Heart Spark Forge

Entertaining Blades is a kind of artificial grouping. These are knives that are designed to fill a psychological niche rather than as a reliably functional knife.

They include Art knives, Swords, Fantasy knives, and many of the popular tactical knives out there.

This category is best summed up as "any knife where the function of slicing, chopping and cutting has to be considered after another consideration."

If pattern welding is more important than edge retention, the blade's primary purpose is entertainment.

If resembling a weapon that was seen at 2 AM on a scifi/fantasy film (and was probably cut from sheet metal or aluminum) is more important than safe and effective use, then the blade's primary purpose is entertainment.

If the blade has notches cut into them "that would make a Grizzley flee in terror" (and yes, sadly, I read this in a knife maker's promo material), the blade's primary purpose is entertainment.

A working blade has the sole purpose of doing work. That work may be specialized and have special requirements, but if a decision that is not work related is more important than the work the blade is an entertainment blade.

Does that mean that I think that only working knives are good knives?

NO!!!!!!!

One of my favorite projects is a Damascus Viking style dagger that I learned from Jim Hrisoulas' video. When Amy and I got married at the local Renaissance Festival, I said my vows over a blade that I made from the same model. I love that dagger (even if it did try to eat my finger tip when I was cleaning the etching solution off of it). Pattern welded blades make me smile, but they don't reach the grain refinement that is possible in a blade forged at a lower temperature.

If that feeling of attraction to a knife is more important than the down and dirty function, then enjoy it. If it is adequate to your needs, a knife is a success.

If it works and you love it, the knife is perfect!

 This is my blade for my wedding vows. It is actually incompete in this picture. I still need to place bronze collars on the ends of the wire wraps, and the pommel is less straight than I want. The Damscus forge welding was guided by Ed Fowler and Eldon Perkins. The form of this Dagger was demonstrated by Jim Hrisoulas. My newer dagger is more true to Mr Hrisoulas' designs.