Estimated blade life of a traditional

[richstag]

You would not believe how many times a day guy at work would ask me for a knife, and how many times a day I have had to ask to get it back.

No I do understand. I worked for a while with a team of guys and knives were a community thing. Thats why everyone carried folding utility knives and we got together to pick up a few hundred extra blades. Sometimes a knife is a tool and nothing more.

Kevin

 

[Stich2442]

That Opinel can really take a beating and it has.

 

[richstag]

Opinel's are great IMO. I just didn't have time to sharpen. 72 hours a week, 12 hour shifts, up at 4, home at 7:30...

 

[Stich2442]

Been there done that, when I ran kitchens and when I did construction, it was another part time job keeping that Opi sharp, the past 5 months I've been home raising my daughter. It's a different type of work. Way more rewarding watching her develop, then cooking for strangers or building for them.

 

[richstag]

I'm glad to hear things are working out for you

 

[Stich2442]

Thanks, strange adjustment, I thought I would be able to do renovations, but my new boss is pretty demanding when she wants to eat, she wants to eat.

 

[wackafew]

JMO.... I'm getting to be kind of a ole fart an I think lucky is the man that can wear his knife out.

 

[Planterz]

That being said i was wondering how long the softer CV blade of the case will last with a couple weekly sharpenings on medium whetstone.

Stropping or using ceramic for touch-ups will take off far less metal than a whetstone.

Then there's always the typical Bladeforums method of extending your knives' lifespans: Buy so many that each only sees a few days of use per week/month/year.

 

[Joe21]

Stropping or using ceramic for touch-ups will take off far less metal than a whetstone.

Then there's always the typical Bladeforums method of extending your knives' lifespans: Buy so many that each only sees a few days of use per week/month/year.

Shhhh! It wont take too much to talk me into that haha

 

[richstag]

Aaron,

You might be surprised how little a light touch and a translucent arkansas stone takes off ;-)

Kevin

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Here's a 100 year old knife, (UNION KNIFEWORKS), it's a user, I've used it since I got it, (not 100 years ago, but I've had it for a buncha years) what do ya think, how has the blade worn? I'd say pretty well for 100 year old knife.

I think people tend to oversharpen, the desire for hair scarin'/hair poppin' sharp blades can be overkill, I don't sharpen my EDCs once a month let alone once or twice a week.

One of the reasons I carry muliblades and multiple EDCs is because I can have different degrees of sharpness for different cuttin' jobs

 

[richstag]

Here's a 100 year old knife, (UNION KNIFEWORKS), it's a user, I've used it since I got it, (not 100 years ago, but I've had it for a buncha years) what do ya think, how has the blade worn? I'd say pretty well for 100 year old knife.

I think people tend to oversharpen, the desire for hair scarin'/hair poppin' sharp blades can be overkill, I don't sharpen my EDCs once a month let alone once or twice a week.

One of the reasons I carry muliblades and multiple EDCs is because I can have different degrees of sharpness for different cuttin' jobs

I don't personally think that knife has seen close to 100 years of use or carry. But thats just me. Unless it was someone like my father that never really sharpens his knife and keeps it in his truck or toolbox instead of his pocket.

I say that because my grandfather's old brown bone Case 62087 is much more pocket worn and the blades are much more sharpened away and he used his every day for most of his life and carried it in his pocket.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Just 'cause it's a hundred years old doesn't mean it's a hundred abused, (abused is the wrong word, more like over sharpened) years, my grabdfather would carry a stone in his pocket and touch up the edge on his pocket knife after nearly every use. It was always razor sharp but in ten years it looked like it was a hundred years old.

Now I have knives I bought as a kid over 40 years ago that look almost new, mostly 'cause I learned not to over sharpen, it's epidemic and not necessary, just look in the traditional forums and it's not uncommon to see pics of knives over 50-60 years old and in great shape, (usable blades), now I've had many more back springs go weak and lose their snap than worn out blades.

It really comes down to how the tool/knife was treated and used, a hundred years ago a pocket knife was not a cheap possession they were akin to pocket watches in fit and finish back then, it's not uncommon to find a pocket watch that old and in workin' condition.

I grew up the son of a mechanic as a mechanic and one thing I was taught was the proper care and use of all my hand tools, includin' my pocket knife.

There is no doubt that most people ain't as OCD as I am when it comes to knives but than again, I'm sure my daughter will be handin' down knives that I bought as a kid to her grandkids, and in 2080 they'll be marvelin' at the fact that they're holdin' a hundred year old Schrade in their hands and it still has a fairly full blade still.

 

[richstag]

Seems we have a similarity. I too was raised by a mechanic. My father was an aviation mechanic for years. He taught me the same about tool care and use.

I'm not arguing, I just don't see 100 years of any type of use on that one. I see more pitting on the bolsters like it sat and corroded for a long time?

I didn't mean to offend, I was just adressing your question.

My one grandpa was a carpenter and business owner, along with setting up computers for pepsi and he kept that Case knife sharp. I wouldn't say it was oversharpened one bit if it worked for him.

My other grandpa who has passed was an engineer and all of his tools and knives look close to new. Even 100 year old ones

But he had quite a few and didn't use a knife very often.

So anyhow, like I said, I didn't mean to set you off. I just don't see 100 years of use.

Kevin

 

[richstag]

I recently purchased a case trapper yellow cv and it quickly became one of my favorite knives to use arouund the house. I use it for anything from working in the garden to working with para cord to peeling an orange when im outside. Its allways in my pocket when im around the house. The only reason i dont carry it out much is the weight. It occasionally sees use if im planning on doing any fencing or ranch work. I specifically bought a benchmade 530 REI special to carry outside of the house becase i found other knives were too bulky to carry in shorts or casual wear. By the time I had my cell phone and walet in my pockets i felt weighed down enough to carry a regular knife. Anyways, these 2 knives do 95% of my cutting tasks. That being said i was wondering how long the softer CV blade of the case will last with a couple weekly sharpenings on medium whetstone.

So Ted, I was more addressing the OP's question. He is speaking of a case, and my grandpa carried a case. He used something around a medium/fine stone. His lasted most of his life and I still have it.

I really think you and I are trying to get across the same point though. Don't sharpen more than you need. I just feel some use their knives much more often than others

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I tend to ramble, no offense taken, I've only had this knife for maybe 6 years so I can't tell what was done with the knife but it was used, ya can see the sharpenin' scratches on the blade and te other blade was snapped off doin' somethin'. My Old Man was a Fleet Mechanic for Shell Oil and my 1 Grandfather was a Carpenter and the other was a Farmer, both carried and used knives for a livin'.

I actually have one of my grandfathers knives that he used to cut up peppers, onions and kielbasa for our lunch when I was a wee tyke some 45 years ago.

My point is a well taken care of tool can last for many generations I have old planes from my grandfather that look rough but they cut and curl wood better than a brand new plane but like I said they look rough.

Anyway, it's only my opinion too and I can only speak on the history of knives I had for the last 40 years even if it was 40 years of use it still is in good shape.

One point I can see is that when people bought knives like this 100 years ago they didn't have 10 or more EDCs to choose from, they had 1 knife and used it till it was unusable but keep in mind there were people like me and you even back then who respected, valued and took care of their tools and the proof of that is that we're havin' this discussion right now about a 100 year old knife.

Did I mention that the knife was 100 years old, just kiddin', it still blows my mind that I'm carryin' a knife this old as an EDC.

I do see your point and I agree that this knife is probably not the norm but still it's an example of an old used knife that's still got some serviceable life left, (did I mention the knife was 100...)

 

[richstag]

Ted,

Like I said in your other thread, that knife is AWESOME! I would love to own and carry it myself. Moving on to your grandpa that was a carpenter. Its really funny you brought up how his old worn looking tools performed better. If I use an Identical model woodworking tool that was my carpenter grandfather's it looks worn but it works better than the same tool of my other grandpa's that looks brand new. And that old Case knife is still sharp

I ramble too. Maybe we have a lot in common.

Kevin

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Stickin' to op's original question, with weekly sharpenin' on a medium whetstone he'll get 20 years on the CV blade before it's too thick for a fine edge or long enough to do much more than cut string, open envelopes or clean under your finger nails.

Than again do ya really ask more of a traditional folder?

I'll say this, if the op takes care of his blade it'll last him his lifetime.

 

[kamagong]

Although a pocketknife was more treasured 100 years ago than they usually are today, then as now, people had different levels of sharpening ability. We tend to look at the past with rose colored glasses, where every man had a fine knife in his pocket, kept it scalpel sharp, and knew how to use it for tasks both mundane and extraordinary. That wasn't the case. I've seen plenty of old knives with broken and chipped blades that looked like they were sharpened by a drunk monkey on a sidewalk. I don't know how they got that way and I'm not judging their owners, but I know for a fact that they didn't take care of them as well as I do my own knives.

Truth be told, even if a man from 100 years ago knew how to take care of his knife, I seriously doubt that he lavished the care on his knife that a lot of the people here do with theirs. Think about it, we've seen dozens of threads on how to keep knives polished, how to patina a blade, even how to clean a knife. People have debates on how to best sharpen a blade -- I myself have several Arkansas stones, an Indian stone, sandpaper, strop, and even a Spyderco Sharpmaker to choose from. With these tools and the knowledge I've gleaned from this forum I think any quality knife will easily outlast me to be passed down to my children and grandchildren. I'm more concerned with losing a knife than wearing one out.

- Christian

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Although a pocketknife was more treasured 100 years ago than they usually are today, then as now, people had different levels of sharpening ability. We tend to look at the past with rose colored glasses, where every man had a fine knife in his pocket, kept it scalpel sharp, and knew how to use it for tasks both mundane and extraordinary. That wasn't the case. I've seen plenty of old knives with broken and chipped blades that looked like they were sharpened by a drunk monkey on a sidewalk. I don't know how they got that way and I'm not judging their owners, but I know for a fact that they didn't take care of them as well as I do my own knives.

Truth be told, even if a man from 100 years ago knew how to take care of his knife, I seriously doubt that he lavished the care on his knife that a lot of the people here do with theirs. Think about it, we've seen dozens of threads on how to keep knives polished, how to patina a blade, even how to clean a knife. People have debates on how to best sharpen a blade -- I myself have several Arkansas stones, an Indian stone, sandpaper, strop, and even a Spyderco Sharpmaker to choose from. With these tools and the knowledge I've gleaned from this forum I think any quality knife will easily outlast me to be passed down to my children and grandchildren. I'm more concerned with losing a knife than wearing one out.

- Christian

Well said.