I've had it !!

Brendan said:
my sharpening skills have come a long way but I think the only way to sharpen S30V is with diamond stones !!

Oil stones just don't seem to have the bite, I'm so over being into knives that look cool but aren't easy to use !!

INFI is my friend when it comes to sharpening !!
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They are pretty easy to sharpen really, I have 3 SmF's. :)

Once the edge is set it just takes a few strokes on the Ceramic Steel that came with my Edge Pro to bring it back.

IF you have a Sharpmaker you can do the same thing using the white stones.

The important thing is to maintain the edge so you don't have to remove a lot of steel to sharpen it.

As a side note you can touch up the convex edge with a ceramic steel.
 
Another vote for a BAD! :thumbup:

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I have some S30V 13 inch Hossum Combat/Machete's which have convex edges and the only way to work with these is to do as Jerry H suggests and get a belt sander and the recommended belts... they are too big and hard to mess with on stones... in the field I use an Eze Lap diamond hone for steeling out rolls on the edges...the model is the Brass one which unscrews and is stored by srewing back into the handle....very easy to keep on the sheath ( I make my own leather sheaths and add a storage loop )...but the bottom line on super hard steels is to put the scalpel sharp edge on in the workshop and then try and stay on top of it in the field by using a leather strop paddle and some form of polishing compound...

"Little and Often" with the paddle is the best way... I bought some hide from a Saddler's and cut out a strip which fit's in an old tin of Cafe Creme's cigars...easy to get in the UK and easy to slip in a pocket...take that out and using the tin for a backer I strap it to the tin and the tin to my thigh once sitting down leaning up against a tree...a few strokes whilst having a cup of tea and it comes back to a scalpel no problem...

The thing is not to leave it "too long" .... re-profiling S30V or my Cowry X blades is only sensibly done on a bench sander ... otherwise even with diamond stones like on my Lansky ... it is "hours" and an "evening in" to get it back ...

Infi is much easier though... like 01 Tool Steel ...but keeps an edge longer...if you wanted a small handy Infi blade I would go with the Game Warden as suggested.
 
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For a folder (for now) I find my Chris Reeves Sebenza to be an excellent blade. I have no fear of breaking her - unlike some other folders I have tried. Sturdy like a tank, slim, and sharp as all get out. And a few passes on my stone and she is back to super sharp as needed - which is not very often. I am sorry to say I do not know the metal but I can say despite my love for INFI that in a folder - she works for me!
 
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Try and find a Sebenza with a BG-42 blade, you will be happy! :D


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I am having a similar issue with a kershaw zdp-189 blade. There is some variance in the ultimate hardness of these steels. You may have gotten one on the harder end of the spectrum making it harder to sharpen. Although I am skilled at sharpening steel I have issues with the one blade. I cannot get it as sharp as I want it with the proper tootheness for the materials I want to cut. The steel is hard enough that it wears down some of my sharpening equipment faster then it sharpens. I am seriously thinking about replacing it with the standard 13c26 version as I can easily get the edge how I want it. It is too bad some respondents would rather insult you then to answer the question you asked.

It should be pretty easy for you to make a straight trade for a smaller Busse. I would recommend aiming for a Cultellus. They are a nice size, with a full flat grind, lots of belly and a comfortable handle. They seems to be a little sell pricey on the secondary market as well. Good luck.
 
iamtoast said:
I am having a similar issue with a kershaw zdp-189 blade. There is some variance in the ultimate hardness of these steels. You may have gotten one on the harder end of the spectrum making it harder to sharpen. Although I am skilled at sharpening steel I have issues with the one blade. I cannot get it as sharp as I want it with the proper tootheness for the materials I want to cut. The steel is hard enough that it wears down some of my sharpening equipment faster then it sharpens. I am seriously thinking about replacing it with the standard 13c26 version as I can easily get the edge how I want it. It is too bad some respondents would rather insult you then to answer the question you asked.

It should be pretty easy for you to make a straight trade for a smaller Busse. I would recommend aiming for a Cultellus. They are a nice size, with a full flat grind, lots of belly and a comfortable handle. They seems to be a little sell pricey on the secondary market as well. Good luck.
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thanks for the advise. the culti does look to be a nice little knife.

I don't get too insulted when it comes to the forums - different people have different ways of saying things. I can sharpen most things but this strider is kicking my but - interesting point you make on variances in harnesses, explains a few things !!
 
I have no issue sharpening and keeping (steeling) my Sebenza or Lochsa hair popping sharp. Both are S30V. But, with that said....I could get my SMF or Dauntless to a hair popping sharpness although they would be dull (what I consider dull) in half the time of my Sebennz/Lochsa and for the life of me I could not bring the edge back to life. Typically I would steel the Striders until they had a decent edge but eventually would have to re-sharpen them long before my Sebbie or Lochsa saw the grinding wheel. I use a Jet Tool slow wet sharpening wheel (similar to a Tormek).

If you don't like sharpening or have some issues with it then I suggest you get a folder that requires little effort or frequency. Benchmade makes some excellent folders with some fantastic steels which I have similar results as the CRK and SCook knives, and they won't cost you an arm and a leg. 154cm (stainless) and D2 (tool) to name a couple. Sharpen up easily, easy to maintain, and hold the edge fairly well.

I totally agree that INFI is a breeze to sharpen and maintain. You could put a decent edge on a Busse using a rock, but that's the case for most properly heated tool steels (high carbon). So if you want a fixed blade Busse that has similar attributes as a SMF or SnG then I would recommend a std AD or MrS. One of the company store models, I believe they were 3/16" and are pretty available at reasonable costs.

Good luck.
 
Solstice said:
I have no issue sharpening and keeping (steeling) my Sebenza or Lochsa hair popping sharp. Both are S30V. But, with that said....I could get my SMF or Dauntless to a hair popping sharpness although they would be dull (what I consider dull) in half the time of my Sebennz/Lochsa and for the life of me could not bring the edge back to life. Typically I would steel the Striders until they had a decent edge and eventually would have to re-sharpen them long before my Sebbie or Lochsa saw the grinding wheel. I use a Jet tool slow wet sharpening wheel (similar to a Tormek).

If you don't like sharpening or have some issues with it then I suggest you get a folder that requires little effort or frequency. Benchmade make some excellent folders with some fantastic steel which I have similar results as the CRK and SCook knives, and they won't cost you an arm and a leg. 154cm and D2 to name a couple. Sharpen up easily, easy to maintain, and hold the edge fairly well.

I totally agree that INFI is a breeze to sharpen and maintain. You could put a decent edge on a Busse using a rock, but that's the case for most properly heated tool steels (high carbon). So if you want a fixed blade Busse that has similar attributes as a SMF or SnG then I would recommend a std AD or MrS. One of the company store models, I believe they were 3/16" and are pretty available at reasonable costs.

Good luck.
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great post - thanks mate. Company store models - what ya mean
 
Brendan said:
great post - thanks mate. Company store models - what ya mean
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Skunk had a run of Meaners and Active Duties that came out of the store awhile back. 2 years ago? Any how they flooded the market with Meaners mostly, and some Active Duties in there if memory serves me right. They are now pretty much the std Meaner you see around, in other words not from the original run which was about 5 years ago (?). I believe Liu Kang has a bunch of them for sale in one of his FS threads, if you shop around you can find a good user or one for pretty cheap. The Active Duties are a little more scarce but they're out there. Both in the 3/16" models are pretty much the best damn all around EDC fixed blade on the market (IMHO).

Hope that helps.
 
I like the Culty for what you are looking for. As soon as I get a nice sheath for it I will be carrying it all the time.
 
Lycosa said:
Krein it!!
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Man knows what he's talkin bout!!:thumbup:

I use this knife every day at work and once a week(usually the weekend) I give it a few passes on my sharpmaker and she is back to hair whittlin.

Tom really knows his stuff and all his knives are very easy to maintain with a sharpmaker.

KREIN IT!!!!

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I wish i could take some better pics but it is dark outside right now and i dont have a light box/tent.
 
I did not have any problem putting an edge on my SMF but I did just trade it for a Sebenza.
If you want folding go with a Sebenza or a BAD for a fixed.
 
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