I've recently retired my Randal 5 inch drop point to try out a Boker Folding drop point for white tail deer hunting. Field dressing and such. This Boker has a 440C stainlee steel blade . Most of my life I've used carbon steel in pocket knives and hunting knives. This is going to be a learning experience for me. I use both carbon and stainless razors and hone both but working knives I haven't. Will I need to change the bevel of the edge on these knives for them to take and hold an edge. I posted earlier about my mushrats I've recently acquired so looks like I'm going all in on stainless. any info will be much appreciated. Thanks RHensley
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Different opinions
- Thread starter R Hensley
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Carbon steel is fairly predictable, it takes a keen edge, and if done right it won't have any trouble keeping its sharpness. It's a bit more difficult to generalize when it comes to stainless steels, because 420j2, 440C, and high end steels like 20CV are all different in sharpening and edge wear during use.
As long as you have a product from a reputable company and you are sharpening at 15-20 degrees on your bevel you shouldn't see any major performance issues. When sharpening, SOME stainless steels can develop a really stubborn burr and it takes a little while of working it back and forth to wear it off and perform at its best. This is true with carbon steel too, but I've noticed stainless can do it worse.
These forums are a treasure trove of information, it would be a good idea to do a search to learn more about the various kinds of steels, their properties, their strengths and weaknesses, and their intended use. There's no way to describe everything in one post, there are practically years worth of information on steel alone.
As long as you have a product from a reputable company and you are sharpening at 15-20 degrees on your bevel you shouldn't see any major performance issues. When sharpening, SOME stainless steels can develop a really stubborn burr and it takes a little while of working it back and forth to wear it off and perform at its best. This is true with carbon steel too, but I've noticed stainless can do it worse.
These forums are a treasure trove of information, it would be a good idea to do a search to learn more about the various kinds of steels, their properties, their strengths and weaknesses, and their intended use. There's no way to describe everything in one post, there are practically years worth of information on steel alone.
Your 440C is high carbon stainless, used in production and custom knives. I bought a custom in that steel 4 years ago. It is highly stain resistant, takes a fine edge and can handle a thin edge. You don't need to reprofile the edge for durability, just if you prefer a different angle.
Once upon a time I free hand honed my knives on several different stones. But for the last 10 or so years I've been using a lansky honing kit. My hands and joints arent quite what they once was. I've honed the Buck Creek mushrat using the 25 Degree setting and it seems to be a good edge but I think with the German Bull mushrat I will try one with a little less angle. I'm told the Buck could be a 440C knife even though it doesn't say so. The Bull paper work said it was so I'll see if it hones the same. Thanks
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cbach8tw
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New at this. I hope this is the photo I selected. This is the Boker folding knife i aquired to take the place of the Randal. I recieved it today and honed it. It is 440C and it honed nicely and came to a razors edge. Now to try it out on a white tail deer next season. Sometimes waiting is truely the hardest part of the game. Trying to add a photo is hard. I click on the photo imagage type the name of the photo and nothing happens. What's the trick.
I say use it now on other things to gain some cutting experience with it, sharpen it before deer season. The way you will know a little more how it will handle. Just a thought.
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Besides the type of steel there’s also the grind and profile of the blade, heat treatment and sharpening angle to be considered. Depending on what you use it for and the general usage. But with the many steel choices there are today you should be able to find what is suitable for you in different designs. What works best for me may not be a good for the next person but I’ve been very satisfied with several stainless types I have tried. Buck 420hc, cpm154, s30v, cpm20cv have not disappointed me. I’m also trying VG10 that so far has done well in light use and 9cr18mov which some compare to 440c but I’ve not used them enough to say much. As for carbon steel I tend to avoid because I’ve had some bad corrosion experience with a few even though they did take a good edge and kept it for a decent time. I still have a few but I’m careful about how and when I use them. With stainless I don’t have those concerns.
With me it's mostly hunting. Small game (squirrels rabbits etc) and White tail deer. I hunt close to where I live so after field dressing the deer I take it a few hundred yards and hang it in a tree and butcher it with what else butcher knives. I would love to go after larger game in different states but health and age sort of stops that. As far as the grind for small game I like the mushrat pattern folding knife and deer would be drop points.
Until I learn how to add a photo of a knife I'm writing about I can say which one it is. This folding hunter is a Boker model 114000 . I wish I could add a photo but for those interested they can look it up on the Boker website there's a photo of there. Nice looking knife and feels good in my hand. Large enough to do the job and small enough not to take up too much room in the pocket or on the belt. I'm hoping it go'es good under my hunting cloths. The Randal would catch on the overhauls. Made it kind of in the way when nature calls.
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I have to say THANKS. this is my knife and I hope it will take the place f the Randal. The Randal is a very good knife but a little large and I wish I could get the handle changed to Sanbar Stag. If this Boker works as I wish it to then the randal stays retired unless I go out west for Elk or Mule Deer which probably want happen. Thanks again. Roger
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You’re welcome, glad to help. That is a nice hunting and skinning knife. I’ve considered that one myself but I wanted to find one to see and hold in my hand before buying on line. I hope it works good for you!
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Ive made Hunters & Culinary Knives using 440C for 23 years and bought my first Buck 110 at 16 and they were 440C back then.. properly HTed it is an Excellent culinary steel for hunters, camp & home.. Strop it on the inside of your belt if it starts to drag at all or when your done processing and your edge will stay keen !
I have until lately always stayed with carbon steel knives. It is recently I've decided to venture into the stainless steel knives. unlike a lot of folks I have very few blades. My go to for squirrel and rabbit is first a Boker Trapper in carbon steel. The the Randal for deer. Lately I've added a Buck Creek mushrat and a German Bull in stainless steel 440c and The Boker folding hunter in 440C. I found a Hen and Rooster Trapper in carbon that I haven't honed yet. The Hen and Rooster and the German Bull are in the safe because i never know when I'll loose or brake one of the trapper or mushrat and need one and they are hard to find. I know of people that have carried the same knife in there pocket for over 20 years (I never could) and not loose or break one. Now my straight razors or different . I've got too many to list. Some I use and others just to fondle. (my precious pun on the lord of the rings) So I'm kind of new to this and especially the forum. I just started playing with a computer in the last few years. A lot of fun. I do believe there's a lot of info here on this fourm along with good folks.
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