Spyderco Tasman salt hard use?

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Waldamir

Joined
Jun 30, 2012
Messages
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Does anybody have any info on how much hard use a PE tasman salt can take? also hows the edge retention on H-1, how easily does it take an edge and can it take a hair popping edge easily? I don't mind if the shaving edge goes quickly as long as the utility edge is well held.

Thank you in advance for the knowledge :)
 
Yes, mine has held up for several years now. While I take it with me occasionally into the woods, I primarily use it to open cartons and break them down. The ladies here often come to me and ask to borrow "that yellow knife" they need to open anything.

Holds an edge, is easily touched-up on my Spydie Sharpmaker or similar. H1 is supposedly a "work hardened" steel, meaning that it hardens over time & with use, I don't really know if true, but the edge holds up very well.

Only thing it doesn't do is "hard use"... I don't even know what that term really means. That's just some sort of marketing BS, since you're either going to use a knife, or not by cutting with the edge.
 
It depends on what you mean by hard use. If you mean abuse, then it's not as tough as some other folders. If you mean lots of use, yes, it will serve you well for years and years.

The blade is a very resilient steel and it will bend rather than break. I've seen H-1 blades bent 90 degrees in a vise. The nature of Salt folder means it lacks steel liners like other FRN Spydies so it will twist and bend more, but that also means it will absorb impacts vs breaking. If it's constructed with pins (earlier version), you won't be able to tighten it back up as easily as newer versions with screws. That means a lot of twisting can loosen the pivot over time.

It will stand up to a lot of uses, but no, I wouldn't try and chop down a tree with it. ;) Corrosion-resistance wise, it's probably as "hard" as you can get.

H-1 will get stupid sharp but that mostly depends on the person sharpening. The steel is work hardened so edge holding will get better the more you use and resharpen. Initially, I wasn't impressed but after a few months of use and several sharpening sessions, my PE Salts seem comparable to VG-10 or better. Compared to some other "super steels" it's fairly easy to sharpen.

For me, "hard use" is really "hardly used" for most of my folders. :o Too many knives, too few uses.
 
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lol. no. if I planned on cutting down a tree I'd use the tool for the job. When I say hard use I mean a day of non stop cutting cardboard, plastic, cord, shaving some wood and maybe even some wire cutting.
 
Waldamir said:
lol. no. if I planned on cutting down a tree I'd use the tool for the job. When I say hard use I mean a day of non stop cutting cardboard, plastic, cord, shaving some wood and maybe even some wire cutting.
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You will find a Tasman Salt perfect for this kind of chore work. I don't remember if mine's 3 or 5 years old, but the pivot is still solid as well as the lock-up. Very solid tool!
 
CWL said:
You will find a Tasman Salt perfect for this kind of chore work. I don't remember if mine's 3 or 5 years old, but the pivot is still solid as well as the lock-up. Very solid tool!
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Well then I've made a decision. :) Now I just have to find somewhere to get it with screws.
 
Just an FYI,

Sal has stated in the past that out of all the steels Spyderco has tested, a serrated H-1 blade was by far the best ever resulting blade from CATRA tests. Considering all the exotic steels Spyderco uses, that's an amazing claim.

The combination of work-hardening and how serrated blades are ground makes it the king of "cutting all day long." I don't know if a serrated edge would work for you but I figure you should know.
 
dsmegst said:
Just an FYI,

Sal has stated in the past that out of all the steels Spyderco has tested, a serrated H-1 blade was by far the best ever resulting blade from CATRA tests. Considering all the exotic steels Spyderco uses, that's an amazing claim.

The combination of work-hardening and how serrated blades are ground makes it the king of "cutting all day long." I don't know if a serrated edge would work for you but I figure you should know.
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Thank you :) I'm not very into serrations That's why I prefer PE but that is great to know. I love hawkbills in folders. I find them to be the perfect balance of utility, craft, and if ABSOLUTELY nessicarry defense. I've even used hawkbills to make feathersticks! :)
 
Having used both PE and SE H-1 hawkbills (Spyderhawk Salts), I personally opt for serrated. The edge retention of the serrated version is much better than the plain edge version, and that serrated edge goes through tough materials like a pocket chainsaw. I picked up a factory second SE Tasman Salt two years ago that was my go-to beater for a year before the Spyderhawks came out, and my only reason for replacing it was my preference for the larger size.
 
Waldamir said:
lol. no. if I planned on cutting down a tree I'd use the tool for the job. When I say hard use I mean a day of non stop cutting cardboard, plastic, cord, shaving some wood and maybe even some wire cutting.
Click to expand...

Sounds like "use" to me. Any Spydie will do.
 
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