BladeSports International knife- what are you doing with the straws?-video

[Jose Diaz]

Video explanation of the straw cut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bKnfUlDb9E

[unit]

That is fantastic.

I think this certainly represents a skill/feat that can be adapted for competitions using smaller knives (like we discussed in a previous thread).

If you would like to add a level of difficulty to this cut, I would imagine that affixing the straws to the bench with a cloths pin (like I have seen done with the business card cut at BladeSports events) would make for an even more challenging cut.

Regardless, I am impressed with a successful 6 straw run with the placement shown! I imagine this is not the first box of straws you have purchased

[Jose Diaz]

I imagine this is not the first box of straws you have purchased

I have literally cut thousands of straws to get this cut right. I know that I am still working on it.

This cut gets tougher right after cutting a 2x4.

At the Ellensburg Cutting School this April, I plan on playing around with setting up a cutting coarse geared toward pocket knives.

[unit]

I have literally cut thousands of straws to get this cut right. I know that I am still working on it.

This cut gets tougher right after cutting a 2x4.

At the Ellensburg Cutting School this April, I plan on playing around with setting up a cutting coarse geared toward pocket knives.

I notice that the straw cuts always seem to be near the half way point in the courses.

It is easy to imagine how fatigue would be a big factor...particularly when you are swinging over a pound of sharp steel.

The folder course is an exciting concept...I imagine there will be an entirely different type of challenges and fatigue associated with swinging a lighter and shorter folder!

Heading to the BSI site to learn more about this Ellensburg school...I don't suppose it is anywhere near Central Missouri?

For those interested:

http://www.bladesports.org/schools.html

[SQSAR]

Ken: I remember your posts in the thread you mentioned regarding a Folder competition category. What are your thoughts on the cutting challenges that might be appropriate for such an event?

[unit]

I could come up with a LOT of cuts that could be used.

I get the impression that the BladeSports courses evolve over time and generally develop as observers and competitors make suggestions. If the suggestions are challenging...they get added, and remain staples in the competition.

If someone asked me to design a course, I would probably start the timing when the competitor's hand left the table. He/she would then have to draw the knife, deploy it and then enter the course.

I might have a 1x1 pine board that had to be cut in half. This may or may not work well, but basically you would have to push cut chips out of the board on a table until it separated and the free end dropped. Sort of a real world task for those of us that play around in the woods.

I would probably have a tire that would have to have a sidewall cut out. This cut requires a controlled puncture, and a very controlled cut around the sidewall. Anyone that practices this will quickly learn that there is a sweet spot that if you have good control, you can make time on this cut...but if you go too fast you get into the harder compounds and becomes tougher to cut. The tire looses structure as you finish the cut and becomes more flimsy. This cut becomes more difficult as the cutter becomes fatigued.

I would probably have an array of straws as seen in the video, and for every straw that was successfully cut, I might offer bonus points for every remaining inch of straw that was split with a vertical downward cut. (going to be quite challenging after some harder cuts, I suspect).

There would be hanging rope cuts with targets (just like the current BladeSports cuts...but with lighter rope)

hanging paper cuts (the paper would be supported with a paper clip or cloths pin (poor technique or dull knives would pull the paper from the hanger...points would be awarded for a clean cut that leaves half the page intact in the hanger).

Another variation of the paper cut would be a piece of rolled up paper standing on end (inserted into a hole...like the cardboard tube cuts these guys do). Points awarded for each ring they cut off the paper roll.

I am sure I could come up with more or less cuts depending on the time it takes a few course testers. I imagine someone is already testing out ideas for this.

Timing would stop when the knife is returned to the pocket and the cutter places both hands back on the table.

That might be silly, but that is where I would start, and allow the competition to evolve based on comments from the competitors and the fans...I am excited to see what they come up with.

[SQSAR]

Freaken awesome!! I was enjoying just reading about the course you described. I too like the idea of a mix of the hard (1x1) and the subtle (straw and paper). Best of all, those two combined with others that require both a sharp knife, skill, and practice before-hand, , , , ,and are appropriate for a good folder. Metaphorically, it's kind of like a knife needing to have both a good steel and a good heat treat, , , this competition would need both a sharp blade and the skill to get the most out of it to be won.

Just my opinion, but I'd say if Bladesports was to ordain this 'folder' category, where a 'regular' guy could bring his 'regular' folder, and then compete (training in the AM, competition in the PM) it would be awesome.

[unit]

Freaken awesome!! I was enjoying just reading about the course you described. I too like the idea of a mix of the hard (1x1) and the subtle (straw and paper). Best of all, those two combined with others that require both a sharp knife, skill, and practice before-hand, , , , ,and are appropriate for a good folder. Metaphorically, it's kind of like a knife needing to have both a good steel and a good heat treat, , , this competition would need both a sharp blade and the skill to get the most out of it to be won.

Just my opinion, but I'd say if Bladesports was to ordain this 'folder' category, where a 'regular' guy could bring his 'regular' folder, and then compete (training in the AM, competition in the PM) it would be awesome.

Thanks!

I think you are spot on with your assessment of what is necessary to compete...and this assessment also applies to the competitions as they exist already. You need a good steel, good heat treat, good geometry, and good skills to use these effectively. I think that embodies the sport...the folder competition(s) in my mind just make the pursuit a little more accessible to guys like me (who can modify existing steels with good heat treat, but lack the facilities to scratch build a knife...and the facilities to effectively modify larger choppers).

By having categories of folders (stock, modified, and unlimited) you allow for varying proportions of advantages offered by tricked out knives vs those offered by competitors cutting abilities alone...but that is a whole other discussion.

I would love to try one of my pimped out production folders in a comp like this...but it would be a delicate balance of keeping the knife in one piece long enough to finish the course. There is skill involved in the customization of the knife, making the cuts, and making them quickly AND carefully enough so as not to destroy the delicate edge in the process.

What is not to love?

Jose, sorry to derail this thread...I just get a little excited about BladeSports. Good stuff!

[SQSAR]

I don't see it as derailed Ken, , ,I see it as an exciting discourse about an exciting sport. The mere notion that it could grow/evolve to attract more people is great. I'd say, if a guy can start competing with his "stock, modified, or unlimited" blade (another great idea by the way), then that same guy would probably be hooked, and look to progress into the big blades like are competing today. Personally, I do have the shop and can make a knife like the big boys currently being fielded (don't mistake that to read that I also have the ability to make one as 100% refined and awesome as some ) but the lack of competitions close by keeps me from doing that. But as for the folder, I'm all over the idea of experimenting with edge geometry to find the best for the particular steel and cutting challenges they may face, , , ,Like cutting a straw (there, the thread is officially un-derailed)

[Jose Diaz]

Guys!
Thanks for your thoughtful replies! I want this sport to become more popular, and a folding knife class is a true possibility for the future. To me this sport should be about including all who want to participate.

The original cutting competitions are steeped in huge tradition, and we are just trying to honor them by making the best, most interesting, most challenging sport possible. The knife dimensions we are using now are the same dimensions that the ABS use for their "test" knife. Pushing this standard is what we've tried to do.

I appreciate the support and look foreword to further discussions.

[unit]

Thanks Jose.

I would be interested in any (easy) avenue by which I could keep informed of the details, discussion, and progress toward making the folder class a reality. Perhaps there are others that would love some access to the details/direction of BladeSports?

Is there any such resource?

I appreciate anything you share here!

[Jose Diaz]

Thanks Jose.

I would be interested in any (easy) avenue by which I could keep informed of the details, discussion, and progress toward making the folder class a reality. Perhaps there are others that would love some access to the details/direction of BladeSports?

Is there any such resource?

I appreciate anything you share here!

Donavon Phillips is on the board.

As the Executive Director of BladeSports, I'm kinda the man.

Getting involved, getting trained and being part of the sport is one of the best ways to direct what will happen with this sport.

[unit]

I would love to get involved but all events are a great distance from me and getting trained and attending many competitions has thus far proven impossible for me. I will keep my eyes open for opportunities.

Thanks again for all the information you share!

[Donut]

That's a great video. Thanks a lot.

So, this is still timed, are there additional points on top of the time?

[Jose Diaz]

That's a great video. Thanks a lot.

So, this is still timed, are there additional points on top of the time?

This would be a station at a competition. The overall event is timed from start to finish. Points are earned with successful completion of a station. There are usually 7-12 stations in a coarse cut.

The straw cut is usually weighted pretty heavily because of it's difficulty. Each straw would be worth 5 points with a total of 30 points for this station.

[SQSAR]

It amazes me every time I see it when these blades hack through all that stuff and still remain wicked sharp. I was just reading the latest edition of Tactical Knives, and saw the write-up on Benchmade's Bladesport appropriate blade. Also, I've seen the competition blades on display at the SFO, and man are they appealing in their purpose-driven design. It's what got me interested in M-4 and why I purchased a Bradley

[Jose Diaz]

It amazes me every time I see it when these blades hack through all that stuff and still remain wicked sharp. I was just reading the latest edition of Tactical Knives, and saw the write-up on Benchmade's Bladesport appropriate blade. Also, I've seen the competition blades on display at the SFO, and man are they appealing in their purpose-driven design. It's what got me interested in M-4 and why I purchased a Bradley

CMP M4 = Good Stuff.

We as a sport and an industry owe Gayle Bradley and Warren Osborne a great debt for tweaking the cutlery heat treatment of CPM M4.

I love how good heat treatment and good edge geometry can affect good cutting and durability of and edge of a knife. I have learned so much as a knife maker participating in this sport!

I like bragging to my customers and the crowd at cutting competition events that even after we've abused these knives, how sharp they still are.