Advice from an experienced knife carrier...

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SuzukiGS750EZ

Joined
Dec 30, 2008
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I used to carry a benchmade ascent as an edc and never really thought about pairing it up with a multi tool until i became a member here. Well, i also carried a super tinker for a little while alone. Now both are retired and i have a dilemma. Do i carry my new delica 4 SS with a vic. centurion or swisstool? I use everything on the centurion but i find the pliers useful on the swisstool. I like to pack as light as i can. Also, will the delica be up to tasks like sharpening sticks and cutting cardboard, rope and random other things? I always seem to have to fix tips on my knives due to rounding off, not chipping. I've had some chips in my edges of my AUS knives and since then i have bought a griptilian 551s which i have been afraid to carry because i don't want to ruin that either. I can sharpen knives but have a hard time with chips and tips. They both end in disaster when i try and fix them. I do a lot of fishing, hiking, yard work, biking and fixing the girlfriends stuff lol. How does VG-10 react when it comes into contact with stuff like sand, staples and thin wire? What's edge retention like? What else can you add to ease my mind? lol. Thanks for your insight. The other reason i don't carry the grippy is because i was trying a combo edge since i prefer plain ede, but i guess i don't like PS. oh well!
 
The Delica will be fine. What are you using to sharpen? I do all of my touch ups with a Sharpmaker, but always hand sharpen the last half inch or so of any blade because you can easily round the tip on the Sharpmaker if you're not careful.

VG-10 is good stuff, one of my favorites. My experience has been that it's more likely to roll than chip when it hits something hard. Edge retention is along the lines of 154cm (a bit better), though I think VG-10 takes a toothier edge, and is just a bit easier to sharpen.

As to the multitool, carry the one that you'll get the most use out of. If you don't need the pliers, carry the Centurion and leave the Swisstool in the car. I understand being prepared, but if you reduced your life to one day, and in twenty-three hours and fifty-nine minutes you didn't need the pliers, I think you can improvise or find a set of pliers for that other minute. Don't carry useless wight on the very very slim chance that you may need it.

But, carry what's best for you. One set up doesn't work for everyone. I get by just fine with a Paramilitary and a Vic Soldier. But you may need more tools, or you may need less. I spent a week EDC'ing nothing but a Vic Classic and was just fine.
 
I use a sharpmaker also. It had a flatspot in the blade when i bought it and got it out just fine putting a new edge on it the way i normally sharpen. It will shave now and the tip was a bit rounded out of the box but i fixed them both and now its perfect. I don't want to ruin the perfection! lol. Will VG-10 dent? How easy is it to scratch the SS handles if its laid on sand and moved a little ways?
 
Sand, stapples and thin wire will damage the edge of all steels, so if your looking for a blade that can come into contact with all those things and not be damaged you'll be looking for a long time.

VG-10 is a good steel but when you come into contact with coarse materials as your regular cutting media then you might not be so happy with it. Maybe a CPM steel is more along the lines of performance levels that you are looking for. Theirs always a ZDP-189 delica if you want to stick with the same knife but have better steel. Use the VG-10 and if you find it does not live up to your needs then maybe look at someting better, I think you will be happy with VG-10 but only the uses you put it through will tell the true story.

The rounding of your tips when sharpening is probably because you are not stopping when you get to the tip, in other words don't take the edge off the stone and stop and lift when you get to the tip.
 
I pair up my endura with my skeletool and use it very often. The pocket clip rocks and even though it's not a wave it gets most of the jobs done. VG10 is good stuff.
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
Is VG-10 more similar to 154cm or s30v or AUS 8 or what?
Click to expand...

According to Joe Talmadge's Stee FAQ:

"VG-10 can be thought of as being like ATS-34 and 154-CM, but doing just about everything a hair better. It's a little more stain resistant, tougher, holds an edge a little better. And VG-10 has vanadium in it, it's fine-grained and takes the best edge of this group.

FWIW, I pocket carry a SAK (classic, Super Tinker or Alox Cadet) with my EDC knife (usually a Buck Vantage Pro or Kershaw Skyline). But in my backpack I carry a Swisstool and a ZT0300. More room in my pack .:cool:
 
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