SAK's Are only Medium Duty Knives

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pogo

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
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I have 20 SAK's & only found out recently while cutting 1" hemp rope that they are real close to 420 steel. Not a bad knife for mundane chores! My Okapi finished the job with little effort. My point is.. the SAK is great for EDC but, if the going gets tough ... you better get a Tougher Blade!:eek:
 
are you speaking of edge retention?

i was thinking about a little something i could do to get better edge retention in a SAK, because apart from the relatively soft steel i really like the slimmer models.
 
Yes... edge retention. They are great knives for everyday chores but, if the going gets tuff you better get a Tuffer blade!
 
They are a snap to sharpen , and good SAK owners know how to eek out an edge . On big stuff you are prolly better off with a FB , however this observation applies in general to all folders . SAK's do have an amazing track record in real world cutting .

Chris
 
Don't get me wrong. They are great for everyday chores. I found out a toughfer knife is needed when cutting the tough stuff!
 
I've found my Farmer to be a good bit tougher than medium duty.

Pic of Farmer next to Tinker

DSC_3444sml.jpg
 
pogo said:
I have 20 SAK's & only found out recently while cutting 1" hemp rope that they are real close to 420 steel. Not a bad knife for mundane chores! My Okapi finished the job with little effort. My point is.. the SAK is great for EDC but, if the going gets tough ... you better get a Tougher Blade!:eek:
Click to expand...

What happened to make you arrive at this conclusion? Did the SAK dull midway in the cut? Inquiring minds want to know :)
 
I personally like my SAKs and Multitool blades to be secondary/redundant blades. If I only had them I'm sure they could do the job but I prefer to have a main blade with me, fixed if possible.
 
theonew said:
I've found my Farmer to be a good bit tougher than medium duty.
Click to expand...

Amen! With all my slipjoint and folders, my Farmers are my EDC choice 95% of the time. This really go the distance. :thumbup:
 
I'll agree in the respect that they are not as tough as, say, S30V or even VG-10, but certainly a world above 420J2 (Buck's 420HC is a different story!).
 
I think a lot of it has to do with edge geometry. I convex all of my SAKs that are going to see HD use like camp chores and at work. I keep the edges razor thin and delicate on the ones that I use for like EDC.

With a properly convexed Farmer, I was able to make it through a full days worth of cutting weed barrier. Sure it was pretty dull by the end of the day and that stuff isn't as tough as hemp, but with 2 minutes on a arkansas stone and little stropping, the Farmer shaved quite easily.
 
Buck does 420HC quite nicely. I haven't owned one, for whatever reason, but based on what I've heard here and seen from other family members, it does good.
 
An SAK will never hold up an edge forever.
It's the nature of it's built and material.
It was made afterall, to be a well made but completely affordably priced cutter; and thus one, can't expect too much from such a design criteria.
i would seriously suggest getting hold of a carbon steel Opinel for its inherently superb cutting qualities which never fail to give it's user the greatest of cutting pleasure with apparent tremendous ease.
 
i totally agree... i mean everytime i have been attacked by rogue hemp rope i have been thankful to have my pocket machete with me. also great for keeping those sneeky concrete blocks and car hoods in line. they can be tough (or tuff)
 
in the future there may be different steel in spl editions be used.

damasteel will push the blade-performanance tru the roove!

damascussakdetail2.jpg


damascussakdetail7.jpg


+B
 
GIRLYman, in my experience opinel edge retention is only slightly above if at all over SAKs.

bianco, those are very nice. curious about what kind of damascus that is? (what metals it is made from)
 
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