I have had a Western hunting knife for years and have put it through the best test available: I haven't cared about it. It was cheap so I threw it, hammered with it, cut any number of cans, and simply left it in my drawer for long periods, un-cared for. I have even tried to rip it apart and couldn't manage it. And after all of this it still takes and holds an arm-shaving edge. It may not look pretty anymore but it still works great.