ANSWERED: Field/Stone Sharpening 45VN (Para 2)

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campandtravel

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THIS HAS BEEN ANSWERED, THANK YOU




I'm considering buying a Spyderco Para 2 as my one blade to carry when I'm backpacking. (Currently carry a small tommy and an Opinel 8, want to lighten the load.)

The Para 2 can definitely handle the tasks I have in mind, not worried there. But I don't know if 45VN steel can be sharpened in the field.

There is no way I'm adding weight, carrying something else to sharpen my tools. I posted something about field sharpening a few years ago and got lots of comments from weekend warriors and hunters who doubtfully hike more than 20 miles in a week. I do that in a day. Ounces matter. I don't even have a handle on my toothbrush and I carry baking soda because the liquid in toothpaste weighs too much. Get me?

So I'll be sharpening this thing on a nice river stone when I stop for the day. I don't mind sharpening every night, I consider that normal.

Seems like the Para 2 is really well made, but it's made for the kind of knife hobbyists who prefer "edge retention." So can the Para 2 do what I want? Can I beat the **** out of it and then sharpen it with a stone I find in the field?

Oh, and please none of this "it will last until you're home." I don't have a ****ing home. I'm in the field. Get me?
Thanks.
 
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I'm not for sure as I haven't tried it.
The steel is very close to s30 and I would think it would respond well to field sharpening.
Avoid m390 and cv20.
 
campandtravel said:
Well I thought I could until you said that. :) Why, is it bad? Maybe these new shit steels are too brittle? My opinel hasn't broken off. Folded a bit but that's normal.
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Well it isn't bad and if you are happry with the tip strenght of a opinel you are OK.

But there has been reports of it snapping of, and with your goal of "one folder to do it all" hiking for long distances, I would get a folder with a tougher grind. Or a nice, slim and lightweight fixed blade.
 
353 said:
Well it isn't bad and if you are happry with the tip strenght of a opinel you are OK.
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Well I do want something tougher. I have to be too careful with that thing, and I'm usually too tired to get the tommy.
353 said:
But there has been reports of it snapping of,
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That must be because the steel is too brittle.
353 said:
your goal of "one folder to do it all"
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Just "all" that I do. I don't do everything.
353 said:
a folder with a tougher grind.
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What do you mean by tougher grind? Got one in mind that *will not fail*?
353 said:
Or a nice, slim and lightweight fixed blade.
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No way. The sheath would weigh way too much. It's so hard to get people who don't backpack to think that way, it's kind of funny now.
 
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campandtravel said:
What do you mean by tougher grind? Got one in mind that *will not fail*?
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By that I mean a thicker bladestock, all the way to the tip. Or at least thicker towards the tip than a PM2.

There are lots of options out there, I dont know.. Maybe a Pacific Salt 2? Very very tough steel, also completely stain free(not just stainless) and also super light weight, 2.54 oz, due to the linerless construction.

16Ehdhol.jpg

NdrbOcc.jpg
 
campandtravel said:
No way. The sheath would weigh way too much. It's so hard to get people who don't backpack to think that way, it's kind of funny now.
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Well, you might be surprised. In absence of a PM2 (and a scale), below a Demko AD20.5 - you can look up the weight online.

The fixed blade and sheath are from our custom maker Paul / CPE_Knives CPE_Knives , steel is CPM 3V, my favorite for outdoors. Not crazy expensive either, might want to check with Paul.

i-rxwQx8f-X3.jpg


i-PQwDXLq-X3.jpg


i-6KZQ2k7-X3.jpg
 
ferider said:
Well, you might be surprised. In absence of a PM2 (and a scale), below a Demko AD20.5 - you can look up the weight online.

The fixed blade and sheath are from our custom maker Paul / CPE_Knives CPE_Knives ,

... steel is CPM 3V, my favorite for outdoors
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Hm, a few thoughts. First it looks like the fixed blade is being given an advantage on the makeshift scale, though even then it's not so much heavier than the folder so I get your point, thank you for making it. Then again I don't know how much the folder weighs compared to for example a Mora Garberg which after a few days is 300lbs.

CPM 3V... is that going to be any easier to sharpen on a river stone than 45VN?

Is there a website with this guy's knives? I don't really like that particular one, I'm sure it's really good it's just a little too "angry" looking for me. Maybe something else of his I would like.
 
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Reactions: 353
campandtravel said:
Hm, a few thoughts. First it looks like the fixed blade is being given an advantage on the makeshift scale, though even then it's not so much heavier than the folder so I get your point, thank you for making it. Then again I don't know how much the folder weighs compared to for example a Mora Garberg which after a few days is 300lbs.

CPM 3V... is that going to be any easier to sharpen on a river stone than 45VN?

Is there a website with this guy's knives? I don't really like that particular one, I'm sure it's really good it's just a little too "angry" looking for me. Maybe something else of his I would like.
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And most important, can it beat the weight of 2.54 oz? 😂
 
OP is a light weight backpacker, they count every gram, it's hard to beat a 3.74" blade weighing only 2.54 oz.
 
Get a Mora floating knife - 79 grams with sheath and very easy to field sharpen with 12C27 stainless.

morakniv.se

Morakniv Floating Knife (S) - Lime Green | Morakniv

This is a lightweight outdoor knife that floats. The ergonomic barrel-shaped handle of natural cork features a soft friction grip, a sturdy finger guard, and a 1.4 mm thick blade made of recycled Swedish stainless steel.
morakniv.se morakniv.se
 
campandtravel said:
Hm, a few thoughts. First it looks like the fixed blade is being given an advantage on the makeshift scale, though even then it's not so much heavier than the folder so I get your point, thank you for making it. Then again I don't know how much the folder weighs compared to for example a Mora Garberg which after a few days is 300lbs.

CPM 3V... is that going to be any easier to sharpen on a river stone than 45VN?

Is there a website with this guy's knives? I don't really like that particular one, I'm sure it's really good it's just a little too "angry" looking for me. Maybe something else of his I would like.
Click to expand...

I wasn’t trying to sell you this knife specifically. Just making a point that a fixed blade with sheath is possible at a price and weight comparable to the PM2. Fixed is a huge advantage in the wild, more reliable as there are no moving parts, tougher, etc. Also, if you go via one of our knife makers you can pick blade shape, handle material, and whatever steel you want.

If you go that route, and want to sharpen on a natural stone, I’d probably pick AEB-L or NitroV as a steel, BTW.
 
353 said:
By that I mean a thicker bladestock, all the way to the tip. Or at least thicker towards the tip than a PM2.

There are lots of options out there, I dont know.. Maybe a Pacific Salt 2? Very very tough steel, also completely stain free(not just stainless) and also super light weight, 2.54 oz, due to the linerless construction.

16Ehdhol.jpg

NdrbOcc.jpg
Click to expand...
I second the Pacific Salt 2, or even the Native 5 Salt. They are both very light, and LC200N holds a decent edge, is very tough, and can be sharpened more easily than S45VN. Plus, as said, the tip on the Pacific Salt 2 is sturdier. I've done a fair amount of backpacking myself with 25 mile days with just my PM2 (in CTS-XHP) and had I owned a Pacific Salt 2 at the time, I would have taken it instead.
 
Elgatodeacero said:
Get a Mora floating knife
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Thanks for the suggestion and I love the weight but I used to have a Mora companion and it was the most useless piece of kit I had. It was dead weight. In case you're wondering why it's because the scandi knives are impossible to sharpen in the field (you have an edge on a found stone, not a flat surface) and the blade shape could not do ANYTHING! It can't slice mushrooms, it's too narrow to pry, and you can't dig a hole with it. But it's cool to know it exists.
 
353 said:
Maybe a Pacific Salt 2
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Interesting you're saying that this is *less* brittle/narrow than the Para 2? I was interested in the Para 2 *because* I thought it was a nice thick blade that I could do some prying with.

So I guess I'm just totally off base with the Para 2. Very interesting, thanks for telling me.
 
It Is not necessary to sharpen a Mora to zero degrees, you can just treat the entire bevel as a large secondary and sharpen on a rock.

The specific model I posted has a blade stock thickness of only 1.4 mm, so much thinner than most Moras and most knives and very quick and easy to sharpen. The knife itself is only 49 grams.

It appears you have a strong preference for rock sharpening, but I think if you focused on sharpening technique you will find that it doesn’t matter whether a knife is scandi, a flat ground or other, you can always put an edge on steel that is 1095 or 12C27 or 420HC, even with a rock.

you might also reconsider carrying a small DMT stone like this:


or this

Diamond Whetstone™ Mini Diamond Stone

A portable enhancement to any tool kit is the Mini Diamond 70mm stone in DMT®’s signature polka-dot pattern. For proper tool maintenance, woodworkers, chefs and other professionals rely on the superior quality and versatility of DMT®
www.dmtonlinestore.com

for the extra grams you have durable tool that allows quick and repeatable blade maintenance and saves tons of time (skip looking for proper rock, poor sharpening results, etc.).

Ultralight travel requires carrying only the essentials, but I find that experienced outdoorsman consider a sharpening stone a very important piece of kit on any trip that lasts more than one overnight.
 
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