Favorite Traditional Work Horses

Loving the responses and pictures guys! I don't get as many opportunities to use my knives and I would like, despite living on a small farm. But a few months ago I did take almost a full wheelbarrow worth of leafy weeds out of one of the paddocks with my carbon Opinel no. 8, and it sliced through them like butter.
 
If I know ahead of time that the task will be harsh, then I grab one of these. Built like the proverbial brick telephone booth. And holds an edge long enough to get me through my tasks.
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traumkommode said:
This little filly does pretty much anything I ask her to do.

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Gorgeous! Unless I'm mistaken, that is one of the stainless GEC branded knives correct? You don't see too many around here, how do you like it? I prefer carbon steel in a traditional myself, but can totally see the appeal and I've had problems with spotting on 1095 before.
 
Yep, this is a GEC branded 440C blade. I love their 440C, and this iteration is my favorite pocket knife ever. It does fine with a toothy or a polished edge, although their 440C is a little harder to get as fine even as stuff like S35VN or M390. Might just be the way I sharpen, though, I dunno.

I live in a rainforest, and I even have two pepper spots on the spine this blade! And, supposedly, 440C is about as stainless as it gets. I like carbon steels, too. A lot of the modern stainless steels take very nice edges, and I like them as well. But in a folder, where corrosion gets into the pivot, I kinda prefer stainless. I'm easily swayed, though, sometimes, because GEC makes so few of their knives in 440C, and there are some terrific patterns.
 
jackknife said:
If I think it's gonna get rough or dirty, give me an alox SAK and my dad's old cut down machete. If it worked for him, it's good enough for me!

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Oh that machete sure does look like a sweet old workhorse.
though I don't really consider my machetes to be knives a machete would probably be my true workhorse, and incidentally enough it's act the marbles workhorse machete.
 
traumkommode said:
Yep, this is a GEC branded 440C blade. I love their 440C, and this iteration is my favorite pocket knife ever. It does fine with a toothy or a polished edge, although their 440C is a little harder to get as fine even as stuff like S35VN or M390. Might just be the way I sharpen, though, I dunno.

I live in a rainforest, and I even have two pepper spots on the spine this blade! And, supposedly, 440C is about as stainless as it gets. I like carbon steels, too. A lot of the modern stainless steels take very nice edges, and I like them as well. But in a folder, where corrosion gets into the pivot, I kinda prefer stainless. I'm easily swayed, though, sometimes, because GEC makes so few of their knives in 440C, and there are some terrific patterns.
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Thanks for the info! To my personal eye, a traditional just doesn't look "right" without that patina. But I live in the south and when in my pocket for long periods, 1095 gets sweaty and doesn't do well at all. So the 440C is tempting!
 
traumkommode said:
Yep, this is a GEC branded 440C blade. I love their 440C, and this iteration is my favorite pocket knife ever. It does fine with a toothy or a polished edge, although their 440C is a little harder to get as fine even as stuff like S35VN or M390. Might just be the way I sharpen, though, I dunno.

I live in a rainforest, and I even have two pepper spots on the spine this blade! And, supposedly, 440C is about as stainless as it gets. I like carbon steels, too. A lot of the modern stainless steels take very nice edges, and I like them as well. But in a folder, where corrosion gets into the pivot, I kinda prefer stainless. I'm easily swayed, though, sometimes, because GEC makes so few of their knives in 440C, and there are some terrific patterns.
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It isn't you. That's the large carbides in the 440C. The PM steels have smaller carbides, so they maintain a less toothy edge as they wear.

Not true. Even amongst alloys suitable for cutlery applications, 440C is considered one of the less stain resistant alloys.
 
Different tools for different tasks. SAK Huntsman for diversity, Esee Izula II for "heavy" work, and the all mighty Schatt Morgan folding hunter (D2 and buffalo horn) for big jobs.
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Hickory n steel said:
Oh that machete sure does look like a sweet old workhorse.
though I don't really consider my machetes to be knives a machete would probably be my true workhorse, and incidentally enough it's act the marbles workhorse machete.
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A good machete is a real work horse. But is it a tool, a knife or both? Is it up to how its being used or the blade length? I have used my Woodsman's Pal to cut through Black Locust, Bois D'arc, Mesquite and anything else that grows here in Texas. Cutting line is a daily occurrence in Land Surveying plus it does a great job around the house.
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knarfeng said:
Not true. Even amongst alloys suitable for cutlery applications, 440C is considered one of the less stain resistant alloys.
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This might need to go to PM, but can you explain that a little more? My experience with the pepper spots is interesting, and seems to corroborate what you stated. Do you just mean less stain resistant of the stain resistant alloys?
 
I can't upload pictures right now, but my Queen #49f sees a lot of work, but I also carry a, well basically demo knife in M390, that Tom Krein made into a zero degree scandi grind. Sucker will cut you looking at it.
Thanks, Neal
Ps-I'll add some photos after a bit
 
IMG_6613.JPG This one may need to be taken down, though I will note underwater, skeletonized knives have been around quite awhile. Sorry about pic quality, the blade isn't that dirty:rolleyes: . With this grind, it is literally like having two chisels back to back. Incredible cutting power, and because of the steel and spine thickness no fear of fragility. I edc these two every day. Plus a few others.:) ;)
Thanks, Neal
Ps- knarfeng knarfeng and @Peregrin this may need to be removed. Sorry if so.
Pps- this is also a Tom Krein regrind. Unmarked though. Need to get a note from him.
 
traumkommode said:
Not true. Even amongst alloys suitable for cutlery applications, 440C is considered one of the less stain resistant alloys.
This might need to go to PM, but can you explain that a little more? My experience with the pepper spots is interesting, and seems to corroborate what you stated. Do you just mean less stain resistant of the stain resistant alloys?
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440C is less stain resistant than many other cutlery grade stainless alloys.
For example: 420HC, 13C26, 440A, 154CM, S30V are all considered more corrosion resistant than 440C.
Alloys such as N680 and 14C28N, are significantly more corrosion resistant.
Below is a comparison chart. Source is below the chart.

"Average Pitting Potential measurements from Polarization Curves run in 5% NaCI (sodium Chloride) Solution at Room Temp: (Higher voltage pitting potential indicates better corrosion resistance.)"
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http://www.hudsontoolsteel.com/technical-data/steelCPMS30V
 
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