after a weeks use of the kershaw od-1 (liked not loved), i debated on taking it back and today was my last straw with it. it takes a wicked edge, but it used it this morning to cut the rope on the sod and to trim the sod up, wiped the blade off and stuck it back in the pocket. well later that day i open it back up and its got rust spot all over the durn blade and handle 
i understand the fact that the grass or soil in the sod had moisture, but really now? in less than 5 hours its going to develop that much rust. and im talking, the whole blade had small iddy biddy rust spots.
i also understand about knife maintenance, but i went to go buy a work knife, one to use and abuse, cut what i need and put it back without worrying about rust. im guessing it was just the steel, sandvik 14c28n ss, just not being rust resistant enough or w/e, but oh well. i ended up returning the knife and bought the Buck Omni Hunter 365, rubberized handles, buck's legendary 420hc steel, and a kydex (??) sheath.
first thoughts on the buck, it has a nice, thin grind and a big ol' belly on the blade. locks up nice, feels great in the hand, sliced up a bagel nicely (little better than the kershaw od-1)
just thought about it and ill give a week after review on the od-1.
the kershaw od-1, also my first but not last kershaw purchase, was a very nice knife. locked up good, sharp out of the box, came out faster than my auto knives and auto assist knives. i like kershaw's flipper design. although the flipper tab was a little loose, which bothered me, but i tested 3 different knives and the problem was apparent on all of them. the blade stayed sharp for the first day and got touched up on a ceramic stone every night.
day to day chores were pretty standard for a work knife. cut string, cord, plastic strapping, clean fingernails, slice bagel and apples.
the more hefty chores were, maybe, a little strenuous on a light-medium use folder. trimmed up maybe 30 pieces of sod. i work at a cemetery, so we lay the sod on the ground, on a grave and cut the sod to the out line of the grave. so the knive cuts through the sod into the ground. i also cut many many lengths of weed eater cord/wire/whatever you call it. 5lb cord by stihl.
we found some bamboo about ~25 ft tall and cut the branches off of 14 stalks of bamboo ranging between 15 and 25 feet, which the blade was hair popping sharp before and hair popping sharp after 30 minutes of straight cutting bamboo limbs. there was zero, 0, blade play. which im use to fairly cheap folders for my work knives and that last act would have caused them to wiggle side to side afterwards, but not the od-1. i also eat alot of apples and wittle alot of oak and pine while at work when we have down time. i wittle hard, dry oak limbs about 3/4 inch and maybe 10 inches long.
it performed well during that week and got many comments on it, "sharp knife, thats a good lookin' knife, ect..." but i couldn't get past the rust on the blade. i keep my blade fairly clean and wipe it off any chance i get and i did clean it one time with a tooth brush, warm water and dial soap after the sod cutting/trimming. i dont really know why it would rust though? maybe because i sweat alot and cut that weed eater cord and salt/water = corrosion heaven?
anyways, i got the buck omni hunter 395 series now. maybe it'll stand the test of time, i'll use it for a week and decide then. so far its been good, no blade play, sharp, good lock up. but i dont know about the sheath, does anyone have any experience with a buck kydex sheath? i always have bad experiences with the sheath snagging on stuff, especially when i get in and out of the truck. i ripped my last "kydex" sheath..dunno if it was kydex or polyester or something. it was cheap though. i can tell you, if this buck doesn't turn out like i want it to :grumpy: then ill return it and just replace my misplaced vic super tinker. im just testing out a new work knife because i misplaced my SAK. and does anyone have any experience with using the knife?
i understand the fact that the grass or soil in the sod had moisture, but really now? in less than 5 hours its going to develop that much rust. and im talking, the whole blade had small iddy biddy rust spots. i also understand about knife maintenance, but i went to go buy a work knife, one to use and abuse, cut what i need and put it back without worrying about rust. im guessing it was just the steel, sandvik 14c28n ss, just not being rust resistant enough or w/e, but oh well. i ended up returning the knife and bought the Buck Omni Hunter 365, rubberized handles, buck's legendary 420hc steel, and a kydex (??) sheath.
first thoughts on the buck, it has a nice, thin grind and a big ol' belly on the blade. locks up nice, feels great in the hand, sliced up a bagel nicely (little better than the kershaw od-1)
just thought about it and ill give a week after review on the od-1.
the kershaw od-1, also my first but not last kershaw purchase, was a very nice knife. locked up good, sharp out of the box, came out faster than my auto knives and auto assist knives. i like kershaw's flipper design. although the flipper tab was a little loose, which bothered me, but i tested 3 different knives and the problem was apparent on all of them. the blade stayed sharp for the first day and got touched up on a ceramic stone every night.
day to day chores were pretty standard for a work knife. cut string, cord, plastic strapping, clean fingernails, slice bagel and apples.
the more hefty chores were, maybe, a little strenuous on a light-medium use folder. trimmed up maybe 30 pieces of sod. i work at a cemetery, so we lay the sod on the ground, on a grave and cut the sod to the out line of the grave. so the knive cuts through the sod into the ground. i also cut many many lengths of weed eater cord/wire/whatever you call it. 5lb cord by stihl.
we found some bamboo about ~25 ft tall and cut the branches off of 14 stalks of bamboo ranging between 15 and 25 feet, which the blade was hair popping sharp before and hair popping sharp after 30 minutes of straight cutting bamboo limbs. there was zero, 0, blade play. which im use to fairly cheap folders for my work knives and that last act would have caused them to wiggle side to side afterwards, but not the od-1. i also eat alot of apples and wittle alot of oak and pine while at work when we have down time. i wittle hard, dry oak limbs about 3/4 inch and maybe 10 inches long.
it performed well during that week and got many comments on it, "sharp knife, thats a good lookin' knife, ect..." but i couldn't get past the rust on the blade. i keep my blade fairly clean and wipe it off any chance i get and i did clean it one time with a tooth brush, warm water and dial soap after the sod cutting/trimming. i dont really know why it would rust though? maybe because i sweat alot and cut that weed eater cord and salt/water = corrosion heaven?
anyways, i got the buck omni hunter 395 series now. maybe it'll stand the test of time, i'll use it for a week and decide then. so far its been good, no blade play, sharp, good lock up. but i dont know about the sheath, does anyone have any experience with a buck kydex sheath? i always have bad experiences with the sheath snagging on stuff, especially when i get in and out of the truck. i ripped my last "kydex" sheath..dunno if it was kydex or polyester or something. it was cheap though. i can tell you, if this buck doesn't turn out like i want it to :grumpy: then ill return it and just replace my misplaced vic super tinker. im just testing out a new work knife because i misplaced my SAK. and does anyone have any experience with using the knife?
I can understand a lot of companies reluctance to use some of the carbon steel blades in other than specialty knives.
