[meteorite-list] Re: Odd uses for meteorites - Not

[Daniel H. Fronefield]

Having used meteorite extensively for making knives, I can tell you that 
Gibeon will bend some, but not well. Cracks and breaks will happen as all 
irons have inclusions and micro-cracks. Heating to a forgable temperature will 
make the widmanstatten pattern disappear, and unless the person forging it is 
skilled, you'll end up with a crumbled mass of metal scattered all over the 
ground (don't ask how I learned that) <G>.

I see nothing paticularly odd in using meteorite as the bolsters, handles or 
in the blades of my knives (or as guitar picks or jewelry, etc.)  I slice 
them, polish them and display them on a usable item.  What do most collectors 
do?  Slice them, polish them and display them on a shelf.  I also melt Nantan 
and other cuttings from iron meteorites and add carbon to create a hardenable 
steel with a "wow" factor.  Can anyone really tell me that there is a better 
use for these cuttings (created by "normal" meteorite preparation)?  For 
rusted, silicated, crumbling Nantan?

I would be willing to bet that normal preparation of meteorites for 
distribution, i.e. cutting, breaking, polishing, etc. has "wasted" more 
meteorite than all the the other "odd" uses combined.

Dan

Handmade Knives by D. Fronefield
"Specializing in Meteorites and other exotic materials"
http://hiwaay.net/~dfronfld