Members Freddo Posted December 8, 2008 Members Report Posted December 8, 2008 I recently purchased a used set of leather working tools. On the positive side, there was a ruby blade swivel knife in the set, on the negative side, there was a significant nick in the middle of the ruby portion of the blade. I have a couple of questions: What is the ruby portion of the blade made of? Are ruby blades discontinued? How do you sharpen it? Just like any other swivel knife or is there a special process? Can the ruby portion of the blade be changed? By the looks of it, it looks like an integral part of the knife, not something that can be swapped out. Quote
Ambassador pete Posted December 8, 2008 Ambassador Report Posted December 8, 2008 can't do anything about it. It's a goner. try a ceramic blade if you don't like metal. I wouldn't switch. Just sold a Henley. LOVED the barrel but the ceramic wouldn't fit into it! pete Quote
Members TroyWest Posted December 9, 2008 Members Report Posted December 9, 2008 If you send it to me, I'll see if I can sharpen it for you. Everyone thinks you can't sharpen a ceramic blade, but I,ve sharpened them after dropping mine on a concrete floor. I've never sharpened a ruby blade, but I believe I can. I engrave silver and use diamond impregnated wheels to sharpen my engraving bits. These wheels cut the ceramic just fine and I think would do the same to a ruby. Send me a PM and I'll give you my address. Pete, you could have modified your Henley to take a ceramic blade and kept that great knife. Quote
Members whinewine Posted December 9, 2008 Members Report Posted December 9, 2008 I recently purchased a used set of leather working tools. On the positive side, there was a ruby blade swivel knife in the set, on the negative side, there was a significant nick in the middle of the ruby portion of the blade.I have a couple of questions: What is the ruby portion of the blade made of? Are ruby blades discontinued? How do you sharpen it? Just like any other swivel knife or is there a special process? Can the ruby portion of the blade be changed? By the looks of it, it looks like an integral part of the knife, not something that can be swapped out. The ruby is REAL ruby (just grown in a lab, rather than in nature). The ruby blades are discontinued. If the nick is not too deep, someone who can facet gemstones can probably keep the same approximate angle & just facet it shorter (or, perhaps that person can facet a new one for you). I used to cut stones, but I never learned to facet- I only cut cabachons. Bottom line, if the ruby can't be re-faceted, it'd cost more to have a new one cut than to keep searching on ebay (& there's one up for bids right now, btw). russ Quote
Contributing Member wolvenstien Posted December 9, 2008 Contributing Member Report Posted December 9, 2008 Not to steal the thread.... TroyWest, you mind offering me the same? I have a ruby blade as well. I also bought a used lot of tools a little while back, and there was one blade included, but the cutting tip was broken off kind of like it had been dropped. Attaching a pic so you can see what I am talking about and if you think you can do anything with it.... Quote "The miracle is not how two adults can create a child, the phenomenon is how quickly a child can create two adults." -- VYBE Her: Hit Me Him: Do you want me to use the knife? Her: No, When you hit with a knife, that's STABBING!
Members TroyWest Posted December 9, 2008 Members Report Posted December 9, 2008 Yes, If you send it to me , I'll see what I can do. I dont need the knife, just the blade. Troy Quote
Members Tina Posted December 9, 2008 Members Report Posted December 9, 2008 Hi Troy, If you make it work I have one of my 2 blades that needs some sharpening...If you're interested please let me know:-) Quote "He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands, and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, and his head, and his heart, is An Artist" http://vildkorpens-laderlya.deviantart.com http://tupali.deviantart.com/
MADMAX22 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Posted December 10, 2008 OK so now I know what was meant by a ruby blade, I saw that one on ebay and was like what the heck. I didnt even realize it was a small portion of ruby used as the cutting edge. Thats really cool. Quote
Contributing Member wolvenstien Posted December 10, 2008 Contributing Member Report Posted December 10, 2008 Anyone know why exactly they stopped making these? Quote "The miracle is not how two adults can create a child, the phenomenon is how quickly a child can create two adults." -- VYBE Her: Hit Me Him: Do you want me to use the knife? Her: No, When you hit with a knife, that's STABBING!
Members Rawhide Posted December 10, 2008 Members Report Posted December 10, 2008 Anyone know why exactly they stopped making these? Cost vs. profit margin. Even though the rubies are synthetically grown, they are still relatively expensive. Then it has to be cut and shaped and epoxied to the blade base, etc... Just got too expensive. Quote Marlon
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