Sharpest knife in the world

[alexTOOL]

WOW!!! 

[captain spaulding]

I have seen that before.

In my opinion it is ridiculous to claim any knife is the sharpest in the world. Especially a kitchen knife.

If there is it would probably be one of these.

[SteveC]

I have seen that before.

In my opinion it is ridiculous to claim any knife is the sharpest in the world. Especially a kitchen knife.

If there is it would probably be one of these.

Holy cow that was cool !!!

[comis]

I am curious, what are they cutting?  It kinda looks like tofu, but not sure...

[captain spaulding]

I am curious, what are they cutting?  It kinda looks like tofu, but not sure...

It's a block of wood.

[sLaughterMed]

I have seen that before.

In my opinion it is ridiculous to claim any knife is the sharpest in the world. Especially a kitchen knife.

If there is it would probably be one of these.

Holy cow that was cool !!!

Wow. I didn't know that was even a possibility with both wood, and sharp objects. These guys must take sharpening to a whole new level.

[tosh]

Watching both videos actually sent a shiver down my spine. Things like that scare the life out of me!

...can't stop shuddering now!!

[gregozedobe]

Let's hope N_N_R doesn't get one of those knives shown in the first video, she could lose an appendage (or two) without even noticing     

[Etherealicer]

[firiki]

I have seen that before.

In my opinion it is ridiculous to claim any knife is the sharpest in the world. Especially a kitchen knife.

If there is it would probably be one of these.

Holy cow that was cool !!!

Wow. I didn't know that was even a possibility with both wood, and sharp objects. These guys must take sharpening to a whole new level.

Japanese knifemaker at Osaka flea market

My respect to the Japanese! They have some crazy steels and their approach to the whole sharpness thing truly deserves the 'knife nut' title IMO.

[firiki]

I wonder how the winner is determined (I didn't watch the entire video).

[pfrsantos]

Watching both videos actually sent a shiver down my spine. Things like that scare the life out of me!

...can't stop shuddering now!!

Seriously?!

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First time I heard of such fobias...

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I never knew anyone affraid of tomatoes and wood...

 

[tosh]

Watching both videos actually sent a shiver down my spine. Things like that scare the life out of me!

...can't stop shuddering now!!

Seriously?!

Yes, seriously
I've mentioned it before here on the forum. For some reason knives scare the hell out of me. Not so much the serrated, lambs foot or sheepsfoot style - although I'm still uncomfortable using one.....But the long pointed blades.....

The worst MT knife for me is the leatherman style blades found on the wave, charge and surge. I NEVER open them......EVER!!
I hate them. In my mind I don't see why a multitool needs to have a blade like that. My worst though is the fish filleting style knives.....

I'm sure this must sound utterly bizzare to you lot. At home in the kitchen I do almost everything with the serrated bread knife. I never use any of the others in the knife block - if I had my way I'd chuck them. Which just reminds me, in our caravan all 3 kitchen knives are the blunt serrated style differing only by their lengths.

[AimlessWanderer]

Years ago I had a friend who was just the same with pocket knives and sheath knives, but he was fine with kitchen knives (and he's a bloody good cook too). Actually, thinking about it, he was OK (but very cautious) with kitchen knives when he was using them, but didn't like to be in the kitchen when his wife or anyone else was using a knife......

... and she did all the sharpening too

[sawman]

I think it's a good thing to have a healthy fear of sharp blades. I've been cut before, sometimes pretty bad, and don't wish to go there again. Therefore, I am very careful around sharp and pointies of any kind, especially kitchen style knives

[captain spaulding]

I get what you mean Tosh. Definitely not to the extent as you though. I have been cut pretty bad and every time I see a video of someone on youtube cutting themselves with a blade it makes me cringe.

[sawman]

I happen to really like wharncliff blades as well as sheep's foot. I don't know why, they're just favorites of mine 

[AimlessWanderer]

I happen to really like wharncliff blades as well as sheep's foot. I don't know why, they're just favorites of mine 

Have you got a Case Seahorse Whittler yet Steve? If you like Wharncliffes, I think you'll love those 

[sawman]

I happen to really like wharncliff blades as well as sheep's foot. I don't know why, they're just favorites of mine 

Have you got a Case Seahorse Whittler yet Steve? If you like Wharncliffes, I think you'll love those 

It's on my short list believe me. What an awesome knife

[AimlessWanderer]

I happen to really like wharncliff blades as well as sheep's foot. I don't know why, they're just favorites of mine 

Have you got a Case Seahorse Whittler yet Steve? If you like Wharncliffes, I think you'll love those 

It's on my short list believe me. What an awesome knife

  I have one, and don't carry it as much as I should. I hardly ever use the two smaller blades on it when I do carry it though, as everything that needs cutting is just another excuse to use the Wharnie 

[sawman]

I happen to really like wharncliff blades as well as sheep's foot. I don't know why, they're just favorites of mine 

Have you got a Case Seahorse Whittler yet Steve? If you like Wharncliffes, I think you'll love those 

It's on my short list believe me. What an awesome knife

  I have one, and don't carry it as much as I should. I hardly ever use the two smaller blades on it when I do carry it though, as everything that needs cutting is just another excuse to use the Wharnie 

That's pretty much how I am with the sheep's foot on my med. stockman

[comis]

I am curious, what are they cutting?  It kinda looks like tofu, but not sure...

It's a block of wood.

Thanks, that's purely amazing--cutting a piece of wood that thin.







I don't know...after watching these two vids side by side, Japanese vid does look to me more about 'cutting' than the other vid, which entails demo various aspect of knife use.

I wonder how the winner is determined (I didn't watch the entire video).

I watch half of it...I too wonder about the same thing.  It doesn't look to be timed...and even if it is, how to determine what is a fair point in cutting different objects?

[Etherealicer]

I wonder how the winner is determined (I didn't watch the entire video).

I watch half of it...I too wonder about the same thing.  It doesn't look to be timed...and even if it is, how to determine what is a fair point in cutting different objects?

Well, all we need to know that the current world champion uses a custom knife BUT is sponsored by Spyderco , so fingers crossed double-

Maybe we get a pocket machete in the near future! triple-

[Etherealicer]

Here is my analysis

Japanese woodshaving: There are two difficulties. Choosing the wood and shaving at a slow even pace despite any impurities in the wood (probably also takes a good deal of strength).
I would say this is 99% skill and only 1% the knife. Cutting wood at a slow pace is no challenge to the edge.

Japanese market: Nothing he does, you can't do with a half decent kitchen knife. What he probably has is very good sharpening skills. He mostly cuts in the air and only cuts soft stuff.
A kitchen knife stays sharp for a very long time, provided you don't cut into bones and other hard materials. The most damaging thing then is the cutting board, so with the right choice you prolong the time your knife stays razor sharp.

Cutting World-Championship: While it also takes some skill it looks much easier than woodshaving. However, this is probably the most demanding test to the blade as it has to go from hacking to slicing. Hacking is pretty bad for an edge and they start with hacking a 2 by 4. I can only say impressive hardware.

[Etherealicer]

Found this video, where you can see the blade and learn about its size...

[Etherealicer]

Better competition video, with some explanations

[Etherealicer]

Yes, I'm a bit bored... rope cutting competition from Poland

[captain spaulding]

Here is my analysis

Japanese woodshaving: There are two difficulties. Choosing the wood and shaving at a slow even pace despite any impurities in the wood (probably also takes a good deal of strength).
I would say this is 99% skill and only 1% the knife. Cutting wood at a slow pace is no challenge to the edge.

I would have to disagree with you on that one. Sure its not putting a lot of strain on the edge, but to say it is no challenge to the edge (in my opinion) is incorrect. The edge must be extremely sharp to cut through something like wood at a slow pace.

This thread is about the sharpest edge not the most durable. These are two completely different things.

[Etherealicer]

Here is my analysis

Japanese woodshaving: There are two difficulties. Choosing the wood and shaving at a slow even pace despite any impurities in the wood (probably also takes a good deal of strength).
I would say this is 99% skill and only 1% the knife. Cutting wood at a slow pace is no challenge to the edge.

I would have to disagree with you on that one. Sure its not putting a lot of strain on the edge, but to say it is no challenge to the edge (in my opinion) is incorrect. The edge must be extremely sharp to cut through something like wood at a slow pace.

This thread is about the sharpest edge not the most durable. These are two completely different things.

The sharpest blades are those microkeratome blades used in eye-surgery, there is no discussion about that
Sharp is always a balance to durability, the sharper the less durable. I mean what is the use of such a sharp blade if it breaks after 1mm of cutting.

I'm not disagreeing with you. For wood-shaving it must be a very good blade, the edge must be very even and very sharp. But I think in the wood shaving skill is far more important. What I was trying to get at is: I find those cutting championship blades more impressive because they are both sharp and versatile.

[WWW]

There is a video of the same competition where two guys from the audience try and cut the leaf.