Towards 0.1 Micron Archive - Nothing under the microscope What you like, what you dont like, a little bit of knife humor from the internets ... just chatting about knives. https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/list.php?4 Wed, 13 May 2026 13:43:16 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,80460,80460#msg-80460 new product development (16 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,80460,80460#msg-80460
I have a product in my brain (several prototypes built so far) that is about to spill out. I'd like some feedback on it from you all.

Context: the Cold Steel Special Forces shovel... I want one, but do I want one? I dig maybe 60 seconds a day on a camping trip. If I need to dig any significant amount I want a real shovel, and at least a chipping/brick hammer for one handed pick work. Maybe I need to do some trenching to divert water around the tent. That involves cutting roots and prying rocks more than loading aggregate.

You might say I'm an expert on shoveling. I have been a landscape construction foreman for over 15 years. Anything less than a real shovel is silly to me, and I am picky about shovels. I need a loading shovel, a carving shovel, a prying shovel, a trenching shovel.... at minimum... so let us be real about what a camp shovel might be. NO folding or locking bits... a real handle...

Why does the Cold Steel unit sell? It sells a fantasy! Buy this shovel and you can be friggin' Spetsnatz! You are the camp ninja! You will chop warm spruce poles for shelters and fires, you will be the lumberjack who can stick the blade into any dead tree from 5 or 9 paces! Any zombies that show up will easily be dispatched!

I get the fantasy... and I feel like I can do one better. So I propose a "Survival Trowel", for emergency digging, hacking, prying, cutting... perfect for areas where a machete or hatchet is considered "aggressive". Full tang, cord wrap handle, solid hardened and tempered construction, 20 dps edge, ready for throwing etc. It has a flat blade, basically a small battleaxe shaped like a shovel. Vastly outperforms a machete on frozen wood. Doesn't print like a weapon.

So would you, a small cross section of the consumer market, see the attractiveness of this product? I guess I am asking you to answer in two ways... not just the T0.1 way, where you want me to reharden and temper the steel for maximum torsional toughness, and offer the blades unfinished, unwrapped, unsharpened, but with a 7dps relief bevel... but as a potential investor (theoretically! I am not looking for actual investors)... will people buy a survival trowel that really does chop, that really packs fairly flat, that has a handle interface to a human hand, that lets you play "camp ninja", that will last until it rusts out ???

Let me know what you think, from the the two perspectives (T0.1 performance vs consumer market). I shall be making some regardless... your input would help me in optimizing my production. Also I hope to send some out for passarounds!

BTW the sheath is one of the most difficult components for me to wrap my head around... Kydex costs more than steel!]]> wnease Nothing under the microscope Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:18:51 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,78168,78168#msg-78168 This isn't scientific BUT ... (3 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,78168,78168#msg-78168
[www.youtube.com]]]> CliffStamp Nothing under the microscope Sun, 07 Jun 2020 17:39:43 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,78146,78146#msg-78146 Hiatus from the Knife World (5 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,78146,78146#msg-78146
My reaction:



Does no one take risks?

Zero Tolerance:

Every knife looks the same. Same woo steels and woo designs. Slick marketing as usual. Credit to them for selling a Boker Magnum design for $300, though



Benchmade:
Designs are kind of boring still, but more variety than ZT.

Spyderco:
They seem way more expensive than they were 3-4 years ago, a lot of neat stuff got discontinued.

Cold Steel:
The most honest knife manufacturer out there. A lot of solid stuff in the product line, still sell and come out with goofy products.

Al Mar:
China made nonsense now.]]> Bugout Bill Nothing under the microscope Mon, 08 Jun 2020 04:56:56 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,76649,76649#msg-76649 Different knife grips or blade grips (11 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,76649,76649#msg-76649
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN-utpxRB7g[/video]


how to hold a sabre for fencing. i dont believe this grip is fighting accurate. it seems like a light dexterous sport grip just like sport points karate isn't anything like real contect karate in technique
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=032PDxai5GE[/video]

discussing historical viewpoint of sabre grips. the reality is the thumb up grip didn't come into play until the weapons became gentlements light weight duelling toys rather than military sabres.. sure.. still dangerous and deadly, but feather weights.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvIFi1jitS0[/video]]]> cKc Nothing under the microscope Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:10:26 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,73807,73807#msg-73807 RIP Matt Freeman. A.K.A Charlie Mike, CMFTW, Bigkittyftw (5 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,73807,73807#msg-73807
Quote
I woke up to the news of this an hour ago. I don’t really know what to say. But here goes: As long as I have been into knives, Matt Freeman, A.K.A Charlie Mike, has been a figure in it. I have followed him and his work from the horrors of his meth days until today. He was a man utterly without pretense or arrogance about his work. The man lived to make knives, whether his own ideas or full custom designs. He was always a nice guy to talk to and has undoubtably had a lot of influence on the lives of people he didn’t know. He is one of the few people that “made it”. Matt, God Bless you and rest easy. You are deeply missed.

Matt was one of the most deeply talented internet/social media knife makers that always kind of remained a cult figure. His knives were decidedly "tactical" but he had a style that was clearly his own. He liked chisel grinds, had reasons to prefer them, but would not shy away from v grinds. His knives were always more on the overbuilt side, but he could grind them thin if requested. He made everything from shanks to kitchen knives to bowies. He was a true custom maker, I am glad to have had some work done by him.

I first became aware of Matt on bladeforums probably a decade ago. If you ever followed or knew of him, he was an inspiring character. He was always open about his past substance abuse issues and his subsequent recovery. He even made a couple of presentation type fixed blades for auction that raised money for drug abuse recovery programs in Northern California. He was a strong personality with a really dark, horrible sense of humor. He happily engaged in BS with the excess of the knife community and called them to task. At the same time, he was a nice guy to talk to.

I was never really close enough to him to be anything more than an "internet friend", but I'm going to miss him. A tremendous talent that is gone too soon.

Heres is IG if you want to see some of his work. (a lot of edgy-ness too, but yeah.)

[www.instagram.com]

[www.youtube.com]

A damascus fighter he made:

]]> Bugout Bill Nothing under the microscope Wed, 16 Jan 2019 21:57:33 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72982,72982#msg-72982 Rust on coated blades? (7 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72982,72982#msg-72982
We have experienced a strange effect for which we have not found an answer. I was hoping that maybe I could get some thoughts from "youze guys", especially Cliff, if possible?

A while ago, we had a knife that had developed what appeared to be rust on the surface of a coated (titan- carbo-Nit.) H1 blade. We have the blade in house, sent to us in trade by the owner, but no answers yet. We just had another example of surface appearing on the surface of an M4 blade coated with DLC.

Thoughts?

sal]]> sal Nothing under the microscope Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:03:59 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72649,72649#msg-72649 Assisted Opening Recommendation? (8 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72649,72649#msg-72649
He had an assisted opening Kershaw that he liked and he wants a nice replacement.

It can't be full-auto, as those are illegal to carry here in Eugene.

I know squat about assisted knives. Recommendations would be appreciated.]]> Chum Nothing under the microscope Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:02:38 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72541,72541#msg-72541 Increase Water Retention in Soils to Avoid Climate Change (11 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72541,72541#msg-72541 Short Documentary - Excellent Solutions To Climate Problem Explained]]> JSCT Nothing under the microscope Sat, 09 Feb 2019 13:28:30 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72447,72447#msg-72447 does handle material matter? (9 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72447,72447#msg-72447 knifedogs.com] it usually starts after makers experience sticker shock when looking at handle material at the Blade show.
my question: you have two identical knives except one has a basic walnut or hickory handle. the other has a handle of red wood burl. do you pay $100 to $150 more for the redwood burl handled knife?]]> oldsailorsknives Nothing under the microscope Mon, 27 Aug 2018 11:35:46 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72238,72238#msg-72238 Where to buy or trade knives (10 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72238,72238#msg-72238
Can anyone suggest a forum or otherwise online medium people use for buying / trading among individuals?

Thanks all]]> ognennyy Nothing under the microscope Wed, 01 Aug 2018 18:34:14 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72189,72189#msg-72189 Stays Sharp Forever: Copper Knife Test (1 reply) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72189,72189#msg-72189
[youtu.be]

PS. Does anyone know how to embed YouTube videos and pictures so they show in the text of the post? I forgot how to do it, and I can't find any info that works on the web.]]> jasonstone20 Nothing under the microscope Sun, 22 Jul 2018 11:29:11 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72012,72012#msg-72012 hypefreeblades shut down.. (9 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,72012,72012#msg-72012 hypefreeblades down

Kevin simply shut it down with the whole information it contained..
I pretty much read all I was interested already but wanted to point
other ppl to some of the Roman Landes posts there.. Well I cant..]]> JSCT Nothing under the microscope Sun, 15 Jul 2018 14:59:14 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,71944,71944#msg-71944 coatings for corrosion resistance (17 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,71944,71944#msg-71944
There is still argument over whether or not coatings help with corrosion resistance. Some feel that it does protect the non stainless blade and others feel that moisture seeps in and causes corrosion underneath the coating (which one cannot see) and it is not obvious unti the corrosion gets so bad it breaks through the coating and then the blade is pitted too much to clean.

Probably a good subject for discussion here as well?

Maybe we can sic Larrin on this also?

sal]]> sal Nothing under the microscope Tue, 28 Aug 2018 16:11:25 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,71858,71858#msg-71858 Flops, Failures, and Things That Never Quite Panned Out (no replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,71858,71858#msg-71858

From my own experience, these are the first couple that come to mind:

Benchmade 921S Switchback





A thin, aluminum handled, gentleman’s folder with a small slipjoint blade in the backspacer. Seemed to be a knife that stuck around for a while in the early to mid 2000s before being dropped. At one point Taurus Firearms had a branded version produced for them, which seems oddly out of place for what was essentially a gentleman’s knife.

Nice, but a strange blade.

Bradley Cutlery



A brand name that commissioned high quality knives from a number of manufacturers and sold them for an affordable price. Bought by Benchmade and went poof. At one point sold $75 Balisongs produced by Kershaw.

Emerson EDC-1 Multitool





Really the only product here that I remember being introduced, I remember it being controversial from its announcement. Essentially a tactical SAK, the EDC-1 was a collaboration between Emerson Knives and Multitasker.

The $220 price tag and Chinese production attracted considerable ire, so much so that I believe it was only sold for a year before being discontinued in favor of the simplified (and cheaper) EDC-2. Those have also been discontinued.

An incredibly heavy for the size tool, it had a D2 Commander style blade, 2 locking screwdrivers, and an awl. It also featured a detachable widgy bar with some sockets for bolts and a bottle opener.

They never sold well, I honestly don’t think they made all that many of them, as they are hens teeth on the secondary market. Even for my well used example, I believe I paid $150 for it. I have had people want to buy it off of me too.]]> Bugout Bill Nothing under the microscope Sun, 10 Jun 2018 17:39:40 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,71855,71855#msg-71855 Fifty People Try To Sharpen A Knife (13 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,71855,71855#msg-71855 [www.facebook.com]]]> jasonstone20 Nothing under the microscope Wed, 15 Jan 2020 16:52:23 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,71270,71270#msg-71270 The Next Five Years (33 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,71270,71270#msg-71270
Materials and designs are getting more and more excessive and impractical, the price of everything has skyrocketed (beyond inflation), and the gun/tactical market is down. Plus the Chinese are steadily intruding on the midtech/high end market.


Wondering where everyone sees this heading in say, the next 5 years.]]> Bugout Bill Nothing under the microscope Sat, 08 Sep 2018 15:37:58 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,69985,69985#msg-69985 When you better hide your knives from others.. (no replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,69985,69985#msg-69985 but you let others to use cheap old tescomas anyway..

LINK TO PICS

And I know why B)]]> JSCT Nothing under the microscope Mon, 22 Jan 2018 21:57:53 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,69787,69787#msg-69787 Where's my Spyderco Caribbean??? (20 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,69787,69787#msg-69787
Seriously though, can't wait to get the Caribbean. Carrying around knives you have to open and close with two hands sucks... sorry Chad, but it does. The cKc cuts like a beast though... the Opinel feels flimsy and like I'm going to break it. I need something with a thumbhole and a compression lock, er something.]]> Chum Nothing under the microscope Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:41:08 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,69543,69543#msg-69543 Spyderco raising prices again. 35% MAP. (85 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,69543,69543#msg-69543 Just wondering if anyone else here has been run off yet by the pricing?
I stopped buying new Spyderco back when the 40% MAP was fixed across the industry. Since then I've sold all my Spydercos, bought the XHP Manix Sprint, used that knife, and am now selling it with the 35% MAP looming. I won't say which company I've switched too to avoid being doxed, as there are frankly malicious shills over on the Spyderco forum. Nothing about the company can be criticized in any way, or really anything at all, it's truly a "Safe Space."

Otherwise, I feel liberated, the "super steel" rat race has gotten ridiculous IMO. Hobbies also change. I'm making more money now, and accordingly have even less time for myself, so I invest in guns and am saving the rest so I can buy private land to hunt on.]]> Erik Nothing under the microscope Mon, 13 Jan 2020 10:43:03 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,69225,69225#msg-69225 An interesting way to make money sharpening (5 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,69225,69225#msg-69225
[www.youtube.com]

Brad sells a tungsten carbide sharpener, has for awhile and is the most proficient person I have seen using them. Lately the website has been expanded to other things, slingshots, etc. . Recently he has been buying knives, sharpening them, and then selling the personally sharpened knives for massive upcharges like a $20 bowie for $100.

If you look at it in regards to sharpening then the prices are crazy high. No one would pay 80$ for sharpening a knife (no restoration, just sharpening). But the price isn't really to get a sharpened knife as much as it is to own a "one of a kind" knife sharpened from Brad. Even this is kind of odd though because there are custom knife makers who will make you actual knives for ~$100.

It is an interesting idea, if it sells then it is brilliant.]]> CliffStamp Nothing under the microscope Thu, 28 Dec 2017 06:05:52 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,68644,68644#msg-68644 fish and knives (1 reply) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,68644,68644#msg-68644 [drive.google.com]

[photos.app.goo.gl]
]]> oldsailorsknives Nothing under the microscope Fri, 13 Oct 2017 01:30:49 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,68291,68291#msg-68291 is it an axe? is it a mechete? its something (17 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,68291,68291#msg-68291
fiskars machete axe]]> fervens Nothing under the microscope Thu, 26 Apr 2018 12:30:05 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,68087,68087#msg-68087 CPM M4 - "you never have to re-sharpen it" (6 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,68087,68087#msg-68087 www.youtube.com]

It is tradition to hear comments in the extreme parts of the chart from uncle MIke...

Marketing!

but - "you never have to re-sharpen it" - "just srtopped it after use" are plain funny

I have experience with this steel only in 760 benchmade - it dulls as every steel, slower than others probably (do not have statistics data) but eventually you will need to sharpen it...]]> stefan_wolf Nothing under the microscope Thu, 19 Apr 2018 23:19:53 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,67473,67473#msg-67473 Maraging Steel (2 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,67473,67473#msg-67473 https://edgematters.uk/thread/8715-what-is-your-best-steel-and-why/

This post was my first contact with Maraging steel. However, Wikipedia says Maraging steel won't take an edge. If some of them can take a high hardness (55-60 HRC) and are tough, why are they not effective for knives; what is the method of blunting? Is it an edge stability issue?]]> Eee Nothing under the microscope Mon, 24 Jul 2017 19:32:04 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,67389,67389#msg-67389 Something is rotten in the state of Britain (14 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,67389,67389#msg-67389
UK online knife sales ban proposal

TL;DR

The UK government, in an effort to "clamp down" on knife crime, are considering banning online knife sales. The customer will have to bring ID to a store in person to buy a knife.

It's not clear in the article, and the proposal is just that, a proposal, but having skimmed other articles on this topic the word "weapons" has been used. Some of you may have read about the ban of "zombie knives" for sale. I thought that was a neighbours cheap paring knife that Cliff had refurbished and sharpened (brought back from the dead?) but supposedly a zombie knife is a semi-functional art knife, sometimes toxic green painted with decorative blood spatters, known to have been wielded by youths on the rampage. Okay, fine. Strip some more of our freedoms, even if those knives are rank but this proposed bill just seems crazy, far-fetched...dystopian levels of nanny state control.

Knife shops just don't exist here in the UK. I can't go into town and buy a Spyderco, a Gyuto or a Machete, I'd have to go online.

There are large UK retailers, such as Heinnie Haynes, whose knife sales form a large part of their business models. What happens to them?

I'd be interested to hear fellow T0.1 users thoughts on this. I'm basically looking for sympathy/comfort. It won't be the end of the world but it sure will suck. :)

Cheers,
Andy]]> grimpeur Nothing under the microscope Wed, 30 Aug 2017 14:41:28 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,66893,66893#msg-66893 The Past is Another Country (7 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,66893,66893#msg-66893
It made me remember I have one of models made by Kershaw:



Last affordable, high quality bali made, I think these were disco'ed in 2013-2014, when Benchmade bought out Bradley Cutlery and nuked them. Also the same time Kershaw became budget line of Kai.

The whole thing made me feel really old, even though this wasn't all that long ago.

Does anybody else remember knife related stuff that was flavor of month or really popular that is all but forgotten now?]]> Bugout Bill Nothing under the microscope Thu, 19 Apr 2018 18:01:17 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,66732,66732#msg-66732 Questionable customer service (3 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,66732,66732#msg-66732
[www.youtube.com]

Now I could explain away some parts as possible not being defective. The maker could argue the client caused parts of the problems through attempted modifications (the play / lockup).

This puts you (the viewer) in a no-mans land where unless you know either of the two parties you are left with a big question mark as there are people who do such things, and there are makers who release defective products as well.

The HRC issue stands out though. Even if you were skeptical of the HRC tests (~20 HRC is a lot to be off), the video of the Mora carving up the spine kind of strikes home that the blade is way too soft.

I sent the maker a message to see how they respond.

Update : the maker basically claims they tried to do the right thing but are being misrepresented and they have records of conversations to prove it including the HRC concerns


--

Note as per forum rules, this isn't a place for character assassination on makers/manufacturers, just the facts.]]> CliffStamp Nothing under the microscope Thu, 03 Aug 2017 22:49:29 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,66202,66202#msg-66202 Spread of (mis)information in social networks (6 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,66202,66202#msg-66202 Noticed a new (for me) website about knives and here comes the same story all the time...

knife disinformer

He publishes some data on steels however it is not further specified
based on what he compares them, neither the ht of the particular samples
or particularly which knife was tested.

To be fair I have to admit at the end of the article is a note saying perfomance can vary
by different heat treatment which actually negates at least half of the upper content,
the same like with the any misleading advert having a note under written by much smaller letters
which not everyone will read. Why then such a critical information wasnt mentioned at the beginning ?!

Looks like a marketing material with nicely depicted logos of steel manufacturers.

I can definitely state that there is no way (if required I can add info ht for each sample)

When it comes to wear resistance (by carbide vol):

High to low (tightly between first and last two) : 8Cr13MoV to AUS-8 to AUS-6 and equals to 13C26.
Then no way N680 is higher or same like VG-10, ATS-34, D2.

When it comes to achievable strength:

Why AUS-6 is so much lower than 13C26 ?

No way ELMAX, M390, S90V, S30V, S35VN, CTS-XHP
can be stronger than VG-10 and ATS-34 type of chemistry.

When it comes to corrosion resistance:

no way BD1, XHP, S30V, S35VN, S110V, VG-10 can be same or better
than 14C28N.

Here is a paper significant to the topic with math that will make you stop laughing:
Spread of (mis)information in social networks

Thanks god all content is copyrighted so those highly scientifical data cannot be spread
so effecitively "DDD]]> JSCT Nothing under the microscope Thu, 07 Sep 2017 14:17:40 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,65334,65334#msg-65334 Strider Knives Shutting Down (16 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,65334,65334#msg-65334 www.recoilweb.com]

]]> Bugout Bill Nothing under the microscope Fri, 23 Jun 2017 10:45:11 +0000 https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,65218,65218#msg-65218 Cutting videos (6 replies) https://oldforum.beyondt01micron.com/read.php?4,65218,65218#msg-65218 The first one is white steel.

[m.youtube.com]

[m.youtube.com]

Amazing cutting skills! There are a variety of knives being used.
[m.youtube.com]]]> chiseen Nothing under the microscope Tue, 28 Mar 2017 14:29:26 +0000