Glossary: A

A-2

An excellent air hardening tool steel used by handmade knife makers and by speciality makers like Bark River as well. First maker I know of using it was Harry Morseth in the early 1930s. Performs best at about 60-61 Rc (see hardness). For many years my favorite as well as Ron Lake's. It contains about 1% Carbon, 1% Molybdenum, and 5% Chromium.

A. G. Russell Knives, Inc.

The oldest knife mail-order knife business, established in 1964. Specializes in handmade knives and high quality production knives. (see Russell, A. G.)

African Blackwood

An African Blackwood, also called Mozambique Ebony, it is a rich black with dark brown graining. Used to make fine clarinets, this is one of the very best woods for knife handles.

Alligator Clip

A clip often used on the back of ID badges, it is sometimes used for fastening small knives to the clothing.

Alumina Ceramic

A ceramic material largely made up of Alumina, very abrasive, it is extruded into rods to make up sharpening tools like A. G. Russell's^™ Ceramic Sharpener. First used in this fashion by Crock Stick® inventor Louis Graves.

Amber

Fossilized pitch from pre-historic evergreens, much used in jewelry; now used by some makers of handmade knives; best known of these is D'Alton Holder.

Amboyna Wood (also spelled Amboina)

Sometimes referred to as padouk, this is a rare, exotic hardwood with a fragrant aroma which varies in color from yellow to golden brown to red. It is used in cabinet making and is an excellent wood for both turning and finishing. From the Pterocarput indicus tree of the jungles of Southeast Asia.

Arkansas Stone-(Novaculite)

Discovered by Europeans about 1816, these deposits had already been a source of tools for thousands of years. Until the development of modern Alumina, the Arkansas stones were the undisputed leader in knife sharpening. The black hard will still put on a polished edge that can be obtained no other way by hand. The Washita and Soft Arkansas have largely been replaced by ceramic.

Arkansas Toothpick

Early name for Bowie knives, as the first was believed to have been made in Arkansas and the natives of that state were thought to be so tough that they picked their teeth with knives of that size. After the movie, The Iron Mistress, about 1955, it began to mean a large dagger with a needle pointed blade, very unrealistic. Some modern Arkansas makers apply the name to more sensible sized knives.

Arm knife

Small knives carried near the shoulder on the left arm by many tribe of the Sudanese. Double edge blade about six inches long.

Arm Knife

Assegai

Portuguese word for spear, often applied to the Zulu stabbing spear. The word was never used by the natives.

ATS-55

Not a widely known Japanese alloy, ATS-55 is similar to ATS-34, but with the Molybdenum content reduced and new elements added.
It appears the intent was to get ATS-34 edge holding with increased toughness and decreased cost.
Carbon-1.00%, Manganese-0.50%, Chromium-14.00%,
Molybdenum-0.60%, Cobalt-0.40%

ATS34

A high-carbon, high-alloy, stainless steel, a Japanese copy of 154-CM, preferred because it is vacuum melted, and 154 is not. Carbon 1.05%, Manganese 0.4%, Chromium 14.0%, Molybdenum 4.0%.

AUS-10

0.95-1.1% Carbon, 0.5% Magnesium, 13-14.5% Chromium, 0.49% Nickel, 0.1-0.27% Vanadium and 0.1-0.31% Molybdenum.

AUS-4

Also designated 4A, a Japanese stainless steel, roughly comparable to 440A (AUS-6, .65% carbon), 440B (AUS-8, .75% carbon) and 440C (AUS-10, 1.1% carbon). Used by CRKT in several of their knives. Carbon-0.40-0.45%, Manganese-1.00%, Chromium-13.00-14.50%, Nickel-0.49%.
Rockwell 55-57

AUS-6

Another Japanese stainless, fits between 420 and 440A. Carbon 0.55 - 0.65%, Manganese 1.0%, Chromium 13.0 -14.5%, Nickel 0.49%, Vandium 0.1 - 0.25%.

AUS-8

Widely used by top Specialty knife makers like A. G. Russell^™, Spyderco, etc. The addition of vanadium fits this steel between 440A and ATS-34 in performance. Carbon 0.7 - 0.8%, Manganese 1.0%, Chromium 13.0 - 14.5%, Nickel 0.5%, Vandium 0.1 - 0.25%, Molybdenum 0.1 - 0.3%.

AutoGuard

A. G. Russell's^™ name for very old style guard that folds down when the knife is closed and unfolds when the blade is opened.

Awl

A very old tool, the old fashioned leather punch is a form of awl. The awl is sort of a hand held drill.

Axis Deer (India Stag)

The smaller of the two Indian and SE Asian deer that furnish antler for the knife industry; these are all shed horn harvested in the jungle by natives.