Apparently I may someday have to admit to being a bit of a knife nut but no doubt I'm becoming a steel snob. So. Are there any other traditional steel snobs out there, besides myself?
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As you may guess from the picture I like 3 1/4 stockmans, I've had one in my watch pocket since 1968 or thereabouts. It's a pattern that does 95% everything I need a knife to do. A knife can be a lot of things an heirloom, a treasured gift or collectible but always a tool and as a tool it needs to cut. If I had to sharpen a knife to often, in my mind the tool failed at it's main function. (cutting)
A couple or three years ago I didn't even realize you could get a traditional pattern in a steel other than 1095, 420HC or some 440 variant. Then I found a Queen 26ACSB Small Stockman D2. Almost as soon as it hit the mail box I had a good edge on it. Then went out of my way to work it for a week, I cut and sliced everything in sight. Now the little Queen stockman is the one that's always in my watch pocket.
Most of the time I carry a second heavier knife in the right front pocket and I almost dropped the hammer on a Queen railsplitter. I finally came to the realization that I didn't need the 3 blades of a stockman variant. At least not as a second knife. I didn't need more blade length just more handle. A single blade with a drop or spear point with a little more meat to it would handle the rest of my cutting needs.
Enter the Northwoods Knives: Indian River Jack. CPM154 steel. Amber of course, they need to match in order to work, don't they?
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I value the fact that I can cut and slice as much as with my old knives and then go do it again, before having to touch it up with a fine diamond.
I have found my two patterns and steels and it only took me 49 years. That's my traditional steel snob story.
But you know the ebony jack would look good with, ........ well forget that thought.
As you may guess from the picture I like 3 1/4 stockmans, I've had one in my watch pocket since 1968 or thereabouts. It's a pattern that does 95% everything I need a knife to do. A knife can be a lot of things an heirloom, a treasured gift or collectible but always a tool and as a tool it needs to cut. If I had to sharpen a knife to often, in my mind the tool failed at it's main function. (cutting)
A couple or three years ago I didn't even realize you could get a traditional pattern in a steel other than 1095, 420HC or some 440 variant. Then I found a Queen 26ACSB Small Stockman D2. Almost as soon as it hit the mail box I had a good edge on it. Then went out of my way to work it for a week, I cut and sliced everything in sight. Now the little Queen stockman is the one that's always in my watch pocket.
Most of the time I carry a second heavier knife in the right front pocket and I almost dropped the hammer on a Queen railsplitter. I finally came to the realization that I didn't need the 3 blades of a stockman variant. At least not as a second knife. I didn't need more blade length just more handle. A single blade with a drop or spear point with a little more meat to it would handle the rest of my cutting needs.
Enter the Northwoods Knives: Indian River Jack. CPM154 steel. Amber of course, they need to match in order to work, don't they?
I value the fact that I can cut and slice as much as with my old knives and then go do it again, before having to touch it up with a fine diamond.
I have found my two patterns and steels and it only took me 49 years. That's my traditional steel snob story.
But you know the ebony jack would look good with, ........ well forget that thought.
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it's a different story with moderns. I've stayed away from knives like the Southern Grind Bad Monkey because they're nearly $200 and use 14c28n. While that's a great steel, for $200? Normally I'd expect 154CM, S30V, D2, ELMAX, or something comparable. To be totally clear; they're great knives and I'll probably own one, but the steel has held me back. As long as they matrials are good, they don't have to be the newest or the best, the design and fit/finish rule supreme. 
