Protecting the edge?

A

aread

Joined
Aug 8, 2012
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My EDC is a CRKT M16. I like the knife & have no trouble getting it sharp enough for anything I need. The problem is that the handle is open which leaves the edge exposed to other stuff in my pocket. As soon as I put a handful of change in the same pocket, the great edge is lost.

I thought about some duct tape over the back of the handle, but that's a little redneck, even for me. A piece of wood probably wouldn't work either because of the locking spring on the side.

How do you guys protect the edge on your folding pocket knives with open handles?

Thanks,
Allen
 
Not to sound like a jerk. I just don't put my change in the same pocket. I have had this trouble before. And even still I get mystery rolls in my edge.
 
I put my coins in the the coin pocket. I don't know what kind of pants you are wearing, but almost all of mine (except for dress pants) have one.
 
The knife pocket is the knife pocket. You have 3 others to put change and other things in. The other thing you can do is carry your knife clipped in your waistband.
 
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Aside from carrying change in another pocket, you could make yourself a backspacer, G10 is always a favorite.
 
I carry my M16 in my back left pocket.

Just out of curiosity, what type of M16 do you have? And what is the blade steel? Some of the older ones have AUS6, but some of the present ones have AUS4. The M16-13s have a nice design, but the blade steel is so bad that you can probably lose your edge by breathing on it. The blade quality is so compromised that almost any contact with coins and keys will quickly dull the edge.

I'm no steel snob, but AUS4 is horrible blade steel. Some CRKT blades also have chisel grinds, which don't cut well unless you're left handed. Anyway, I predict a better blade steel will last longer in a pocket with metal objects. If you have an AUS6 or better, you should be fine by moving the knife to another pocket. But if it's a relatively new knife, you may want to invest in a better knife.
 
as others have said i reserve a pocket for my knife only, also there are several people who make custom backspacers, but the backspacer would probably cost you more than the crkt did in the first place.
 
Confederate said:
I carry my M16 in my back left pocket.

Just out of curiosity, what type of M16 do you have? And what is the blade steel? Some of the older ones have AUS6, but some of the present ones have AUS4. The M16-13s have a nice design, but the blade steel is so bad that you can probably lose your edge by breathing on it. The blade quality is so compromised that almost any contact with coins and keys will quickly dull the edge.

I'm no steel snob, but AUS4 is horrible blade steel. Some CRKT blades also have chisel grinds, which don't cut well unless you're left handed. Anyway, I predict a better blade steel will last longer in a pocket with metal objects. If you have an AUS6 or better, you should be fine by moving the knife to another pocket. But if it's a relatively new knife, you may want to invest in a better knife.
Click to expand...

It's the M16-01KE

I've had it several years.
 
Confederate said:
I carry my M16 in my back left pocket.

Just out of curiosity, what type of M16 do you have? And what is the blade steel? Some of the older ones have AUS6, but some of the present ones have AUS4. The M16-13s have a nice design, but the blade steel is so bad that you can probably lose your edge by breathing on it. The blade quality is so compromised that almost any contact with coins and keys will quickly dull the edge.

I'm no steel snob, but AUS4 is horrible blade steel. Some CRKT blades also have chisel grinds, which don't cut well unless you're left handed. Anyway, I predict a better blade steel will last longer in a pocket with metal objects. If you have an AUS6 or better, you should be fine by moving the knife to another pocket. But if it's a relatively new knife, you may want to invest in a better knife.
Click to expand...

There are models that came out with Aus-8, on par with CS's heat treat, though they have changed the steels numerous times since then. In fact there was a limited ed. that had 154cm.
 
Keys, wallet, and coin in the left pocket, knife (clipped), pocket knife (loose), and cell phone in the right pocket. Of course, I don't expect everybody to do what I do, but it doesn't seem like it's a difficult thing to keep your knife away from things that might damage it.
 
I carried a M16-12 in AUS8 and aluminum for a year or 2 around 2000-2002. It was very acceptable for a work knife. Back then the AUS6/Zytel models were designated with a "Z". The AUS8 was way better than AUS6 from CRKT.

Now I carry a PM2 and manix2, both with open spines, and I either drop change and keys in a cargo pocket or dump change in my car.

In my experience, ATS55 ATS34 154CM and VG10 are all HUGE improvements over AUS6 and very noticable improvements over AUS8, and all available for very reasonable prices from Kershaw and Spyderco and probably a few other companies.
 
If it's not been mentioned, carry a change purse, then you could keep it in the same pocket. Us older fellas know what I'm talking about. Other than that....your only choice is to not put change in the same pocket.

aread said:
My EDC is a CRKT M16. I like the knife & have no trouble getting it sharp enough for anything I need. The problem is that the handle is open which leaves the edge exposed to other stuff in my pocket. As soon as I put a handful of change in the same pocket, the great edge is lost.

I thought about some duct tape over the back of the handle, but that's a little redneck, even for me. A piece of wood probably wouldn't work either because of the locking spring on the side.

How do you guys protect the edge on your folding pocket knives with open handles?

Thanks,
Allen
Click to expand...
 
I think other posters have nailed this pretty well. Another alternative would be to carry your knife in a small belt pouch, I do this with SAKs and some large folders, but if my knife has a pocket clip, depending on the size I either clip it IWB, to the edge of the coin pocket or the edge of my main right-hand pocket. In colder months I might carry my knife in a jacket pocket. If I am using a pocket, my knife goes in there on its own.
 
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