What's This? A New Box of Knives??

I received a box filled with some pretty nice folding knives!

My Box of Knives That Arrived

Yep, here they are. I see SOG, Spyderco and Heckler & Koch. The knife on top is a SOG Twitch XL with a rosewood handle that is a customer request.

SOG Twitch XL Rosewood Handle Folding Knife

Here is a picture of the SOG Twitch. It is a beautiful knife. I prefer wood handles on knives, most people seem to prefer basic black...

SOG Twitch XL 

I got a SOG Twitch XL in black for those that want the black look.

SOG Spec Elite Folder

I also received a SOG Spec Elite. I like the locking mechanism on this knife, it's call SOG Arc-Lock. This knife opens and closes smooth as silk.

Spyderco and Heckle & Koch Folding Knives

The rest of the knives are packed in rather boring boxes so I just took a picture of all of them at once.

I am busy doing close up photos of the knives right now. First up is

Taking Photos of Knife Edges

Visual inspection of the knife's edge is an important part of sharpening a knife. Pre-sharpening is important to see what you are up against. Post-sharpening is important as it helps one know how good of a job one did. To that end I have been experimenting with taking photographs with my smart phone.

Pitted Blade on Shun Knife

As issued my smart phone can't take a picture of a knife edge. A real closeup photograph like the picture above is called a macro, and the camera or the lens needs to be designed for macro photography.

I have a small handheld magnifier that I use to inspect knives, and to take this photograph I held the magnifier up to the camera lens. I think it worked pretty well! It does take three hands to hold all elements in position and position everything in the proper light, and dealing with the very small 'focus' window is almost insurmountable — but other than that it's a piece of cake.

Magnified View of Dull Knife Edge

Here is a closeup of a dull knife. I wanted to capture the 'glint' of light that one sees on a dull knife edge.

As a knife is used, the sharp edge gradually rounds. A sharp edge will not reflect light, the more rounded (dull) the edge becomes the more light that is reflected.

Magnified View of a Sharp Knife Blade

Here is the same knife after I sharpened it. A sharp edge reflects no light.

What's This? A Box of Arno Bernard Knives?

Nothing better than coming back from a nice day of riding the motorcycle and having a box of Arno Bernard knives waiting for me!

Me (and friends) Totally Unaware of the Arno Bernard Delivery

After riding over hill and dale I see box this awaiting!

Box Containing Arno Bernard Knives

What's this I wondered?

I bent down and squinted at the label, trying to read it. I was expecting some Arno Bernard knives — but other things are delivered all the time.

I was quite happy when I figured out that the box is my Arno Bernards!

Arno Bernard Knives

I had ordered four Arno Bernard knives and that is what I received. The picture above shows all four knives.

The largest knife on the left is a Hippo from the Giant series. The Hippo has a giraffe bone handle and a cape buffalo leather sheath (as are all the sheaths). The next knife is a Cheetah with giraffe bone handle from the Predator series. Next is a Nyala from the Grazer series. The Nyala has a warthog ivory handle. The last, the smallest knife pictured is a Porcupine from the Bush Baby series. The Porcupine has a wart hog ivory handle.

All of these knives are beautiful! The workmanship is flawless. All of the blades are made of N690 steel, all the sheaths are cape buffalo leather.

Arno Bernard Hippo Knife

Here I'm holding the Hippo. This knife has a giraffe bone handle, the blade steel is N690, and the sheath is cape buffalo leather.

Arno Bernard Hippo Knife

Here is another view of the Hippo knife. Beautiful.

Arno Bernard Cheetah Knife

Next up is the Cheetah. A little bit smaller than the Hippo. This knife also has the giraffe bone handle.

Arno Bernard Nyala Knife with Warthog Tusk Handle

The third knife is the Nyala. Smaller, a graceful beauty.

Arno Bernard Porcupine Knife

Last is the Porcupine with a warthog ivory handle.

Arno Bernard makes knives in three 'series.' The series are Bush Baby, Scavenger, Grazer, Predator and Giant.

The Bush Baby series is the smallest, they are sized from 5" to about 5 3/4" They step up in size through each series, with the Giants being the largest. A knife in the giant series are 9" to about 9 7/8"