# My arsenal is Cheaper Than Dirt **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 20, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194 "2006-03-20T21:09:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/41 "2006-03-24T01:16:55Z")
Personally, I buy all of my cheap-ass weaponry from Bud K some historically similar, some completely fantasy, some just stupid, but ALL of them are razor sharp. Way I figure it, a weapon, no matter what it is, only needs to work once to get the message across. Hilarious post **Waverly** just hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/42 "2006-03-24T05:51:16Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > [THIS](http://thunt.comicgen.com/d/20050910.html) What the fuck was that? “RAAAAA!!!” “GRRRRRR!!!” “We’ll flank him behind that shield thing” ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/43 "2006-03-24T13:58:56Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Sorry, but you’re going to have to explain how it can be simultaneously stamped out of sheet metal **and** over a centimeter thick. Perhaps you can explain why it can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/44 "2006-03-24T14:22:25Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Perhaps you can explain why it can’t. Because centimeter thick steel isn’t typically referred to as “sheet metal.” Sheet metal refers to plates 6mm or less in thickness. Metal a centimeter in thickness would be referred to as plate. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/45 "2006-03-24T14:26:59Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Because centimeter thick steel isn’t typically referred to as “sheet metal.” Sheet metal refers to plates 6mm or less in thickness. Metal a centimeter in thickness would be referred to as plate. Forgot to add: Metal plate a centimeter in thickness wouldn’t likely be formed into a cheap sword blade by stamping with a die, anyway. Cheap swords are overwhelmingly just ground, usually poorly, from bar stock. Does this help? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/46 "2006-03-24T14:28:50Z")
Then amend the original post to read, “…stamped out of **Steel Plate** …” Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/47 "2006-03-24T14:32:54Z")
Should have previewed. The back edge of the blade had rough unpolished striations that I took to be stamping marks. They may have been machining or grinding scratches. Either way, the blade was definately unfinished and mass produced. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/48 "2006-03-24T14:33:27Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Then amend the original post to read, “…stamped out of **Steel Plate** …” > > Jesus. You’re an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/49 "2006-03-24T18:01:36Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > You’re an asshole. Wow. I never expected _this_ thread to go the trainwreck route… ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/50 "2006-03-24T18:27:30Z")
I’m rather surprised as well. Especially as I corrected my reply to take in scumpups addition. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/51 "2006-03-24T20:11:04Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > You’re an asshole. You aren’t any more right than he is, but you do have added advantage of pitching a hissy fit over your incorrect assumption. The cheapest blades that still contain steel are **cast** to near net shape and then machined. No bar stock. You don’t save costs by machining away large volumes of material. That was a stupid assertion, and demonstrably incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/52 "2006-03-24T21:35:54Z")
> [@Waverly](#): > > You aren’t any more right than he is, but you do have added advantage of pitching a hissy fit over your incorrect assumption. > > The cheapest blades that still contain steel are **cast** to near net shape and then machined. No bar stock. You don’t save costs by machining away large volumes of material. That was a stupid assertion, and demonstrably incorrect. The cheapest “blades” may be cast fro m zinc, fuckwit, but I challenge you to show anyone selling cast ferrous blades. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/53 "2006-03-24T21:46:04Z")
Oh my… another instance of when sword play turns to tears. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/54 "2006-03-24T22:42:28Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > …Discounting accidents involving virgins in their parents basements, how many people have been killed by Klingon weapons? Uhh, you are aware that some of those Klingon weapons were designed by [Gil Hibben](http://www.hibbenknives.com/custom/)? > [@Scumpup](#): > > The cheapest “blades” may be cast fro m zinc, fuckwit, but I challenge you to show anyone selling cast ferrous blades. [David Boye](http://www.boyeknives.com/technical_info.cfm) [Blade Maker Dendritic D2](http://www.theblademaker.com/our_steel.htm) [Blanks cast in 440C and D2](http://www.texasknife.com/store/s-pages/TKS_MainframeStore.htm?TKS_WelcomeStore.htm~smain) Dendritic Blades (See Below) [Cast 4140](http://www.umvmco.com/web%20images/EW200_10_20.jpg) Bob Engnath on the subject,[ > [@](#): > > …Powdered, cast and fused stainless and tool steel alloys, (Alphabet Alloys ) have popped up all over during the past few years, and they are some of the darndest steels ever encountered. The advantage is that elements can just be stirred in to create desirable properties. (A vastly simplified description.) Virtually all of them are terribly tough to grind, but hold a cutting edge beyond all reasonable expectation. The names of these alloys change weekly, and they’re too numerous to list, but they work in a lot of applications that send normal knife steels running for cover… ]([http://www.engnath.com/public/steel.htm](http://www.engnath.com/public/steel.htm) ) Boye started the trend in the 80’s with dendritic 440c but switched to more exotic alloys (a cobalt, chrome, nickel, tungsten, silicon, molybdenum, iron, and carbon alloy) for his salt water safe boating knives. I’ve seen D and O series cast blades, it tends to be more high end and for specialty items, metal blades that look like knapped stone etc. Production knives, yes, mass produced crap, no! > [@Waverly](#): > > …The cheapest blades that still contain steel are **cast** to near net shape and then machined. No bar stock. You don’t save costs by machining away large volumes of material. That was a stupid assertion, and demonstrably incorrect. Demonstrate! I’d love to see that “cheap” cast stuff! I’ve seen a lot of that import stuff ain’t none of it cast! Stamped (if you look at both side of a blade cutout you can tell), water jet cut, [laser cut](http://www.admiralsteel.com/products/laser.html) never cast. CMC fnord! Knifemaker for 10+ years. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/55 "2006-03-24T22:51:09Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > The cheapest “blades” may be cast fro m zinc, fuckwit, but I challenge you to show anyone selling cast ferrous blades. Heh, you pull a fact out of your ass, and I’m the one who has to show proof that you are wrong? Do a search, you will find thousands of hits. Here’s but one: “Cast steel and alloys are used on decorative and theatrical swords” from > **[HistoricalWeapons.com is for sale | HugeDomains](https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=historicalweapons&e=com)** > > 100% satisfaction guaranteed on every domain we sell. 30-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee. Easy, fast and convenient shopping. OK, one more - a seller of cast ferrous blades, as requested: [http://www.castleen.com/cma/cma3/swordsets.html](http://www.castleen.com/cma/cma3/swordsets.html) You can also snap the blade and look at the cross section. Cast metal has a characteristic fracture pattern. Someone of moderate intelligence can read up on it and give it a try. You… can ask your mom to explain it to you. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/56 "2006-03-24T22:58:17Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Demonstrate! I’d love to see that “cheap” cast stuff! I’ve seen a lot of that import stuff ain’t none of it cast… > Knifemaker for 10+ years. Done. I did not say that casting can’t result in a fine weapon, just that it can also be used to cheaply produce replicas and other fantasy drek. Depends on a lot of things, as I’m sure you know. Material Scientist, if you must argumentum ad verecundiam ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/57 "2006-03-24T23:28:27Z")
> [@Waverly](#): > > Done. I did not say that casting can’t result in a fine weapon, just that it can also be used to cheaply produce replicas and other fantasy drek. Depends on a lot of things, as I’m sure you know… Ok, but most replicas and other fantasy drek, knives and swords, are made from 420, 440A or HC steel, the cast shit is usually sold as letter openers! The cheapest stuff usually comes from Pakistan and is marked “Stainless Steel”, the cast stuff usually from China is more expensive! CMC fnord! 10+ years retailing cheap crap from Pakistan and China. > [@Waverly](#): > > …Material Scientist, if you must argumentum ad verecundiam… Where did I do that? “Knifemaker for 10+ years.” was just to establish that I’m not just pullin’ stuff out my ass! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/58 "2006-03-25T00:27:44Z")
Given what we are talking about, I would **hope** you aren’t pulling it out of your ass! 😃 Like **Lynn** , I prefer axes. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/59 "2006-03-25T02:01:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Like **Lynn** , I prefer axes. Axes & Asses? Is this some wierd new form of D&D? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194/60 "2006-03-25T05:42:06Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Uhh, you are aware that some of those Klingon weapons were designed by [Gil Hibben](http://www.hibbenknives.com/custom/) After looking over that website, It doesn’t improve my opinion of fantasy weapons. In fact, the more skilled the guy is, the more of a waste it seems for him to be making things like that “Jaws” blade. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-arsenal-is-cheaper-than-dirt/349194.md?page=4)