high carbon steel emergency sharpening

U

UndergroundDweller

Joined
Dec 16, 2011
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4
Hello
I have an unused Cold Steel Master Hunter (carbon v) which I bought a while back for survival. After updating my gear recently, I began thinking about "long term" survival. Now I want a good stainless steel blade like the Fallkniven f1.
In a "long term" survival situation, I might find myself without oil and a sharpening system to maintain the high carbon blade. With a stainless steel blade, I can sharpen it with an improvised stone that I find along the way correct? Also, no oil is needed.
Can I sharpen my high carbon Master Hunter with an improvised stone? If so, how much more difficult will it be compared to the Fallkniven f1. I think I want to trade my unused MH for the F1. I'll settle for a used one.

thanks.
 
you could use a field stone to sharpen your carbon steel knife with. a little spit would help if you like wet sharpening.
 
Keep in mind, some higher alloy steels won't respond as well to the 'average rock' found on the ground. Most of those rocks are silica-based, and might not be hard enough for high-alloy steels (such as used on the Fallkniven) at fairly high hardness. If you're planning on trying to sharpen that way, I'd test it first at home, before you find yourself in a jam out in the woods somewhere. On a basic carbon steel blade at typical hardness (mid-to-high 50s RC), you'd probably be OK. But, the carbides in the high-alloy stainless steel will be much more wear-resistant, and proportionately harder to sharpen with just any stone.
 
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I'd stick with the Master Hunter. Stainless may not rust as quickly as Carbon V, but it's much easier to sharpen with stone. If you put a patina on the carbon steel if will help to prevent rust as well.
 
That's just what I wanted to hear. I'll keep the MH then. Thank you all for that info. Now all I need is a good chopper/machete. I bought a Timberline Russ Kommer Bush Pilot Survival Hatchet the same day as the MH, but that was an impulse buy and I regret it. It seems like I could easily smash my hand and the grip doesn't feel right. I was thinking about getting a 14" - 18" Nepalese kukri (thekhukurihouse.com) which I would use as a chopper. For the machete, a U.S. G.I., Tramontina bolo machete or one of the Martindale blades. What do you recommend?
How about something like this for a chopper:D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdcS1Icc-mU
 
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You may wish to have a cobbler sew a small pocket on the sheath of your Master hunter to carry a small diamond stone and a "metal match" with the knife if you're going to use it as a survival tool.:thumbup:
 
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