modern knives

[abhrankash]

Actually D2 is kind of WPRS(wear proof resistant steel)so this can be used also but,the material i am suggesting is the best for any kind,It may be a sword,knife,it may be even cutlery life it doesn't matter the edges can be honed up to the best level and this kind of steel retains the edge for more time it may takes years to get blunt.

Actually khukri used by the NSG, and other commando services are using this steel material to produce survival knife and commando dagger also.

But one thing getting blunt depends on the working condition and some other aspect also.

[R_Bose]

Quite an informative article on knife steels.

http://zknives.com/knives/articles/knifesteelfaq.shtml

[abhrankash]

thank you Mr.Bose sir,

[Subal das]

abhrankash, Cold Steel 1055, have you seen it in India

[abhrankash]

abhrankash, Cold Steel 1055, have you seen it in India

yes, its available

[essdee1972]

Hi, Abhrankash,

Any idea what the Cartini kitchen knives are made of? What I could find on the website (http://www.godrejlocks.com/godrej/godre ... ceList.pdf) is "high class stainless steel". Some of them look deadly enough to be used as a weapon/survival knife! Is the steel good enough?

Asking as typically kitchen knives are not good survuval knives, something to do with the toughness of the steel, I believe.

Cheers,

EssDee

[Subal das]

while Steve Tarani's instructional karambit videos is a total waste, he proved to be able design perfectly shaped and balanced karambits. great self defense knife, also coming with neck chain sheath, going to buy for me one soon.




S30V Crucible blade steel, Teflon® finish
Built as specified by Steve Tarani
6.5" fixed blade length
3/16" blade thickness
Includes sheath with neck chain and pullthe-dot loops for inside-the-waist-belt wear.
Imported

5 .11 Tactical® and Blade-Tech® have partnered on the production of 5 .11's selfbranded knives and on 5 .11's Tarani knife series. Together, we have partnered with Fox Knives USA for the production of our new collections of knives. 5.11® CEO Dan Costa adds, "We're very pleased to work with Mike Vellekamp for the design of our new knives and to collaborate with Blade-Tech and Fox Knives USA for the production of these new blades."

Steve Tarani is a subject matter expert (SME) advisor to US FBI, US DEA, US TSA, US NSA and other agencies as well as an active federal use-of-force training contractor utilized by US DOJ, US DHS, US DOD, OGA, and others. His programs of instruction have been accepted as standard curriculum for federal and state-accredited programs. Tarani is additionally the architect of the International Chiefs of Police (IACP) Model Policy on the carry and usage of knives by federal, state and municipal peace officers.

Every first responder whether it is Law Enforcement, EMS, Fire, or Special Operations knows the importance of having a dependable tactical knife available for critical incidents. 5.11 Tactical series has stepped up by partnering with Steve Tarani, a world-renowned knife specialist to bring a line of high quality tactical knives to the first responder market.

When you need the service of a high quality tactical knife you can depend on 5.11 Tactical Series to give you exceptional functionality at a great price. Don't spend another day without your Karambit Utility Blade at your side.

[Subal das]

Oh !! Boker !!Boker!!
ding .... ding
I'm lovin it

custom designed sub-hilt fighter for $130, who wouldn't

Custom knifemaker David Broadwell,from Texas, is famous for his fluent lines, which are achieved without sacrificing function. His design for the 2010 Boker Plus Collection knife proves that without a doubt. The 440C stainless steel blade runs through the whole knife and offers extraordinary strength. This design is a classic variation of a fighting knife. The second handguard (subhilt) will prevent the hand from slipping onto the blade or off of the handle during powerful, pulling cuts. The beautifully shaped black Micarta handles feel comfortable in the hand, without feeling bulky. This serialized piece, which is strictly limited to 999 pieces worldwide, comes packaged in a decorative gift box with a premium leather sheath and certificate. Blade length: 7". Overall length: 12". Weight: 14.9 oz.

[marthandan]

just my two cents...
almost all types of steel used to make knives are available in India.
only two issues regarding identification and procuring such steels.
1. nomenclature - names and codes used to denote steels varies from system to system.and most (not always) of the knife companies use proprietary names for the steels they use. what we need to do is compare the physical composition of these steels with ones available in India, and you will definitely find most of these steels.

2. quantity and size - getting these steels in the dimensions for making a knife will be pretty difficult. even if you manage to find them in the correct dimensions, the supplier will ask you to purchase a full length (5 ~ 6 m). exceptions would be tool & die steels(like D2). these are readily available in sizes suitable for making knives.

[eljefe]

I suggest simpler stuff like 440C and then move onto D2 and other specialty steels

[marthandan]

eljefe,
actually D2 is easier to heat treat than 440C.

[eljefe]

440c is easier to buy for a novice
I could get flats 4" x 72 " and it was easier to handle, cut, stock removal etc
while the pro's here can possibly handle the more technical stuff, I would not, as a newbie and novice, start off with a tool steel. and I am still a novice. Please listen to us noobs too . And while you are at it, how about some heat treating hints?
TIA

[marthandan]

if you are making a knife with a blade less than or equal to 3" from leaf springs found locally, i would suggest that you dont temper the blade after hardening. the spring steel will reach only HRC56~58 and will not be too brittle if left untempered. the blade may warp, if dipped into the quench at an angle. so take care.

[abhrankash]

Dear all user,
kindly go through this data available int he marked web page then you will get to know about the grade of 440c.
There are three different grades for 440 Its A,B,C

so best option is to go for the more hard blades,I mean to have more hrc on your blade to sutain more critical working conditions


http://www.azom.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1024

[abhrankash]

Source: Orissa govt
R. K. Mishra
The story of weapons is intimately connected with the story of mankind. Born armed but not weaponed man is obliged to arm himself with weapons both for the purpose of offence and defence. The arming of man all over the world began in the remote past when the primitive man fashioned crude weapons from pebbles and stones not only to protect himself from the ferocious beasts but also to augment his food supply by hunting. With the passage of time he brought about sophistication in them and used these weapons for all his domestic and external needs. With the gradual development and discovery of mater like copper and bronze (C.2500 B.C. in India), he hammered or cast his metalic weapons which he used to greater effect when iron came to be known in India around 1000 B.C. it brought about a revolution in the art of weaponry. Several kingdoms were razed to the ground and vast empire built on their ruins with the power
of the weapons.

This study of Arms and Weapons absorbs interest to a large and ever increasing number of people in as much as it appeals in a marked degree to a student of history, the antiquarian and to those who worked in the art of military science.

Weapons form the basis for a certain aspect of history and pre-requisite for changing the face of the world through various wars. This study constitutes a subject in writing the history of a nation.

Orissa State Museum has acquired a good number of traditional weapons of war like swords, guns, cannons, daggers, spears, bows, battle axes, shields, etc. These weapons are under display in a separate Armoury Gallery.

Representing several varieties, the Museum has choicest species of swords and talwars which are generally carved towards the end and has cutting edge. The Khadga variety of swords normally straight with blunt end and having double cutting edges. It is usually very heavy. Patta forms another type with a long handle and can pierce through the body of the enemy. There are two inscribed swords collected from Narasinghpur and Baramba Palace which deserves special mention. The first one belongs to Muslim Period having curved with hilt, oval grip and straight quillion. The back edge bears a persian inscription having an inscribed name of ‘Saha Alam Badshah’.

The second one belongs to Gajapati Period. The hilt has a brass grip with gold coated inscription beginning with “Om Ganesayah Namah” in proto Oriya character and presumably a verse from Vishnu Sahasranama. The use of jewels like gold coating in arms is peculiar in India. These are studded to enhance the beauty, elegancy and richness of the swords. The hilts of the swords are fashioned with costly metal with engraving of floral devises and animal figures. The blades have decorated designs and inscribed letters. The greatest amount of ornamentation is lavished upon armours and personal weapons of kings and emperors. Some metalic weapons are engraved, enamelled, perforated and embelished in many forms. Some of the hilts are made of ivory, steel , horn, fish teeth, etc.

The gallery is enriched with display of varieties of matchlocks, flint guns, muzzle load and rifles. The Marahattas used matchlocks, pistols and rifles. These guns are generally large and heavy. The long barrel of the matchlock is usually attached with the stock by leather stripe and strengthened with side plates of steels. These are traditional types used by the soldiers of the royal armies during these days. Gun powder is generally pressed inside their long barrels and then fired. The prize collection in the gallery is the personal gun of Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das, the maker of Modern Orissa. There are about 30 numbers of small and big cannons displayed in the gallery.

These fire arms are generally of Mughal and Marahatta Period. It may be mentioned here that the development of fire arms made Mughals very effective. Guns and cannons mounted each on a wheel carriage were later introduced from Europe and convenient devices were added in the Mughal Army by Akbar. Eight big cannons were recovered from Barabati Fort area of Cuttack district and brought to the Museum. Two big cannons were brought from Lalbag Palace, Cuttack at the instance of Shri A. N. Khosla the then Governor of Orissa during 1969. Lalbag originally a seat of Mughal Governors was subsequently converted to Governor House of Orissa.

Ten number of daggers have been displayed in the gallery. Some of the daggers are assorted variety with hilts of ivory bones, agate and metal. Some daggers are curved and straight. Jamdhar, a popular variety of daggers have a beautiful handle and broad straight blade. The blade is thick with two cutting edges having a breadth of three inches at the hilt. The handle bars are very often enamelled and display decorative designs. Spears and javelines are coveted weapons for riders and cavaliers and fixed to the saddle through iron chains. Ballam which were another popular variety consisted of several varieties. They are constituted of metal and are very slender and could easily be thrown. The blade is round in two sides, three sides and even more. The blade is in the shape of vertical narrow leaf. The blade of those weapons are attached to long bamboo and hurled on the foe when they are used for attack. The State Museum preserves a good number of these weapons datable to Mughal and Marahatta Period. Some of them have been provided with a leather strap to facilitate their hanging from shoulder of the armed personnel. The shafts of many of these weapons are decorated with gold and silver workmanship.

Among the defensive weapons in the collection there are circular shields of different varieties made of hide and metals to protect the body from close range when attacked by the enemy.The shields are made of the skin of Rhinoceros, buffalo, tortoise, tigers and are elaborately decorated and damascened with gold, cresents and murals. At subsequent periods metal seems to have been used in the fabrication of shields with both iron and copper. The shape of the shields are ordinarily circular. The diametre ranges from 18th to 20 inches. At time they are fitted with four or six steel brussed on thin surface.

The gallery is enriched with good collection of battle axes. Axes are dreadful weapons which could create havoc when used in the war but in later period they were outdated. The battle axe consisted of a short wooden shaft with a shouldered blade attached to it on the side near the top. The battle axes were very much prevelent among soldiers of Mughal and Marahatta army.

A large number of old weapons have still been stored in the old palaces, private collections, local zamindars and feudatory chiefs and ex-State rulers which can be collected and preserved in the armoury gallery in a thematic order.

References :
1. Military History of India–J. N. Sircar
2. Studies in Indian Warfare and Weapons–G. N. Pant
3. National Museum Bulletin–No. IV, V and VI.
4. Glimpses of Orissan Art & Culture (Golden Jubilee Issue)–O.H.R.J. Vol. XXX No. 2, 3 & 4.
5. Military History of Orissa–Dr. R. P. Mohapatra.
6. Indian Arms and Armour–Vol. I & II–G. N. Pant.
7. Military History of India–B. C. Kar.
Curator
Orissa State Museum
Bhubaneswar