Marbles Sowbelly D2

[old4570]

Love the build quality ( how it's bolted together ) . Right up there with the best of them . You could spend big and not get a knife bolted together better .

How ever ! Edge holding is very ordinary .
Is the steel D2 ? It certainly does not perform like D2 . Failing at 100 slices of rope puts this knife at the bottom level of average ( for me ) .
In fact this blade falls behind 420SS in performance , so ? Factory edge failed at 100 slices and my guided knife sharpener edge failed at 100 slices . Back to back 100 slice fails .

Bringing the edge back was as easy as stropping the blade on pure leather . A total of 10 passes on the strop and the blade was slicing paper again .
So is that easy edge maintenance ? Id trade that for edge holding any day .

 

[afishhunter]

I like mine. It is a good knife, despite the price.

I haven't cut any rope with it, though. Come to think of it, I haven't been in a situation where cutting rope or lines was an almost every day thing since I did some rigging work on my then boss' 72 foot ketch charter boat, way back in 2000 to 2004 or 2005.
The 440A blades on my marlin spikes did the job o.k.
I honestly don't think I've needed to cut a rope or line since. A few (not metal) pallet/shipping bands, and some zipties, and maybe a 3 inch nylon cargo strap or two, trim the insulation on a buncha wires and cables, remove a few willow brances .... Nothing my basic 1095, 420HC, and 440A blades couldn't handle.

My Marbles MR431 D2 Sowbelly stockman has held an edge longer than it takes to cut whatever I'm cutting or whittling ... so far, anyway.

I'll agree the build quality is difficult to better.
In fact, I'll even be so rash as to say it is every bit as good as my GEC 852211 Harness Jack.

The pull on all three blades of my Marbles MR431 is right at a "5".

I'm happy with it. While I normally prefer a 4 to 4 5/8 inch closed stockman, this Marbles at a puny 3 3/4 inch closed has found its way into my pocket quite often since I got it. One might even say "It has become one of my favorites ..."