I've always known the value of a quality blade. I've seen numerous styles come and go and come back again. Yesterday's knives are truly one of a kind and highly desired collectibles, but Today's knives are technologically advanced wonders to behold.

    You can't compare the materials used in today's knife and sword blades with what they used 20-30 years ago. The materials used today are numerous and each serves a different, specific purpose. One can easily be overwhelmed by the different mixtures of metals used to create the right knife for the job at hand.

     One very basic principle in selecting a knife is based on what you will be using it for. The industry standard for most knives is 440 stainless steel, which contains 0.8% carbon. This is ideal because it will hold a reasonable edge and can be easily sharpened with a normal whetstone. The most common knives are made this way.

     The more carbon a blade has, the harder the blade and the better it holds its edge. This is great, but it also means that the blade will be harder to sharpen. Special diamond sharpeners are needed to hone these blades. The more expensive specialty knives are made this way.

    Although many knives and swords are made with higher quality materials these days, many people still prefer the old school knives of days gone by. The reason behind this steadfast belief is a simple one. Many manufacturers switched over to stainless steel and dropped the heat- treating process.

     So before you purchase a knife, ask yourself what you will be using it for. If it's a prized collectible you're after, then go for the higher carbon content and specialty materials used in the more expensive models.

     If it's an everyday knife that suits you, then go with the 440 and 420HC with low to medium carbon content. Use it, abuse it, and then re-sharpen it. The choice is yours.

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