JM2,
I'm happy that you resurrected/updated this thread.
If you are up for an inexpensive experiment, I'd recommend you spend $15 on a Mora Companion. I've been beating on one this summer and it's easily the best woodworking and best all around knife I've used. By a long shot. Not even close. Period.
I've concluded that thin hollow grinds, like that the Bucks and most Cases knives are excellent for processing meat but horrible for working with wood. They are very thin behind the edge so they slice meat well and are easily touched up. But (for me) wood working puts a lot of lateral stress on a blade and, like you, I find hollow grind blades to dull fast when working with wood. Related, I find the edge angle and "bite" of a hollow grind to be very hard to control compared to a flat, or better a convex or scandi ground blade.
The Mora Companion is a very thin scandi grind. It is thin enough that it can be touched up with a simple microbevel very easily. Like all convex, sabre and scandi ground blades (and to a lesser extent, flat ground knives) eventually you need to reprofile the Moras as you wear the cutting apex back into the thicker part of the blade. I do that on a combination of bench stones and a guided rod system.
I find convex/sabre/scandi grind blades better for wood in 2 big ways. First, they are thicker behind the edge and much more resistant to rolling an edge. The edge last longer.
Second, they are easier for me to control the cutting angle and "bite" of the blade. I can rip off nice curls so much easier with these types of blades. Hollow grinds are (for me) awful and flat ground blades are tolerable but not as good.
Second thing to mention about the Mora Companion is the ugly but incredibly shaped handle. I've not found a wood working grip that produces a hot spot with it. In fact, I've not found a grip where the Companion simply isn't the nicest feeling handle I've ever used. It's stunningly good.
I also have a thicker Companion HD which has a more pronounced hand swell that offers a bit more control on hard straight cuts. But it's just tick less versatile.
Last thing to crow about the Companion is the ugly but functional plastic sheath. It's made for a working situation. It goes on the belt easily, stays put securely and comes off easily. Hold the knife secure enough for work and easy in/easy out. I wouldn't rely on it for hunting and busting through brush without an additional cord lock. But for working, it's the bomb.
Not trying to talk you out of a ESEE, but for $15, the Mora is something to try just for comparisons sake. It's really blown me away this summer.
I'm happy that you resurrected/updated this thread.
If you are up for an inexpensive experiment, I'd recommend you spend $15 on a Mora Companion. I've been beating on one this summer and it's easily the best woodworking and best all around knife I've used. By a long shot. Not even close. Period.
I've concluded that thin hollow grinds, like that the Bucks and most Cases knives are excellent for processing meat but horrible for working with wood. They are very thin behind the edge so they slice meat well and are easily touched up. But (for me) wood working puts a lot of lateral stress on a blade and, like you, I find hollow grind blades to dull fast when working with wood. Related, I find the edge angle and "bite" of a hollow grind to be very hard to control compared to a flat, or better a convex or scandi ground blade.
The Mora Companion is a very thin scandi grind. It is thin enough that it can be touched up with a simple microbevel very easily. Like all convex, sabre and scandi ground blades (and to a lesser extent, flat ground knives) eventually you need to reprofile the Moras as you wear the cutting apex back into the thicker part of the blade. I do that on a combination of bench stones and a guided rod system.
I find convex/sabre/scandi grind blades better for wood in 2 big ways. First, they are thicker behind the edge and much more resistant to rolling an edge. The edge last longer.
Second, they are easier for me to control the cutting angle and "bite" of the blade. I can rip off nice curls so much easier with these types of blades. Hollow grinds are (for me) awful and flat ground blades are tolerable but not as good.
Second thing to mention about the Mora Companion is the ugly but incredibly shaped handle. I've not found a wood working grip that produces a hot spot with it. In fact, I've not found a grip where the Companion simply isn't the nicest feeling handle I've ever used. It's stunningly good.
I also have a thicker Companion HD which has a more pronounced hand swell that offers a bit more control on hard straight cuts. But it's just tick less versatile.
Last thing to crow about the Companion is the ugly but functional plastic sheath. It's made for a working situation. It goes on the belt easily, stays put securely and comes off easily. Hold the knife secure enough for work and easy in/easy out. I wouldn't rely on it for hunting and busting through brush without an additional cord lock. But for working, it's the bomb.
Not trying to talk you out of a ESEE, but for $15, the Mora is something to try just for comparisons sake. It's really blown me away this summer.
