Standard V or convex edge?

[g23.40sw]

I have seen a few of you have convexed the edges of your ESEE/RC knives. I have a total of 2 RAT, 2 RC and soon to be 1 more ESEE knife, several other fixed blades from various manufactures and a plethora of folders all with standard V edges. I also have a Bark River Bravo 1 with the convex edge as you undoubtedly know. I'm wondering which is better? Is it personal preference? Does one hold and edge better? Is one more easy to sharpen in the field?

I'm not trying to start anything or reinvent the wheel, but with ESEE knives being a tested working knife (thanks to Jeff and Mike), I would have to think they ESEE would have chosen the the V edge for a reason. It seems to me in my limited knowledge that the standard V requires less in terms of items and size of items carried to sharpen a V edge. A simple folding sharpener from DMT or EZ lap, or the card sized sharpeners versus a series of strops that would seem to be larger and more cumbersome, and also require that a compound be added to work at sharpening. I have also heard that the convex edge is more forgiving to the person doing the sharpening vs trying to maintain the same angle on the V edge when sharpening. True?

I may be (probably) wrong (known to happen from time to time), but I thought I would pose the questions anyways. :foot: I look forward to the input and answers from all .

 

[fallen1]

*IMO* Depends on the usage. Before the commercial and mass production of products with an edge, everything was convex. Convex edges take WAY longer to produce than beveled edges, but once you have the convex edge, its easier to maintain. Even if you have to carry some type of strop in the field, I think it would outweigh(no pun intended) having to re-profile common rollovers and small chips from hard use off of a mass produced 40-ish degree bevel(total). You also have to have a pretty thick blade to convex properly and, I think, works best on FF grinds. Doesnt work at all on other grinds, which limits manufacturing and designs if you were only to produce convex edges. Then again, it depends on what "field" youre in. A beveled edge with micro-serrations, on say a 600 grit stone, will be a better slicer than a mirror stropped convex edge but the convex edge will be way better at push cutting. I know, im rambling. I could go on forever and im sure a lot of us could...but the convex edge is much stronger with more material to back up the edge, and is also easier to keep ridiculously razor sharp. JMO

 

[Heath2]

big fan of the convex myself, seems to stay sharp longer and resharpening seems to take less time and work. just my two cents.

 

[Gadgetaholic]

I have very serious doubts about claims on either side - I really can't see that the difference would be easy to notice from either type of edge grind. The angle used would make a WAY bigger difference as would how sharp the edge was.

My advice is this:
Look at how you sharpen and decide which edge type is easier for you to resharpen/maintain - that is probably the best one to go with.

Either one is easy enough to sharpen in the field if you know how to do it:
V - Grind - I just take my Aligner kit with me.
Convex grind - I would take a couple of grades of sandpaper and a strop.