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Just come across the idea to use Obsidian as a bases for making scalpels due to Obsidian being much Sharper than a Stainless Steal blade. Interesting stuff, especially if they can find a way to prevent the Obsidian blade from wearing down.

I wondered though, has anyone ever come across some wealthy wargamer using an obsidian blade for their hobby knife? Can't decide whether using an Obsidian blade would increase the chances of cutting myself (due to it's sharpness) or lower the chances (because I wouldn't accidentally stab myself after trying to force my blade through a thick bit of plastic).

I'm told a sharp knife is safer, due to using less force, you're in better control. My thumbs and fingers tend to agree, as when I was younger I *didn't* afford to buy new blades, and wound up with thumbprints that looked like checkerboards.

No particular material should be sharper than others. Harder materials hold their shape better, so will be "sharp" longer. Broken glass is sharp, but if you scrub it on steel you will dull the glass.

Fun fact, brass is softer than glass. So if you use a scraper on your car window for frost / snow, try to find a scraper blade made from brass. Keeps it's scraping edge better than plastic, but won't scratch your glass.

Which loops back to Obsidian, which I think is volcanic glass? So I'm not sure if it would be harder than stainless, which is fairly hard. If you want a knife that should stay sharp "forever", look for a carbide blade. No flex, but cuts mild steel like proverbial butter.


EDIT: You know what? I should check google *before* answering. Yes, obsidian is sharp. I didn't realize it shears to molecular edges... that's pretty damned neat! However, it is a form of glass, so will tend to break and shatter with use, especially if you made it thin enough to model with. I think a large enough piece to be held, and worked with, and not shatter in use would be too unwieldy for modelling purposes. Though apparently, it's popular for the naturalist crowd to use as a field dressing implement that never needs sharpening, so long as you avoid bones. More neat.

Thanks for the topic!

I'd say you could try a ceramic blade first to get an idea of what an obsidian blade would probably be like:

https://www.sliceproducts.com/catalog/craft-blades

What about one of these bad boys?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1352339404/wondercutter-ultrasonic-cutter-40000-vibrates-per

I have one, they're insanely good - BUT - they cut into your soul when you hit your finger

Do you want to know what your finger bones look like?

Because that's how you know what your finger bones look like.