CV or Stainless

B

bennyG19

Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
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I can't search, so I'll ask. Which type of blade do most people go for on slipjoints? If I understand correctly the CV is easier to sharpen but requires more maintenance. How hard is it to sharpen the stainless blades?

I picked up a Case Pen knife today, yellow handle with CV blade. Most of my other knives are locking folders (BM Mini Grip, Spyderco Native and Dragonfly, Kershaw Storm II). I got an Opinel and some Moras a few weeks ago and loved them, so I thought I'd give the classic slipjoints a whirl. It turns out that a guy I grew up with opened a knife shop in town so I stopped in to see him today. He only sells traditional type knives, mostly Case. He had a few CV but mostly stainless. He also had some older Case knives that he has picked up. I was torn between the Case Pen knife and an older (1980something) Uncle Henry with three blades. I got the Case for $31. The Uncle Henry was $40 and I might go get it, too.

BTW, if you live in/near Jonesborough, TN, stop by the Whittler's Corner on the corner of Main/Fox.
 
i'd say user. i don't really have any safe queens. maybe one day, but for now if i buy it it goes into my pocket for a while.
 
Welcome to the world of slippies... I doubt this will be your last, they are very addictive.. A lot of people favor the CV blades. They take a great edge easily and you have the benefit of the blades developing patina after some use. Makes the knife look great IMO.. There is something about the basic yellow Case knives. Even with all the different scale options the yellow is still one of my favorites. I hope your friend is successful with his store.
 
I prefer carbon (CV) but have enough good friends here that vouch for the workmanlike properties of the stainless that I don't think it's anything to lose sleep over.
 
Both!!
Sorry, but someone was going to say it.
I am a big case fan and can stand behind either one.
 
I like the CV better too; only wish that Case offered more handle options for it.

That said, if I'm going to do any serious cutting, I'm probably not going to use a slipjoint anyway.

So for practical purposes, at least for me, the Tru Sharp (stainless) is fine.
 
My slip-joint EDC is usually a Case in either CV or SS. The CV is a little bit easier to sharpen; it takes less time to grind down and doesn't burr quite as much. Both steels seem to be around the same hardness and have pretty similar sized carbides. I personally don't notice much of a difference in things like strength or wear resistance during everyday use.

Carbon steel is just more interesting to me, so my preference is probably for CV. If you're not in an especially humid environment, it should be easy to maintain. Both of Case's steels are good though. Their Tru-Sharp (purported to be 420HC) isn't at all like VG-10 or S30V, but it's certainly a very usable stainless steel.
 
I love my CV Case knives. Its all I will buy in Case. A medium stockman and Sodbuster Jr. both yellowhandles with CV are my 'all the time' knives. To me, a traditional style knife must patina for me to enjoy. Others like stainless, but character comes with patina.
 
Both have there place in my pocket. Depends on the situation. I don't like yellow scales. Wood, Bone or Stag is typically what I carry.
 
Putting my vote in for CV for an EDC. Not that much maintenance. I oil my pocket knife when ever I think of it. Usually once a month I guess.
 
CV! it will age with you. Not much maintenance required, just make sure to dry it if you use in on something wet, and when you think about it, or if you notice some orange starting here or there, oil it.

BTW: Got any pics of that CASE pen knife you just bought?
 
I'm definitely a fan of Case's CV steel. The first slippie I bought myself was a Case medium jack with amber bone and CV. Sadly, it fell out of my pocket one day. Yet, the memory of the steel remains - I only wish Case made more lines and knife patterns with CV.
 
I like both, but in the summer my carbon blades seem to rust on me in hours if I use them a lot, I think that's just me, so then I go for the stainless.

I'd say both are very good.
 
stingray4540 said:
BTW: Got any pics of that CASE pen knife you just bought?
Click to expand...

not yet, but i should soon. i got a new camera the other day and it's time for a knife pic blitz.
i'll also take a picture of an old Case knife that i took from my stepdad a few weeks ago to clean up and sharpen for him. it was beat up bad, rusted and dirty and sharp as a stick. i've cleaned it up a bit and sharpened it pretty well. i looked it up and it was made in 1965-1969. The # on it is 3318.
 
I'd go with CV, but I wouldn't obsess on it. I like carbon over stainless as a general rule, but I also carry a sak and have no complaints on it's cutting ability.

CV is not harder to care for than any other knife. It will stain in time, and darken, but don't try to stop that. A carbon blade will build up a grey patina that will actually give the blade some protection against rust. Embrace it. It's just your knife developing some charater.

And welcome to traditional pocket knives benny.
 
CV. When a knife gets old it just doesn't look right with stainless blades.Eye brand steel takes on a nice blueish patina. Rusts easy, but sharpens easy.
Nice CV here...
P1010041-2.jpg
 
I like cases cv better than their ts, not for ease of sharpening but it seems to hold and take a better edge to me. But for anything a small pocket knife is used for their true sharp is fine to, just a personal preference for the cv.
 
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