I was in my local Menards yesterday looking at their knife selection. I've always been interested in different steel formulations, knife making etc. Sitting on the hooks is the typical Bear Gyllas(is,us, whichever, lol), the Camillus line (most were 420HC or Aus-8), Kershaw (looking at a 14C28N variant) and Buck Bos 420HC.
I've read enough to know the Camillus story and understand it's a different company entirely now. I mostly curious what the quality of the steel is like regarding heat treatment and how it stacks up to Kershaw who has an excellent reputation. I've also read enough to know that some consider VG-10 steel in general is better than the 14C28N Kershaw uses.....and some don't. However, often these respective steels are in Spyderco or other higher end/i.e. won't find them in Wally Worldesque retail type settings. Point being, I have a $6 "Guidesman" from Menards I got awhile back in 8Cr13MoV. It's been alright, I'm can sharpen it to shaving arm hair level but a one or two cardboard cuts and that edge dulls, still sharp but not hair cutting sharp. So I was curious whether stepping up to the $40ish range will yield a blade that keeps that sharp of an edge through 15 or so cardboard cuts so I can go back to the air bubbles that come in said shipments and just barely touch the blade to plastic and slice them like a hot knife through butter. Yeah, kind of silly but hey, why not if I can, lol.
I will prompt any insight to these blades by saying that I primarily want ease of return ability and funds so I'd like to keep it to what I see at Menards/ WalMart etc. I know I can just buy and try but hey, it doesn't hurt to ask around for people's insight. This also why I'm not going to spend $80/$100 and so on. I don't mind $40 IF the experience is what I'm after but I don't really care all that much. Mostly I'm just curious.
I've read enough to know the Camillus story and understand it's a different company entirely now. I mostly curious what the quality of the steel is like regarding heat treatment and how it stacks up to Kershaw who has an excellent reputation. I've also read enough to know that some consider VG-10 steel in general is better than the 14C28N Kershaw uses.....and some don't. However, often these respective steels are in Spyderco or other higher end/i.e. won't find them in Wally Worldesque retail type settings. Point being, I have a $6 "Guidesman" from Menards I got awhile back in 8Cr13MoV. It's been alright, I'm can sharpen it to shaving arm hair level but a one or two cardboard cuts and that edge dulls, still sharp but not hair cutting sharp. So I was curious whether stepping up to the $40ish range will yield a blade that keeps that sharp of an edge through 15 or so cardboard cuts so I can go back to the air bubbles that come in said shipments and just barely touch the blade to plastic and slice them like a hot knife through butter. Yeah, kind of silly but hey, why not if I can, lol.
I will prompt any insight to these blades by saying that I primarily want ease of return ability and funds so I'd like to keep it to what I see at Menards/ WalMart etc. I know I can just buy and try but hey, it doesn't hurt to ask around for people's insight. This also why I'm not going to spend $80/$100 and so on. I don't mind $40 IF the experience is what I'm after but I don't really care all that much. Mostly I'm just curious.
