China has come a long way in knife production (Enlan EL-01)

..as it turns out I didn't need a sledge. I armored up, draped a couple towels over the vise and tapped it with a carpenters hammer.

It shattered like glass. Repeatedly.

Pics in a couple min.

Dig it.

Is this indicative of a hardness differential between surface and core or unrelieved stresses?





When I tapped it near the pivot it just exploded.

Now I feel like a sucker for ordering one.

So what should I do with it when it arrives? Maybe I'll use it in the garden to dig up weeds.

I'm not sure I'd use it for anything the way that little sliver was poking through my covers.

When it came apart it popped like a firecracker.

Good advice. Straight to the garbage can.

readyeddy said:

Good advice. Straight to the garbage can.

Click to expand...

Is it an EL-01A?

I ordered an Enlan EL-01A and an Enlan EM-01.

If you are going to junk them, pull out the blades and send them to hso or myself for destruction and analysis.
I think we are calling in the eggheads on this one.

--Ninjaed by hso

Send me a mailing address and I'll mail them when they arrive. They said 3 weeks for delivery so there's maybe 2 more weeks until I get them.

Any theories Mike?

hso said:

See how even and regular they look? The grain in that thing of yours is enormous by comparison.

Click to expand...

Harumph.

Surely this thing didn't go directly from quench to final grind?

If so....scary.




In any case there is something badwrong going on here.
Look at that ripple

hso said:

That's just weird!

Click to expand...

It looks like a tiny Shai-Hulud breaching the surface.


#megadork

That's the thing about knives...the single most important aspect of their performance is completely hidden within the blade's construction. Of all the things I'm willing to cheap out on, knives just aren't one.

As dad said, 'When do you use a cheap knife? When you're wearing your cheap fingers.'

Larry

I received my 2 knives today. If you guys want them for testing, send me a mailing address.

Also, thanks for all of your testing and reporting. You saved me from possible disaster that could have resulted from using substandard knives.

I gave both knives a quick test. Did a few tear outs on a 2x4 for each. Nothing major, just some 1/4 inch stabs. No failures.

Then I placed the blades flat on the 2x4 and gave each some taps from the hammer of my trail hawk. I didn't want to hit it too hard in fear of having shards of steel fly in my face, so I tapped the blade, steel-on-steel, about hard enough to shatter a beer bottle. Gave the blades about 6 taps each the length of the blade. No failures.