K18 Wow!

zmbhntr

zmbhntr

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EDIT: Thinner 20 DPS edge update below.

My K18 arrived while I was on a Webex today, and it was very hard to pay any attention to the customers on the call after that. After the meeting I was able to get outside and do a little test chopping on a pair of tree stumps that are about 8"-10" in diameter. It does an amazing job making wood chips fly. I'm really not used to two handed blades so I kind of treated it more like an axe (complete with forgetting to remove my wedding band and creating a nice blood blister like I almost always do with axes). Absolutely worth the wait for this, it's simply stunning, and I'm honored to be among the first to get one of these dirty. It's going to take some getting used to, but I cannot wait to spend more time with this amazing toy / weapon / apocalypse tool / fish cutter!

I know that this thread would be amazingly useless with out pics, so here are a few for you to enjoy ;)











EDIT: I put the thinner 20 DPS edge to work chopping through trees, vines, and through a 6x6 pressure treated post a couple times. While this thinner edge is really not intended for that type of work, it's good to know that it can handle it and hold up beautifully. It did lose a little bit of edge and some sharpness in the process, but I'm beyond impressed with what the K18 will do. Also, I am far from an expert chopper and I'm sure my form is terrible, so the takeaway is enjoy the heck out of your K18 and don't worry about it!







 
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I haven't measured the one I'm working on, but the back edge is definitely thinner before sharpening...probably at least .010" thinner if I had to guess off the top of my head.
 
The back edge is thinner and it is also sharpened at a narrower angle.

The K18 sword was engineered to survive and win the cutting contest Knife or Death. This is why the blade is as wide as it is, we needed a particular primary bevel geometry, and it's double edged so the leading edge could do the rough stuff like cut open the buckets of gravel, and the rear edge was thin and would remain sharp for things like the meat cuts and nylon webbing etc.

A lot of swords are sharpened pretty obtuse. Something like 30 DPS. But that wouldn't be competitive in a cutting competition and the advanced modern metallurgy doesn't need it. The K18 comes with a 22 DPS primary edge that (with good straight technique that doesn't twist) will cut a plain grade two 1/4-20 bolt with no observable edge damage. The rear edge (which is recurved to grab soft targets) is thinner behind the edge and sharpened 20 DPS which is thin like a smaller knife. It will sail through things like a hanging fish, someone who shouldn't be in your house, or nylon strapping reliably and with little resistance.

The sword is a competition cutter. A racing knife. It was built to compete and win in a knife show. Unfortunately that show has been canceled. While it certainly can be used and abused and run through all sorts of insane targets, keep in mind that it is hard and thin for a sword and will benefit from competent use. I would be careful chopping a lot of wood with that rear edge. It will do it, but you might eventually tweak a bevel with a wonky hit. That front edge is pretty robust though. Go nuts. :thumbsup:


Edit: also we left some extra meat behind the point so it won't lose bits if you accidently clip the floor with it or stab something really hard
 
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You had me up until the competent use thing, but I’m having a blast with it! I had actually always planned to be careful with the rear edge.

Nathan the Machinist said:
The back edge is thinner and it is also sharpened at a narrower angle.

The K18 sword was engineered to survive and win the cutting contest Knife or Death. This is why the blade is as wide as it is, we needed a particular primary bevel geometry, and it's double edged so the leading edge could do the rough stuff like cut open the buckets of gravel, and the rear edge was thin and would remain sharp for things like the meat cuts and nylon webbing etc.

A lot of swords are sharpened pretty obtuse. Something like 30 DPS. But that wouldn't be competitive in a cutting competition and the advanced modern metallurgy doesn't need it. The K18 comes with a 22 DPS primary edge that (with good straight technique that doesn't twist) will cut a plain grade two 1/4-20 bolt with no observable edge damage. The rear edge (which is recurved to grab soft targets) is thinner behind the edge and sharpened 20 DPS which is thin like a smaller knife. It will sail through things like a hanging fish, someone who shouldn't be in your house, or nylon strapping reliably and with little resistance.

The sword is a competition cutter. A racing knife. It was built to compete and win in a knife show. Unfortunately that show has been canceled. While it certainly can be used and abused and run through all sorts of insane targets, keep in mind that it is hard and thin for a sword and will benefit from competent use. I would be careful chopping a lot of wood with that rear edge. It will do it, but you might eventually tweak a bevel with a wonky hit. That front edge is pretty robust though. Go nuts. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
 
zmbhntr said:
You had me up until the competent use thing, but I’m having a blast with it! I had actually always planned to be careful with the rear edge.
Click to expand...

Well I wouldn't want to over-state that...

I'll tell you what. You have the first one. I have some extras here. If you want, go ahead and beat the absolute shit out of it with no regard whatsoever to its wellbeing (although do take care to protect your own). I mean, try to break it. If you can break it (I don't think you can), or even inflict any meaningful damage to it, without using tools like a cheater bar or a metal hammer, I'll give you a new one. :thumbsup:
 
Wow that’s awesome! I’m traveling this weekend but I’ll chop a lot of wood with it next week and see how it does. Do you want me to chop anything other than wood with the rear edge?

Also, I meant my previous remark as a personal jab to my own lack of skill [humor], not as anything against your blade. Just wanted to be clear on that.

Nathan the Machinist said:
Well I wouldn't want to over-state that...

I'll tell you what. You have the first one. I have some extras here. If you want, go ahead and beat the absolute shit out of it with no regard whatsoever to its wellbeing (although do take care to protect your own). I mean, try to break it. If you can break it (I don't think you can), or even inflict any meaningful damage to it, without using tools like a cheater bar or a metal hammer, I'll give you a new one. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
 
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zmbhntr said:
Wow that’s awesome! I’m traveling this weekend but I’ll chop a lot of wood with it next week and see how it does. Do you want me to chop anything other than wood with the rear edge?

Also, I meant my previous remark as a personal jab to my own lack of skill [humor], not as anything against your blade. Just wanted to be clear on that.
Click to expand...

Cut anything you want, or nothing at all. I wanted to articulate that this isn't some over built pry bar, it's a high performance cutting tool built to win a race, but I didn't want to give the impression it's fragile either. So I'm suggesting you use your sword any way you want with no concern of damaging it because if it takes any meaningful damage at all I'll replace it. Use it however you wish, without concern. :thumbsup:
 
I also wish I had gotten in on the preorder.
I have no “known” need to own a beautiful blade like this. But still something inside is tugging... relentlessly. I’ve been attempting to squirrel away money for a year. Not there yet.
 
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