Saving your edge...

[Frostyfingers]

The recent thread about cleaning a fish with a shell and stone blades got me thinking. I carry carbon knives that are not going to hold an edge forever. This is not an issue on short trips or when I have sharpening equipment available, but suppose this wasn't the case. Suppose you end up in a long-term survival situation. You have whatever knife/knives you're carrying at the time, but you don't have sharpening equipment. Do you use the knife you have whenever possible in order to make your life easier, then find alternative means to sharpen your knife when it loses its edge? Or do you try to do as many tasks as possible using means OTHER than the knife, in an attempt to preserve the edge for more important uses? (I'm imagining breaking firewood in the crotch of a tree rather than chopping it, cleaning fish with a stone, etc.) OR do some of you in fact edc sharpening equipment? (Like a diamond card, etc.)

Whatcha think?

 

[sambo.]

it would be unusual for me to be out in the wilds without some kind of sharpening gear.

if i found myself in your scenario. i'd use the knife when i needed to use it and find some kind of ersatz sharpening solution. a the un-glazed ring on the bottom of a ceramic Mug would do the job. a decent piece of flattish rock would also serve in a pinch.

 

[PayetteRucker]

A very good revelation. As easy as a 1"x4" arkansas stone and a sheet of 1000 and 2000 grit sandpaper is, it makes me wonder just how streamlined our packing list is. It is undoubtable that a useable and maintainable cutting edge is to providing basic elements of human survival, and yet many choose morale patches and toothpaste over them. It also questions popular belief that a harder edge is better-at what point do you sacrifice convenience of less maintenance for reason when it comes to maintaining and using tools? I personally would rather have a slightly soft steel that I can easily sharpen or re-straighten than an edge that is so hard it microchips and fractures with use, causing irreparable damage with short term use.