CPM-3V Verde Ranch Hunter and a question for you

Stuart Davenport Knives

Stuart Davenport Knives

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Hey everyone, I just finished the latest Verde Ranch Hunter this afternoon, and this one is a little unique coming from my shop. The steel is Crucible's CPM-3V, known for it's amazing toughness, good wear resistance, and very good corrosion resistance. While it is a tool steel and not technically stainless, it has amazing resistance to rust and corrosion. I don't need to say much about the steel, as I think most knife people are pretty informed. I did use the "Delta" heat treatment, which gives the actual apex of the edge very high stability under lateral loads. The handle is ghost/jade g10 with white liners that make the green color really bright. SS pins and aluminum tube. Spine thickness at the plunge grind is 0.095". Let's talk about the blade geometry, which has a unique edge. The grind is full flat, and I took it basically to a "zero" edge. I then sharpened at a low angle, ~10° per side, went back to the grinder and blended in the edge shoulder, so we end up with a tear drop, slightly convex edge all the way to zero. I then raised the angle a few degrees, and with a few swipes on a fine diamond stone, applied the actual cutting apex. This thing is amazingly thin behind the edge. I love to pinch the blade at the spine and run my two fingers down and off the edge...it feels so cool not having an edge shoulder, and it is just STUPID sharp! This is not to be confused with a full convex grind, such as knives from Bark River (whoah, what a mess) or Fallkniven. Only the edge has been convexed on this Verde Ranch Hunter.

Now the question. I have another Verde Ranch Hunter that is currently only profiled and heat treated. It is slightly thicker stock, 0.125" in CPM-M4 64HRC.
Do you prefer a full flat grind with a traditional "V" edge, a full flat grind with a convex edge, or a full convex grind (Bark River, Fallkniven, etc)?
I'm curious as to what everyone would actually prefer. If you don't mind commenting your opinion below, I highly value your input!

OAL: 8 7/8"
Blade: 4 1/4"
Handle: 4 5/8" ghost g10
Thickness: 0.095"
Steel: Crucible CPM-3V 62.5HRC
Edge: ~13° per side (hard to pinpoint being convexed) 9 micron
Price: SOLD (includes kydex sheath, free USA shipping)

IMG_0015.jpeg IMG_0016.jpeg

Paypal preferred (samuraistuart@yahoo.com). Generally, the first person to send PP gets the knife. If you are interested, I recommend posting something like, "I'll take it! Funds sent." and sending payment immediately. No need to ask if it's still available. If there is ever a conflict, which hasn't happened yet, I will refund your PP immediately. I also take Venmo, DM me for the address, it's my wife's account and I forget the address. All knives come with free shiping in the USA and a lifetime unconditional warranty. I'll repair or replace, pretty much no matter what. Just understand that I like to use thin stock, thin grinds, and temper most steels for a slightly harder blade than you might be used to. I highly advise do not try to cut throught nails, bone, frozen food, or stab a car door, things like that. Just use it to cut stuff, like it was intended. If you have any questions, send me an email or DM me. Email is same as the PP address. Thanks for looking!
 
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Thank you Bladesmith 3, 007 agent, and luethge for your input. Would love to hear more!

Interestingly, 007, I have been on a James Bond movie kick the past few weeks. Most of the 007 movies are leaving Netflix on April 21. I grew up on those movies. My dad and I would enjoy watching them together. So many good memories. I started with Dr No, and am currenlty watching Skyfall. As I type this!

Please, let me know what type of grind/edge geometry you all prefer! And thank you ahead of time!
 
The grind you put on this one has to be a wicked cutter! I really enjoy the thin slicer I got from you. It gets used often.

I like a full flat ground blade and I guess I don't really have a preference on the edge being a standard V or convexed. I hand sharpen so most of my edges end up somewhere between the two, getting somewhat convexed over time anyway. I put a micro bevel on them and am very happy with how they perform.

Most of my blades are full flat and started out with a traditional V edge. I wouldn't be opposed to buying one with the edge convexed already especially if the blade is nice and thin.
 
And just to clarify, even though this edge is convex, you can absolutely just go ahead and sharpen a V edge on it as it is. The actual apex as it sits right now is a V, but it is an extremely extremely small edge apex, as it has been really thinned out behind the edge. This is not meant to be a bushcraft knife, but is meant to excel at game processing.
 
Full flat, convex edge.

I've played ball with the convex stuff for a long time now, the edge stability is nice but in these super steels they can take thin edges without worrying about carbide tearout like steels of old. I actually traded out one of my Malanikas in scandi-vex to a full flat and the thinness is much more appreciated on the things I cut than what I had before just for the sake of "preserving the edge" but it would love cutting paper towels, etc

Aesthetically though full convex is very eye-pleasing compared to FFG.
 
As someone who tends to re-profile, thin and polish most of my knives, it sounds like you really know what you're doing. I'd take a knife with the geometry described above hands-down any time over the common grinds. I recognize most people are comfortable with what they are already familiar with, but I feel that you are really making full use of the what this steel is capable of with a good heat treatment. Keep it up. Your knowledge and enthusiasm come through in your descriptions.
 
Thank you very much, pavhav. I really enjoy the craft, espeically dialing in the heat treatment for various alloys as well as thin geometry. Both spine thickness and behind the edge, I like to keep them thin.

It's encouraging to see more factory knives being pushed towards being thin, instead of being overbuilt. I hope the trend continues towards thinner.
 
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