterjet-cutting-service.com Copyright 02-22-10. Article may be reprinted if it is reprinted in its entirety.

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