Spyderco's H-1 > Testimonies please??

I don't know if sharpening is hardening my edge, or are all the cutting doing it. I do notice that when I cut up boxes at work (not a few here and there, but skids of it), my Salt 1 blade heats up considerably more than my PE manix. This is not only at the edge either. The entire blade is hot afterwards.

I use the sharpening session as a benchmake to see how hard it is. I can't really comment on if the hardened blade is anymore wear resistant or not as i don't have any other SE blades to comepare to.
 
I used a SE Salt 1 daily at work, cutting down 50 to 100 boxes twice a day for over year. I bought it originally because part of my job was washing dishes on a larger machine that pumped out chemical riddled steam at 190 degrees constantly, and I found my VG-10 knives forming rust speckles on the blade because they would actually bead up with water in my pocket from all the steam in the air.

The knife was completely resistant to the steam, obviously, but edge retention was poor at first. I found it dulling before the day's end and tearing rather than cutting. Thank God it was a serrated edge. This was when I learned that plain edge just doesn't cut it for this kind of work, but that's another topic. I had to sharpen it for a good bit every night. Now, I was cutting through boxes in high numbers at high speed, so it was heating up a lot. I noticed how hot the blade got. Within a month, I was only sharpening it once a week or less.

Here's a picture of the knife right before i changed jobs and retired it for a Dodo:

salt.jpg
 
I've had a Salt 1 SE for about a year now. I use it daily in a warehouse environement. I daily open about 20 cardboard boxes and cut banding (plastic)straps off of pallets. I often need to cut plastic shrink wrap and bubble wrap. The Salt 1 has held up very well. I sharpen it about once a month on a Sharpmaker. One thing I did notice is that the H1 steel does seem to scratch up easily. No big deal. The pivot pin has remained very solid. I really like the thick tip. It is great for removing large staples. All in all it is a very solid knife with an incredible blade.
 
Dulls quick, sharpens quicker than any steel I've ever sharpened and won't rust ever. I haven't experienced any work hardening of the edges just yet but my Salt I is due for a resharpening so we'll see.

all in all, I've got to say its the best carry knife- for any type of corrosion friendly environment- that I've ever used.
 
I've had a PS for about 9 months or so now. I don't know what it is, but I have noticed a difference in edge retention since I first got it. I fully sharpened it may be a dozen times and have touched it up plenty of times. What seems consistent is that I have had to sharpen it less frequently compared to when I first used it. Work hardening? Not sure. Difference in performace in time? It appears so.
 
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