| When considering a tactical knife, fixed blade knife | | | | Toughness: This is the ability of a material to |
| or any pocket knife for that matter there are | | | | absorb energy before it breaks. This can actually |
| some issues to consider that you may not have | | | | be measured, as can many of the other factors. |
| thought of but certainly influence to price of the | | | | Initial Sharpness: How sharp the blade is out of |
| knife you are purchasing. Ever wonder why some | | | | the factory. This has little to do with the actual |
| knives cost a fortune and others cost a piggy | | | | material and more to do with the process by |
| bank, here is one of the reasons. | | | | which it was produced. |
| The blade is by far the most important part of | | | | Edge Retention: This is a very important part of a |
| the knife here are the considerations that go into | | | | high quality knife and can be very variable in time. |
| making a top quality blade. First and foremost is | | | | Many knives loose their edge very quickly, while |
| the quality of material that can be used to make | | | | high quality knives retain their edge through many |
| a knife. There is carbon steel, stainless steel, | | | | uses. |
| titanium and many other varieties of material that | | | | Corrosion Resistance: Also a very important |
| is used to make a solid sturdy blade. | | | | consideration. Corrosion resistant knives will have |
| Here are the rest of the considerations. | | | | a much longer lifetime and ability to hold an edge. |
| Hardness: This is a measure of the materials | | | | Manufacturability: This is how easy it is to work |
| ability to resist deformation. Meaning of course | | | | the material to create blade in the first place. This |
| that harder materials will be more durable and will | | | | has less to do with the quality of the blade but is |
| hold an edge better. | | | | very influential on the price. |
| Hardenability: This is the ability of the material to | | | | As you can see there are a lot of considerations |
| be hardened through the addition of of other | | | | that go into the selection of a good quality |
| materials or through a heat treating process. | | | | material for making a quality blade. Staggering as |
| Strength: This is closely related to the hardness | | | | this list may be there are more types of |
| but it is a little different in that it is the ability of | | | | materials and even more different types of steel |
| the material to resist the forces applied to it. | | | | than are on this list. Knife making is truly an art |
| Ductility: Also related to strength and hardness | | | | and has been for centuries. Fixed blade and |
| this is the ability of the material to flex and return | | | | tactical knives are more than meets the eye and |
| to its original state without breaking or being | | | | can fluctuate in quality and usability. |
| permanently deformed. | | | | |