* Del Cecchi <delcecchinospamofthenorth@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> MatthewK wrote:
>> that the steel is sound and the edge is slightly serrated because of
the
>> laminations. It's also considering that the blades in question are
>> equally thin.
>>
>> Pattern-welded blades are no good for carving wood. They will not leave
>> a smooth finish.
>>
>> Carbon steel blades are a poor choice for butchering animals as far as
>> edge retention is concerned. Alvin's experience is that M2 is better
>> than low-allow carbon and stainless blades for the purpose.
>>
>> Rope cutting...a pattern-welded blade would come out on top.
>>
>> Personally, for eight-hours a day everyday, I think an all hard blade
>> single steel blade is the choice for those tasks. You can hone it until
>> the blade is a "exacto" hobby knife.
>>
>> In my eyes, pattern-welded blades and differntial heat treating are for
>> fighting blades.
>>
>> BTW, pattern-welding doesn't seem to be rocket science. There are
>> imperfect examples that have been worked longer than any of us has been
>> alive. Pretty much every culture with forging tradtion has produced
>> laminated blades of some type. A lot of laminating comes from the need
>> to save steel in my opinion.
>>
>> There are more things to go wrong...and there are more hack smiths
alive
>> than ever before. That being said, as long as steel, process and
>> temperature are followed properly...any smith that can weld can make a
>> great pattern-welded blade.
>>
>>
> I would disagree. As an observer I would postulate that pattern welding
> in the old days was developed in an effort to compensate for the
> inability to make or procure quality steel, either because of lack of
> capability or lack of knowledge.
What do you disagree with? I said a lot of laminating comes from the
need to save steel.
> As has already been noted, if pattern welded steel was better than bulk
> steel it would be used in industrial applications. Industry cuts more
> stuff in a day than knife knuts do in their lifetime.
Pattern-welded blades have more advantages than how they cut. To use
heavy industry as an example has merits and follies. The finest weaving
ever done was by hand...the sharpest blade ever made was obsidian.
None of this has anything to do with bulk or industrial applications.
I guess the case I would like to make is that pattern-welding can
produce a tougher blade with an edge the cuts cloth and meat better than
homogenous steel. Which I stated previously as "fighting blades".
matthew
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