The smell of steel

made2cut

made2cut

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Dec 4, 2001
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Okay, I know its kinda' wierd but I know you a lot of you knuts have done the same thing.... smelled your knives ;) Steel has a certain smell, and if you love knives you'll like the smell. Talonite by the way smells like a dung heap to me, but it cuts like h*;%. :D

Anybody else out there a closet knife sniffer :eek:
 
I am. I think the steel smells a little bit like blood, don't ya think ?
 
I think it's a salty smell, maybe like the earth. Goooood.:) I started smelling all my knives regreting starting this post but I think it does have a smell. Polished blades seem to smell less. Of course what you coat your knives is what they are really going to smell like.

Can't believe I started this thread :rolleyes:
 
Hemoglobin contains iron. Maybe that accounts for blood having a metallic, steel-type smell.

I personally haven't noticed a smell with newer, stainless steels. Old carbon steel can sometimes have a very distinctive smell though (probably due to oxidation). A few blades I have that are 50+ years old have a really strong smell.
 
It DOES smell a little like blood! I'm always smelling the smell of grinding steel, from working in a sharpening shop. I leave carrying the sultry scent of ground steel and grinder fluid. That and the blue cuticles from the grinding fluid makes me a real catch, lol. :p

~ashes
 
Originally posted by avpshadowman
hahaha

reminds me

"glass tastes like blood !"

:)

Daniel
Click to expand...

nice little pieces of very sharp glass shards taste like blood too
or they will, anyway :p
 
Gee! All my knives smell like the leather sheaths they're in! I'll try the 'smell test' again, after I wash my knives in the dish washer.
 
Yes, steel does have a distinctive smell, and flavor too. If you're brave enough, try this- lick the back or sides of the blade, and you can taste the steel. But if you lick a freshly sharpened edge or steel that has just been ground, the taste is VERY strong.

I'm gonna share a secret with you guys, so pay attention; I won't repeat it. A freind and customer of mine, who is probably one of the most knowledgeable collectors (he collects about anything you can name, as long as it's fancy or high quality) in the country, shared this with me when we were looking at a gold matchsafe at an auction. He said (to paraphrase) "Sometimes if you're not sure if something is solid gold or silver, or if it's just plated, you can tell by the smell. If it's plated, the brass or copper that it's probably made from will have a very strong foul metallic odor that comes through the gold. Ever smell a jar full of old pennies? It's about the same." At that point, he smelled this matchsafe, and then handed it to me to do likewise. It reeked like an old penny jar. It was plated, not solid gold, and he bidded accordingly when he did buy it later.
 
the possum:

I would figure your knife would have a smell & flavor of 'possum and 'coon blood with all those 'kills'.;) Thanks for the steel smell & taste tips - it's off to smell my jar of old pennies! I knew I was saving them for something!
 
Blood has a distinct "metal" taste. So I suppose it works vice versa.

As far a steel smell? Unless there are oils, abrasives, adhesives, oxidation, rust or some other chemical reaction occuring on or around the steel, I've never noticed a "smell". Its always been the materials and environment interacting with it, that may bring about a smell/or combined smell that I've noticed. Like, if you have steel dust all over you and go take a nap/go to bed. The steel scent seems to reek afterward, perhaps a mix with body oils? I have never singled out a smell for steel. You can taste is for sure though. Just eat with a stainless fork.

My .02
 
Try grinding it. Hot steel (grinding = friction = heat) has a really distinct smell to it. Steel being welded, or forged, which is even hotter, has a much stronger smell, but its still the basic smell.
Stainless steels have a different stink to them than high carbon, I would guess its because of the different elements.
Different steels also taste different (yes, you grind enough knives, you get to know what steel tastes like)... 440C about makes me sick, from its smell and taste. Other steels I havent ever had a reaction to.

And yes, steel smells/tastes similar to blood. Then again, you make knives enough, and what you're tasting could very well be your own blood. Heh.
 
Originally posted by Clydetz
I'll try the 'smell test' again, after I wash my knives in the dish washer.
Click to expand...

Nooo! Not the dishwasher! Wash them by hand! Would you put an expensive piece of jewelery in the dishwasher? Show some respect! :p

~ashes
 
Ashes -

Thanks for the concern but I wouldn't really perform the 'torture test' in the dishwasher. Knives I was smelling & tasting all have stag handles which I don't think would hold up well to the temperature & heat! I should have posted a :D at the end of my stupid statement.
 
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