Sharpening CTS-XHP?

[Rusty Shackelford]

I just got my first knife in XHP and I am wondering if I'll see an increase in edge retention and general performance if I take the edge down to a more polished finish? XHP appears to have a very fine carbide structure which seems like it might take/hold a nice high polished edge. I use a Sharpmaker and strop for maintaining my edges and am wondering if it might finally be beneficial to purchase a pair of the UF stones for it. I haven't purchased them so far because I haven't had anything that I felt would really benefit from them, I always just carried a 1095 fixed blade for hard use and a folding utility knife for everything else until this year.

 

[Alberta Ed]

CTS-XHP is very fine grained and will take a polished edge. I find my American Lawman slices better honed on a DMT fine (600 grit) rather than going on to the DMT Extra Fine (1200 grit). Either way, it's a great steel that responds well to diamond hones.

 

[PMQ]

increase in edge retention

A polished edge would lead to less edge retention, a low grit toothy edge would stay sharp for longer.

 

[jux t]

All of my XHP blades are made by Cold Steel, so that's all I have experience with. I've come to prefer a toothy edge on them, and find that the edge retention is outstanding for as easy as they are to sharpen.