Looking for a carbon blade with a pocket clip

gradall5200

gradall5200

Joined
Mar 12, 2006
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I love my traditional folders dont get me wrong but I have found that for work and how much I get my knife in and out of my pocket a pocket clip works the best for me and helps me avoid filling my pockets with dirt by not sticking my hand all the way down into my pocket to dig for it. Either way I had been carrying a Schrade SW7 switch it knife with pocket clip. Its schrade + so stainless pretty much and although I love the shape and carry of the knife its a heck of a workout just to resharpen it. I use my knife a ton during work for some pretty heavy duty tasks and the edge takes a beating and sometimes requires a sharpening once or twice a week and this knife is just beating me up. Anybody got any suggestions for a good edc with a pocket clip and possibly a higher carbon blade to make for an easier sharpening.
I know some of ya might say the stainless should hold a better edge but for the tasks Im using it for it gets dull fast regardless. So I figure if Im gonna sharpen it all the time maybe I could find a knife that sharpens a little easier. Thanks-Joel
 
You might have it backwards, most carbon steels are harder to sharpen and hold an edge well, while most stainless steels tend to dull quicker and sharpen easier. It could be in your technique or you tools. I don't really know what to suggest until I figure out whats what.
 
Plain carbon steels are easier to sharpen than the high wear, super steel type stainlesses IMO. Spyderco military in CPM D2 carbon steel enough for you? They're out now in a sprint run ( usual stainless CPM S30V). If you like D2 steel, this is one to have.

There aren't too many carbon steel folders in production any more. Queen and their sub lines ( schatt & Morgan, Moore maker), but these don't have clips. Same with the Case knives As far as I know.

Benchmade makes a D2 griptillian sold only through cabellas. Cold steel used to make some Carbon V folders . They'ed be E-bay finds now.

The rest are going to be custom knives as far as I know. The Spyderco Military or Benchmade Grip in D2 are the best bet for production typy knives with clips & locks. Hopefully people here will correct me where I'm wrong. Good luck, Joe

P.S. Some here have talked about having trouble sharpening D2. Something to think about. I personally don't.
 
Yeah, I think it just may be what you're used to. In the world of str8 razors, they recommend that you start with a carbon blade as they say it's easier to sharpen and maintain.

I've never had a good carbon steel knife so I can't really say.
 
Perhaps your Schrade switch it knife is not the best example of a good stainless steel. Before giving up on stainless you might try a better grade of stainless.

You might look for a blade of AUS8. It has fair edge holding (likely better than that of the steel in your Schrade) and is available on many knives that have pocket clips. I find that AUS8 takes a very keen edge and sharpens most easily. KaBar does a good job with AUS8. There are other mfgs as well.

I agree with Mastiff. Alloy steels and carbon steels are generally considered easier to sharpen than premium stainless.

However, I cannot think of a carbon steel or alloy steel knife that has a clip. I know that D2 is technically an alloy steel, but I sort of consider it in a separate class. I also consider it more effort to sharpen unless you have diamond sharpeners.
 
D2 is not the easiest steel in the world to sharpen. Just a warning. Do yourself a favor. Buy a a Spyderco Delica/Native/Endura. It'll be ages ahead of the Schrade
 
Case offers the Mid Folding Hunter in carbon steel, it's got a pocket clip and a thumb stud to open the blade. It's sort of a cross between a slipjoint and a modern linerlock knife.
 
I find the carbon steels easier to sharpen but if you get a 1095 blade at 62 Rockwell it can be more challenging I guess.

Pick a carbon blade you like and if it has brass liners and an overscale type handle it can be easily threaded to hold a clip I'm sure.

STR
 
Not many pocket clip carbon steel folders out there. The pre-eminate one that comes to mind is the Mission Knives MPF. Comes in A2 with a frame lock and pocket clip and a 4" blade. Greco also makes one is a couple of different variations. The A2 is the one I wish for though. I like A2 steel and carbon steel in general for working knives. Hope this helps. keepem sharp
 
The bigger problem with many inexpensive stainless blades is a edge angle that is a lot blunter than that which is put on an older carbon blade. This has been changing lately with newer offerings, but the problem I see is a lack of thin, flatground blades, something the carbon market has a lot of, compared to thick, swedge-ground blades in stainless.

D2 is nice, but I would look at ATS34 or better users with flatground blades and a clip. You would be surprised how much longer the edge resists dulling compared to the lesser abrasion resistant 400 stainless steels. Then you can have it both ways.

Or, add a fob to an Opinel - a great blade, thin, flatground, and carbon. With a fob to hold up at the edge of the pocket, easy to get to.
 
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