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So, I was thinking it's about time to revive this old argument about which method is better for making knives and I couldn't think of a better place to have a senseless discussion than this. I have spent the better part of the last ten years doing exhaustive research into this subject and I think I have the indisputable proof that forging is better than stock removal. Here is the list of quantifiable and repeatable reasons: 1. Buying steel in large bulky chunks is slightly less expensive than buying precision ground steel. 2. When we were young, our parents told us we should never play with fire or hit things. Forging allows us to do both. (if you do it right, you can even get paid to) 3. You are not constrained in size, shape or design by what size or shape steel bars come in. You are only constrained by your ability to convince or coerce the steel to assume the shape you intend for it. 4. You get really cool, hard and black boogers that scare children. 5. Pattern welding! 6. Bad knives can always be reforged into something useful. 7. You need more tools to forge stuff. (yes, this is a benefit) 8. You can make the tools you can't or don't want to buy. (hey why buy something for $10 when you can make it for $20?) 9. You get cool burn scars that impress members of the opposite sex. 10. You get to tell funny stories at social events about how you accidentally set yourself on fire. Did I miss anything?