SAK edge-holding ability ?

[ripoil]

I recently picked up a Tinker for everyday carry due to it's all around utility, but am new to SAK's and don't know much about their quality of steel. Any experiences ya'll would like to share?

 

[enix]

i am no expert but i do recall reading that the steel is relativly soft, which means that the edge might no hold up as well compared to other steels w/ different hardness levels. but they can take a wicked sharp edge pretty easily. dont get me wrong tho, the edge will hold for quite a while.

i bet some more experienced and knowlegable will chime in soon.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

The stainless steel used in the Swiss Army knives is a low carbide steel, similar to 12C27M which is a very popular steel overseas, used in many Mora knives for example. In the Swiss Army knives the steel is left rather soft, 56 HRC. It is best suited to a high polish and lower angles and will grind very easily. The biggest problem in edge holding is that because it is softer than most steels it can tend to resist forming a crisp edge and unless you really have the edge well formed the edge holding can be a small fraction of optimal, 1/10 or so.

-Cliff

 

[Hyperborean]

I recently picked up a Tinker for everyday carry due to it's all around utility, but am new to SAK's and don't know much about their quality of steel. Any experiences ya'll would like to share?

From my experience if you cut wood and/or softer materials the edge holding is surprisingly good , however if you cut material which is hard or contains hard particles it becomes dull fast. I remember I cut a rubber eraser in two (it containded some hard abrasive particles apparently) and it went dull.

 

[ripoil]

Thanks Guys. I guess my Queen Cattle King (D2) and Spyderco Delica (VG-10) will hold an edge better, but this Tinker will be nice to have along for all the extra little tasks it can perform.

 

[James Y]

FWIW, I tend to use my SAK blades for slicing certain foods such as fruits, and find the little pen blades perfect for opening DVD packages, etc.

They cut cardboard very nicely. But for most of my heavier and/or repetitive cutting uses I prefer to use my Delica 4, or other Spydie, BM, or CRK knife.
Jim

 

[marthinus]

SAK are great EDC knives. I have my climber for over 17 years now and it still performs. I use it to cut all the nitty gritty stuf that get stuck on a blade like brown tape on boxes etc. for all other tasks. Spyderco/kershaw or BM.

 

[freddy1]

Thanks Guys. I guess my Queen Cattle King (D2) and Spyderco Delica (VG-10) will hold an edge better, but this Tinker will be nice to have along for all the extra little tasks it can perform.

For every day task, a usual SAK is sufficient 99% of the time.
My personnal choice is the SAK electrician as main blade is slightly longer (hummm, one millimeter :jerkit than the usual ones.
"Edge holding" is not big deal if you don't intend to spend weeks far from home, as in reality you could resharp it as soon as it need it.
It would hold an edge long enought to prepare a sandwich, cut some paper, some cardboard.... during days and days before any need of resharping