Sea Snake

I finally got around to breaking out and using Artisan Cutlery’s Sea Snake.

Artisan Cutlery's Sea Snake

I came across it at the 2021 Blade Show and it followed me home.  I’m sorry I waited so long to break it out. 

Artisan Cutlery is a Chinese company making innovated blades as well as using interesting steels.   My Sea Snake was crafted from AR-RPM9, a proprietary powdered metal steel.

 

The formulation?  Well, it’s proprietary, but few compositional secrets remain secret for long.  Here’s what I found on the Internet:

0.9% Carbon,

18% Chromium,

1.0% Molybdenum,

0.45% Manganese,

0.1% Vanadium,

0.30% Cobalt,

0.2-0.8% Silicon,

less than 0.40% Nickle,

less than 0.05% Rare Earth.

I’ve never seen anyone list or express concern about rare earth composition.

 

Chemical analysis can tell you what’s in a product, but not necessarily how it performs.  Looking at these numbers, I could do this analysis with a half decent SEM and EDS.  There are no significant elements below 0.1%.  But like Coca-Cola, it’s how it’s cooked that makes the difference.  That would take some real research into metallography to unwrap those secrets. 

In any case, enjoy this steel, because I am.

 

The 3.15 inch flat ground Wharncliffe blade is fixed to a G-10 clad handle giving the knife a total length of 6.78 inches long.  The blade has a RHc value of 59-61.

I like the feel of the knife in my hand and I can’t stop playing with it.  The balance point is back in the handle and the finger groove provides plenty of grip and prevents you from sliding onto the blade.  That’s always important to me.   There is a secondary finger groove carved into the blade shortening the actual cutting edge to just under 2.5 inches.  Using the two finger grooves and the jimping on the blade’s spine locks the knife in my hand and gives me fine control over the blade.

 

The knife is designed by Mike Embler.  Mike is from eastern Ohio and spent 18 years in the  Navy.  He studied multiple forms of self-defense, including Japanese swordsmanship while stationed in Japan.  This helped shape his views on knives as tools and weapons.  It was in Japan he discovered the joys of flat grinds.

You should keep an eye out for him, I think you’ll be seeing more of his work.

Dressed up  and ready for a night out.

I got the green G-10 handled knife in the khaki green sheath.  It seemed like the right color for a Sea Snake.  But the black para cord it came with was the pits.  Not content with that, I dug out some woodland camo paracord and found an almost matching green and orange glass bead and dressed up the sheath. 

 

Neck knives are becoming a fashion accessory for men; women too! 

Yes, I know they started out as a hidden weapon, worn under a shirt or blouse, a tool of last resort, likely to be missed in a fast pat-down.  But really, those days are gone.  Everyone checks around the collar for the tell-tale cord, pats the chest and under the arms.  Then there’s the metal detecting wand.  Just wear it as a fashion accessory.

Besides do you really want to go into combat with an unbreakable noose around your neck?

 

You can get you’re Sea Snake at https://www.artisancutlery.net/sea-snake-atz-1842b-g10-ar-rpm9?search=sea%20sNAKE&description=true for $39.98.  They currently have a limited issue made with S35vn steel and another with a carbon fiber handle at prices reflecting the more exotic materials.

 

Cleaved!

 

I just got CRKT’s newest Minimalist, the Cleaver.

CTKT's newest Minimalist, the Cleaver

You might think of it as a neck axe, but I think of it as a planing edge.  It weighs only 1.7 ounces.  Too light to actually chop, too small to generate swinging energy, but the 2.3 inch long edge can make clean slices and the cleaver head allows you grasp the handle front end for….

Okay, it’s a bit of a toy.  But it is still a very icey toy.  CRKT makes quality knives.  They are, dollar for dollar the best buy in any price range.  As with the other six Minimalist the finger grooves fit a surprisingly wide range of hands.

The blade is made from 5Cr15MOV and the elemental break down is:

Carbon - 0.45-0.50%

Chromium – 14.75%

Molybdenum – 0.68%

Vanadium – 0.10%

Manganese – 0.45%

This China’s equivalent of the German X50CrMoV15 steel, one of the most popular kitchen knife steels in mainstream German knives.  I’ve got to admit the sprinkle of vanadium, which forms very fine and hard carbides, ups the quality of this steel.

It has a Rockwell ‘C’ hardness of 55 to 57.  This should be relatively easy to resharpen on an ordinary stone and still hold an edge.  I will not be the first to tell you, always resharpen when you think it is getting dull, not when it is dull.

Like All Minimalist it comes with a neck sheath

CRKT calls this Minimalist “…high-carbon stainless steel cleaver (that) … safely rips through food packets or clothing thanks to the false front edge. The hole in the blade pays homage to the hanging hold on the old style kitchen cleavers.”  Well, they have to say something!

It is clear that CRKT and my definition of high carbon steel are different.  440A contains 1.1% carbon.  That’s in the high carbon steel range.

It’s made in China and as I said before it’s almost a toy, unless you need an edge.  When you need an edge, well, you work with what you have.  With the sheath you can drop the Cleaver in a pocket, duct tape inside your first aid kit, wear it under your shirt and it will be available if you need it.

Back Side

It would not be my first choice going off the pavement, but I always remember the end of the Tom Hanks movie “Cast Away” when he holds up a Swiss army key chain knife and mutters that everything would have been so much simpler with that knife.

You can find one for yourself under $40 at:  https://www.crkt.com/minimalist-cleaver.html

 

 

 

 

Knives and Hearts

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and if you missed giving that someone special a gift or at least a card, you have to wait a year.  Better still, do it sooner, or that someone special may not be in your life that long.

The day was originally named after Saint Valentine in 496 by Pope Gelasius.  The saint’s day was removed from the Roman calendar in 1969 by Pope Paul VI.  Not exactly a cutting edge holiday, it has shown remarkable staying power.  Most nations have some custom or celebration marking the love between two people.  They go by various names, but I like the Guatemalan day, “Dio del Carino” or Day of Affection.

Naturally, I didn’t forget my wife.  How could I?  She grounds me, lifts me up and has my back.  I would not be who I am without her love.

So what did I get her?

It’s a neck knife made by Gary Bucklew.  The small 2-inch 440c steel blade has a dyed giraffe bone handle.  The knife and its dark leather sheath is supported by a tiger conch shell necklace.  I think it’s lovely and she likes it too.  Or, at least she’ll wear it.

I got a partial mystery knife.

It’s a sailor’s knife with non-lockable marlin spike, sheepsfoot blade and can opener.  The main blade is stamped Coricama and is claimed to be (here’s the mystery) 1950-ish Italian navy issue.  I haven’t taken the time to research it.

I like odd knives.  Not any oddity, but oddity as a result of function.  Doctors’ knives are the perfect example.  A proper one has a spatula for compounding and mixing, a slender blade for lancing boils and other minor surgery and a metal base for grinding medical ingredients.

Sailor knives are the next best example.  A spike for working knots free and splicing lines, a blunt tipped knife to prevent injury while working on a rolling ship and can opener for survival rations are often the key components.

I’m already looking at other sailor knives and wondering if there’s a book or website where I can learn more.