Factory edges seen through an USB-Microscope

kwakster · **on:** March 07, 2016, 07:48:51 PM

Making reasonable pictures with an USB-Microscope takes quite a bit of practice, so that's what i'm doing at the moment.
The idea for this thread is to show some pictures of untouched factory edges from various brands, so feel free to contribute if you have some as well.
This is the first one, a factory edge with buffed apex on a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 in CPM-S110V steel:

SteveC · **Reply #1 on:** March 07, 2016, 08:21:48 PM

Cool

captain spaulding · **Reply #2 on:** March 07, 2016, 08:21:54 PM

Awesome. I love this. I hope to see as many as you can take pictures of.

kwakster · **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2016, 08:32:01 PM

This is the USB-camera i have:

On the housing it says 25X - 200X

dks · **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2016, 07:21:26 AM

It will be nice to see some of Queen's original edges.

Sparky415 · **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2016, 10:15:02 AM

You always take great pictures Kwakster and those are amazing

kwakster · **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2016, 11:48:09 AM

Spyderco Brad Southard black with a CTS-204P blade and a measured edge angle of +/- 35 degrees inclusive:

kwakster · **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2016, 01:38:16 PM

Lenox Gold bimetal utility blade with titanium nitride coating on it's edge, which also has a microbevel.
The edge fits in the 25 degrees inclusive slot in my Tormek WM200 angle master.

ducttapetech · **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2016, 01:54:35 PM

Awesome pics man!

That's us mobile

kwakster · **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2016, 04:30:47 PM

New & unused Leatherman Wave 420 steel blade from around 2008:
The edge can hardly cut copy paper due to a rather large burr.

captain spaulding · **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2016, 05:52:33 PM

Love this thread.

kwakster · **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2016, 06:22:31 PM

New & unused 420HC blade made in 2010 for a Buck 110, and the edge can shave armhair.
The first picture was an attempt to get the lens as close as possible to the point of the blade, while at the same time trying to focus as best as i could, so this is about the maximum enlargement.

Aloha · **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2016, 07:05:15 PM

Great job showing these factory edges.

The LM looks to have the second "best" tip. Under magnification it appears to be well shaped and defined. Sucks it has such a hard burr and ragged and really nasty looking.

The edge of the Lenox looks nice. Very attractive blade I might add.

The Buck is a bit surprising. Looks a bit ragged and yet shaves arm hair.

The Southward looks really good. Can you imagine with a little follow what an amazing edge one could produce?

The Paramilitary is a little "rough" in some areas. I would have expected to see a lot better work done to such sought after steel

. The tip is the "best" and while the edge looks great and I'm sure is great its just a little "sloppy" in some areas.

We can all see why some knife guy really spend time refining their edges. From the factory these edges may appear great but with a little refining they become greater.

kwakster · **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2016, 09:13:21 PM

Spyderco Military S90V/Carbon Fiber.
The factory edge on this knife still has a burr attached almost along it's entire length, and also some brownish discoloration in some area's.