Question Regarding Round Knife

[gtwister09]

Art has given many gotchas of the small slack belt system. However all of his tips and so forth are covered in detail in the link that Bruce provided. They cover all the things including removal of the cork and leather belts since they will stretch. It made over a 40 page PDF file when it was captured to give you an idea of the length of the read. Some of it's redundant but there are tips, tricks, gotchas (like burning the metal up), diagrams, angle usage, equipment selection and explanations. Consider reading it before you start using the system. It likewise tells you to try it out on less than ideal knives. It's pretty comprehensive in it's discussion.

Regards,

Ben

Edited June 20, 2011 by gtwister09

[Kevin]

I've been waiting for this for twelve years. From my dear, dear friend Master Saddler Eva Vettenberg. Notice asymetric shape, head knife on one side, round knife on the other.

Kevin

Edited June 20, 2011 by Kevin

[Knipper]

WOW!!! A Henckel head knife! I didn't even know they made one. The logo is their early "Twin" logo. That baby is old. I shave with a Henckel straight razor (have for 44 years) and I own my Great Grandfather's Henckel razor, which is still in using condition and gives great shaves. Hang on to that knife, I suspect it is quite rare. It was probably made in the late 1800's in Solingen Germany. I know that Henckel has always produced superior cutlery, even their very old work. You've got good steel for sure in that knife...

Terry Knipschield

Edited June 21, 2011 by Knipper

[Kevin]

Of course, it was found in a junk shop, covered in rust, in the bottom of a box of junk (in Hungary I assume). The dealer gave it to the person that found it, they gave it to Eva, and now she has given it to me. She considers my house to be a museum.

Kevin

[gtwister09]

Terry/Kevin,

Asymmetric shaped head knives are generally classified as a French head knife but all the old catalogs that I have seen show a more pronounced asymmetric difference. However I have never seen it listed in a Henckel catalog either. What a find in a junk shop!

I have only seen two other head knives from them. This makes the third one. Extremely rare and as Terry said some good steel. In fact the two I have seen were shown to me by a saddlemaker who I was talking with who is in his mid 80's. He pulled out some things to show me from under his bench and he said I bet you have NEVER seen one of these babies much less two of them. Well he was correct. I also said WOW!!! I hadn't seen a head knife from Henckels ever. Only things that I had seen with the twin logo were some straight razors and a set of kitchen knives that my great grandparents had.

I was wondering if leather workers overseas in Europe may have seen more of them over there. I am just curious if any of them may weigh in on seeing any of them.

Regards,

Ben

Edited June 21, 2011 by gtwister09

[oldtimer]

I've been waiting for this for twelve years. From my dear, dear friend Master Saddler Eva Vettenberg. Notice asymetric shape, head knife on one side, round knife on the other.

Kevin

That is the logo of Zwilling knife factory, J A Henkels, Germany. http://www.zwilling.com/

I once saw one of their roundknifes in a military museum collection of saddlers tools, sent an Email to the factory, asking if they still had roundknives for sale. They responded: NO, we don´t make them anymore since 1944, when the Americans bombed the factory.

/ Knut

Edited June 21, 2011 by oldtimer

[Knipper]

Well, if they didn't want us to bomb their factory, they shouldn't have tried to take over the world...! Heh, only mention that as it sounded like they were a little short in their response to you. During the war years, I very much doubt that even the Henckel factory was allowed to make their normal fare. They were probably forced to convert output to further the war effort. I can't see that a head knife attached to the end of a rifle is a good substitute for a bayonet.

Terry

I once saw one of their roundknifes in a military museum collection of saddlers tools, sent an Email to the factory, asking if they still had roundknives for sale. They responded: NO, we don´t make them anymore since 1944, when the Americans bombed the factory.

/ Knut

[Knipper]

Well, I have an answer for you on the Tandy/Stohlmann damascus knife steel. Tandy recently put these on sale for half price and listed the steel used: SUS410. This is a variation of 410 stainless steel and according to what I found for the chemistry of the steel, it contains .08 to .15 % carbon. That ain't much, when you want steel to have around a full 1% !! I don't know what other steel they're using to get the damascus effect, but none is listed. Could be the blade is just etched to get a damascus 'looking' steel, and it might be all SUS 410. The applications listed nuts, bolts, tubing, lining etc, but nowhere did it recommend this grade for cutlery. Heat treating this steel will only get you marginal hardness, and it certainly won't hold up for edge retention. This is what I was talking about folks...someone will buy this, find out it won't hold an edge and then swear off ALL stainless. Too bad, really. So, do some research before you buy. Shoot for 1% carbon whichever type you use and you won't have a paperweight that looks like a knife, (provided there is good heat treatment...).

Terry

[JWGlover]

Well, I have an answer for you on the Tandy/Stohlmann damascus knife steel. Tandy recently put these on sale for half price and listed the steel used: SUS410. This is a variation of 410 stainless steel and according to what I found for the chemistry of the steel, it contains .08 to .15 % carbon. That ain't much, when you want steel to have around a full 1% !! I don't know what other steel they're using to get the damascus effect, but none is listed. Could be the blade is just etched to get a damascus 'looking' steel, and it might be all SUS 410. The applications listed nuts, bolts, tubing, lining etc, but nowhere did it recommend this grade for cutlery. Heat treating this steel will only get you marginal hardness, and it certainly won't hold up for edge retention. This is what I was talking about folks...someone will buy this, find out it won't hold an edge and then swear off ALL stainless. Too bad, really. So, do some research before you buy. Shoot for 1% carbon whichever type you use and you won't have a paperweight that looks like a knife, (provided there is good heat treatment...).

Terry

I actually bought one of these a while back and you're right. It was sharp out of the box it didnt last long. It is also not true damascus it is etched because on a damascus blade you can feel the different layers of steel and on that tandy knife you can't.

[WinterBear]

I am glad I asked the question before buying something I will ultimately be very unhappy with. So, for now, I am setting aside some additional money so I can get something I will be happy with and that I can use for years. I am disappointed about the Tandy knife especially--I was hoping for some modicum of quality, but it sure sounds like that isn't the case.