Hi Folks,
For quite awhile now, I've paid far more attention to the so-called "Premium" steels: VG-10, S30V...etc. I know that Sal has said in the past how AUS-6 and AUS-8 were the sort-of past premiums (not his words), and still very servicable user steels - and now I have seen it to be true, firsthand!
My friend at work saw my many Spydies, and decide he had to have one. So, he bought a plain edge S/S Delica about six months ago and has happily flicked the days away since...cutting whatever came along in his workday (mostly light "office" tasks). Anyway, yesterday he asked me if I would sharpen it for him on our shop-owned 204 Sharpmaker and I happily agreed to do so.
Before sharpening, I tested it's edge w/ paper cutting, and arm hair shaving as well as visually examinating the edge. It had not rolled or visually dulled at all (no shiny areas), would still "saw through" paper and would no longer shave - it would do this easily when new w/ it's factory edge.
I did the "usual" 20 strokes on both grey and white rods, corners and flats and he has a "new" knife! It is absolutely razor sharp, after what I consider a very "light" sharpening job...and this is the first time in 6 months it's been touched up.
So for anyone who says that AUS-6 won't hold much of an edge, I say "Hogwash"! It not only sharpens easily, but gets really quite "silly" sharp. The hairs on my forearm appear to just jump out of the way when they see that sharp AUS-6 blade coming! It SCARES them right off my arm...hee, hee.
Anyway, my pal sure is happy. I washed the knife with hot soapy water, dried it with compressed air and heat gunnery then added a couple of drops of Militec-1 to the pivot area. He says it is "better than new"...and THAT is really saying something!
Respectfully, Jeff/1911.
For quite awhile now, I've paid far more attention to the so-called "Premium" steels: VG-10, S30V...etc. I know that Sal has said in the past how AUS-6 and AUS-8 were the sort-of past premiums (not his words), and still very servicable user steels - and now I have seen it to be true, firsthand!
My friend at work saw my many Spydies, and decide he had to have one. So, he bought a plain edge S/S Delica about six months ago and has happily flicked the days away since...cutting whatever came along in his workday (mostly light "office" tasks). Anyway, yesterday he asked me if I would sharpen it for him on our shop-owned 204 Sharpmaker and I happily agreed to do so.
Before sharpening, I tested it's edge w/ paper cutting, and arm hair shaving as well as visually examinating the edge. It had not rolled or visually dulled at all (no shiny areas), would still "saw through" paper and would no longer shave - it would do this easily when new w/ it's factory edge.
I did the "usual" 20 strokes on both grey and white rods, corners and flats and he has a "new" knife! It is absolutely razor sharp, after what I consider a very "light" sharpening job...and this is the first time in 6 months it's been touched up.
So for anyone who says that AUS-6 won't hold much of an edge, I say "Hogwash"! It not only sharpens easily, but gets really quite "silly" sharp. The hairs on my forearm appear to just jump out of the way when they see that sharp AUS-6 blade coming! It SCARES them right off my arm...hee, hee.
Anyway, my pal sure is happy. I washed the knife with hot soapy water, dried it with compressed air and heat gunnery then added a couple of drops of Militec-1 to the pivot area. He says it is "better than new"...and THAT is really saying something!
Respectfully, Jeff/1911.
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