Please explain this

[zignal_zero]

i'm hoping someone can help me understand something.

when i was a kid, i believed that if a knife was easy to put a good edge on, then it was also quick to lose it. also, if it was a pain in the butt to put an edge on, it would keep it for a long time. i know, now, that this is NOT the case. i realize some knives/steels will take an edge very easily AND retain it well. problem is - i don't understand how. aren't both and indication of resistance to abrasion? i mean - cutting stuff is a form of abrasion the same as sharpening, isn't it? how can a the same edge that changes so quickly, on a stone, change so slowly on everythingelse (slicing stuff)? what am i missing, here

 

[Jason B.]

Impact/compression/deformation
Lateral stresses
Abrasive factor of the material being cut
How hard the material is
Foreign objects in the media being cut

I'm sure I missed a few.


You also must factor in the steel and what you plan on using it for. For example, S30V would be a poor choice over VG-10 if you were processing game but the scales would tip if you were cutting open bags of dirt or cutting cardboard. Steels like VG-10 were designed to take a fine edge and have a fine grain that allows them to keep that edge in softer cutting. S30V and like steels with their high wear resistance do just that, resist wear. Unlike steels that hold a sharp edge you will often hear how these steels get toothy or hold a working edge. Its simply a factor of their wear resistance and how the steel is affected by the object being cut. Its also the reason most prefer VG 10 and feel it has similar edge retention to S30V even though S30V has about double.

Lots of factors but its basically picking the right steel for the task.