Though the Friction Forged® edge has an Rc of 65-69, it is not more difficult to sharpen than other premium knife steels. In fact, because the angle of sharpening is so fine, there is not as much material to grind away to re-shape the edge, so it returns to shaving sharp with a minimum of sharpening. DiamondBlade knives are factory sharpened at 9-10° on a side or 18-20° inclusive.
As with sharpening any knife, the first and most important point is to hold the angle correctly throughout the entire process. Sharpening can be accomplished with any medium to fine grit India stone or diamond coated sharpening system. For a final edge, many users prefer to use a ceramic rod.
DiamondBlade knives carry a lifetime guarantee for any manufacturing defect.
All DiamondBlade knives are coated with a rust inhibitor to fight rust and discoloration. However, if you leave the blade unoiled or in the sheath for an extended period of time, some discoloration could occur. To reduce staining, discoloration and rusting, we recommend that you keep the knife blade clean and well oiled. You may clean the knife with soap and water, dry immediately, and coat the blade with a food grade oil or petroleum oil.
For hunting knives in particular, the micro-serrations that are present in the cutting edge could be coated with dried blood, lipids, or other debris. While the body of the knife and handle can be cleaned effectively with soap and water, the edge may require some type of petroleum based solvent to dissolve and remove this material. Products such as WD-40, Hoppes #9, etc. are all excellent choices for cleaning the cutting edge. Then clean with soap and water to remove the solvent and apply food-grade oil.
When the edge does finally begin to lose its shaving sharpness, we recommend that first you clean the knife and edge as described above and test the edge. If needed, follow this with a few light strokes on a medium grit ceramic rod and normally the edge will be restored back to shaving sharp. In the event the blade has been dulled to the point that the ceramic rod will not bring the edge back to where you desire it, a more aggressive medium such as a diamond coated rod or device may be necessary. Always duplicate the factory edge angle, which is 18-20° degrees inclusive, when sharpening. Sharpening can be accomplished with any medium to fine grit India stone or diamond coated sharpener. Sharpening systems that set the angle for you are very helpful. NOTE: If you prefer, our craftsmen will completely re-condition your knife and re-sharpen it to factory standards. Your knife will be inspected, repaired if needed, re-conditioned, sharpened, and returned to you. Click HERE
At Diamondblade Knives, every product is proudly crafted in Denison, Texas, showcasing our commitment to quality. We exclusively use the finest USA steel, harnessing the cutting-edge technique of Friction Forging, a leap in technological advancement. Our meticulous process extends to the production and assembly of blades, sheaths, and handles, all meticulously manufactured and assembled onsite. The stamp ‘Made in the USA’ reflects our dedication to excellence and the superior craftsmanship that defines our brand.
Diamond Blade Knives are proudly manufactured in America, and we hold deep appreciation for those individuals who courageously serve on the front lines to protect our beloved country. Likewise, for those who provide the first response here at home. In gratitude for your service, we extend our thanks by offering a 20% discount to military personnel and first responders. It’s our hope that you will find great satisfaction in using DiamondBlade Knives products.
At our online checkout, you’ll find a dedicated section for uploading an image of your identification card or other relevant paperwork. While completing your purchase at the regular full price, our customer service team will then process your order. Once they verify the uploaded documents, a refund of 20% of the purchase price will be credited back to the same credit card used for the initial payment. This way, you can conveniently receive a 20% refund by simply providing your identification during the checkout process.
Armed Forces and First Responder Save 20%
The Rockwell Hardness Scale (Rc) measures the hardness of steel. Most knives have an Rc of 58-60.
Spring steel has a hardness of between Rc 31-52. When the knife blade spine and main body is “spring steel” hard, like a spring, it is almost impossible to break. All DiamondBlade knife blades are first hardened to a Rc of 38-42 and thus are exceptionally tough and almost impossible to break, especially advantageous when working in tough hunting or tactical field conditions. They are then Friction Forged® in the edge zone where the forged material is rapidly quenched and the Rc values raised to between 65—69 thus producing a high performance blade that is both exceedingly tough and exceptionally sharp.
No, the edge is not brittle. The super fine grain structures have small grain boundaries thus allowing tremendous flexibility. See article “Friction Forged® DiamondBlade” by Chuck Karwan, in 2008 issue of Tactical Knives, where Wayne Goddard, Master Bladesmith, chopped through 2×4 boards multiple times and then bent the DiamondBlade forged knife to 120 degrees with no chipping, cracking, or edge deformation whatsoever. LINK? (no, but we have copy of article)
Several different steels were forged and tested but D2 gave the best and most consistent results. It has the perfect chemistry for producing our high performance blades.
Simply put, the finer the grain structure, the better the blade steel. Finer grain steels have less tendency to chip or crack and have greater fatigue resistance. Both the blade hardness and toughness are elevated, thus improving performance.
Common knife steels such as D2 and 440C will have steel grain structure sizes between 5 to 15 microns. Particle Metallurgy steels such as CPM S30V and CPM S90V have grain structures between 2 and 5 microns. All can be observed and measured with a 1000x microscope.
The extreme forging pressure combined with the dynamic shearing action produced by the rotating tool reduced the grain structures so small they could no longer be observed with a 1000x microscope. The Transmission Electron Microscope (80,000x) at Brigham Young University was required to observe and measure the grain structures. The grain size was reduced to 0.2 – 0.5 microns or 200—500 nanometers, which is a 10x reduction compared to CPM S30 and S90V steel grain sizes.
Manila rope cutting tests by Wayne Goddard, Master Blade Smith and also over 600 “hands off” statistical tests under the direction of Brigham Young University Mechanical Engineering Dept. indicate that the Friction Forged® blades outperformed all other 12 test blade materials in every category; sharpness, edge longevity, and toughness. In addition the forged zone becomes stainless. Click HERE, for an in-depth explanation of testing methods and results.
D2 Tool Steel is an air hardenable, high Chromium cold-work Tool Steel with the following chemical analysis: Carbon 1.4—1.6%; Chromium 11.0—13.0%; Manganese 0.6% (max.); Silicon 0.6% (max.); Nickel 0.3% (max.); Molybdenum 0.7—1.2%; Vanadium 1.1%. THE HIGH CHROMIUM CONTENT MAKES D2 stain resistant but not stainless. However, in D2 some of the Chromium is tied up with the Carbides. When the Friction Forging® process heats the steel to transformation temperature, the elements go back into solution as the steel is plasticized and forged. Because the blade steel is then rapidly quenched, some of the Chromium is frozen out from the Carbides and is tied up with the ferrite, thereby creating a stainless forged zone.