Keeping A Sharp Edge on CRKT Crawford/Casper?

M

maury

Joined
Sep 24, 2000
Messages
606
Have a CRKT Crawford/Kasper - 3" plain blade - and really like it for EDC with one small problem: I can't seem to keep a "working" sharp edge on it. Cut a couple of feet of corrugated cardboard or some similar chores and it seem to dull right down.

I use a Sharpmaker to bring it up but seem from what I have read here, it seems like it should be holding a better edge than that.

Am I doing something wrong or am I just expecting too much from a $35.00 folder?
 
I read in a magazine article that the steel used in the CRKT Crawford/Kasper was hard to keep sharp if used for utility purposes.The knife was intended for a defensive role with utility secondary.The article claimed that if used in a defensive role it would be confiscated anyhow so edge retention wasn't a major concern. I hope this helps.tom.
 
I believe Gaucho did a review of the Kasper and found the edge to last well for EDC. An article I have on the CRKT Kaspers (the AUS-6 ones) in Tac Knives or one of the other ones said that the edge lasted 3 weeks for EDC and needed 15 minutes on a bench stone to get it back to super sharp.

I am wondering if you are getting a wire edge. I noticed that it is MUCH easier for me to get a wire edge with AUS-6 than it is with ATS-34.
 
I should be getting royalties for the number of times I've made the following recommendation...

If you cut cardboard every in your work or other chores, get yourself a Stanley 99 retractable blade utility knife. It's the best tool for the job (not as "sexy" as your KFF, but that's why they call it a utility knife). When a blade dulls - turn it around. When that side dulls - replace it. I've even restored the edge on a ceramic tri-stick when I didn't have extra blades.

I worked in a factory when I was 16 where a good part of the day was spent cutting up heavy cardboard packing boxes. The Stanley 99 was the "issue" blade given to all of us. I still have and use mine - more than 15 years later.

Best $10 knife you will ever own.
 
I agree with RH. Nothing beats a razor-blade utility knife for cardboard cutting. I keep a couple of small utility razors around for that very reason.
 
Originally posted by maury
Have a CRKT Crawford/Kasper - 3" plain blade - and really like it for EDC with one small problem: I can't seem to keep a "working" sharp edge on it. Cut a couple of feet of corrugated cardboard or some similar chores and it seem to dull right down.

I use a Sharpmaker to bring it up but seem from what I have read here, it seems like it should be holding a better edge than that.

Am I doing something wrong or am I just expecting too much from a $35.00 folder?
Click to expand...

You could be getting a wire edge, as someone mentioned above.

On teh other hand, cardboard can be very rough on an edge. In addition, if I recall, those CRKT's are using steels that lose their edge pretty quickly. What is it again, 6A or something?

Could be a combination of all 3 things: wire edge, abrasive material, steel that isn't all that wear-resistant.

Joe
 
I've owned a few AUS6 CRKT's and I ended up selling them all. In my experience, it's possible to sharpen the blade to scary sharp, Tuff-Cloth it, put it down on a desk, come back a few days later, and it's dull. I like a lot of their designs, but until they start using real steel I won't be buying any more.
 
I have a number of CRKT knives with AUS-6, and find it a terrible steel to keep sharp. I don't know about heat-treatments, but this is the worst steel I've encountered in a "quality" production knife.

Bucks 420HC is a significant improvement, in my ever-so-humble opinion, for a "low end" steel.
 
my wife has a kasper pro (are they '6???) and i have to sharpen it weekly and she never cuts anything but envelopes, and othet light duty - it easy to sharpen though.......


sifu
 
Personally, AUS-6 is junk steel. They made it easy to sharpen for a reason.

And I'm with RH ~ buy a utility knife. For one whole dollar you can buy one of those cheapy metal "box cutters" that even comes with a small pack of razor blades. ;) I've had my 2 "box cutters" for 10+ years and it's still ticking !

Betcha I haven't expended more that $10 to cut hundreds and hundreds of feet of cardboard since purchasing dem "box cutters."

Pinchin' my pennies so I can buy some customs or high-end productions. :D
 
I know alot of people have had good experiences with CRKT and I like many of their designs ,but :
I had to get rid of my stiff kiss because I could not get that thing to hold an edge.I would get the edge set up perfectly,test it on my arm for shaving,and put it away.The next time I took it out of the sheath,it would no longer shave hair.I finally came to the conclusion that either the sheath was dulling the knife, or the one pass over my arm to check the edge dulled it.It did take a good edge though,and I really did like the knife.I gave it to a friend of mine-he was happy as a clam:D
troy
 
It's possible it's not just that it's AUS-6 (I think CRKT uses AUS-6M). It's also the heat treat and hardness. Spyderco's AUS-6 is a couple points harder than CRKT's and therefore should hold an edge a bit better. Also, Al Mar uses/used AUS-6 extensively in many of his knives and I strongly don't think either Spyderco or Al Mar use junk steel. CRKT's AUS-6 is heat-treated fairly soft, I think 55-56 Rc? Spyderco's is around 57-58. I also have a couple Kershaws with 6A that perform well. It's not my favorite steel, but it's not bad if it's done right.
Jim
 
James: I'm aware that Spyderco uses (or used) 8A plenty. In what models are they using 6A? I didn't realize they'd used 6A in anything.

Ooops, just checked, they use 6A in the Spydercard. The Spydercard holds a reasonable edge, considering. The edge on the Spydercard is incredibly thin -- very thin stock with a hollow grind on top of it.


Joe
 
Joe:
Spyderco also uses AUS-6 on the SS-handled Endura II and Delica II, the sheepsfoot-bladed Ladybug II, as well as the knives they sell from Sakai.

Jim
 
When I posted this question and mentioned using my knife for cutting corrugated cardboard, I was talking about only slicing an occasional bit - not heavy use. The blade, inspite of being my EDC, gets fairly light use, overall. But I seem to be having the same problem as several others mention here in regard to it just loosing its edge, even when it is not in use. I can get a good "working" edge on it with my Sharpmaker and usually protect it with a drop of RustFree or some light oil after sharpening. 3 or 4 days later, even if I haven't used it, it will be noticeable duller. If I use it a bit, it dulls down very quickly.

Now, this sounds kind of weird to me - but then I don't know a heck if a lot about the in's and out's of blade steel - but why would a quality manufacture like CRKT use stuff that won't keep an edge? And if a knife is intended for "defensive" use, as was mentioned above, is that some sort of justification to make a knife that won't stay sharp?

Or, as I think was suggested, is there some sort of a quality control problem here that is giving us different stuff on different runs of the same blade? Hoo-Boy!
 
Maury:
To he honest, I've never had a blade dull just sitting around, so it sounds like it might be some kind of problem with the heat-treat of your blade? Perhaps it was in a bad batch?

I read years ago that some carbon steel blades may dull sitting around just by oxidation but I've never noticed that on my straight carbon blades either...

Maybe if you email CRKT they may have an answer or at least be made aware of such a problem with one of their blades.

Jim
 
The KFF Pro uses AUS-8.

I have the CRKT Companion (Smae steel as your folder) and it works o.k. I have done some whittling with it and the edge is still grabby. I'd suggest getting a loupe to check for a wire edge, that should help. You can't just run a knife on the sharpmaker 20 strokes each side and expect a perfect edge.

I'm not saying it is your technique, but usually I have found that user error is more often the cause than faulty material. Maybe lend the knife to a knife buddy you have and see what they find with it. Maybe a forumite can help you out.
 
I have used many of crkt's knives with steels,
AUS 6M,AUS 8,Z60CDV14,& ATS 34. I have not tried
the AUS 118, yet.
Personally I prefer the AUS8 or the ATS34. My
gray ghost wharncliffe gets razor sharp with ease
and holds it well(AUS8). My S-2 is the same way(ATS34).
My apache's are slightly harder to sharpen but hold
the edge longer(ATS34). Both work well for me.

How about AUS118? Anyone?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top