Steel observations from your average lifetime knife using guy.

This is why I'm not very interested in the more modern steels, but when and if my needs ever change an interest in them may come.
 
I've decided on First Edge folders for edc. I've 3 of them, a drop point and 2 tanto points. These use the trak lock system for opening and closing. Near as strong it seems to me as the triad lock. Grip ergos' I love cause I too have bad hands from working in the printing trade running big sheet fed presses and winding paper for 30+ years by hand, so a knife with a good a ergonomic handle is a must and the First Edge folders have it. Now all this being said they use Elmax steel at a high hardness, and it is a bear for to sharpen. I am around water a lot spring through fall fishing for salmon out of my Penn Yan on Lake O. The elmax is beyond rust resistant imho. But like I said a bear for me to sharpen, so I too use diamond stones and take it to a slightly toothy edge and although the edges might scrape hair off the blades do not lack for cutting performance at all. The edges it seems are just slightly thicker than they probably need to be but with that I don't experience any chipping that Elmax might be prone to. keepem sharp
 
Hang on a second there LB!!!
Did you say Penn Yan???
My God, the memories just came flooding back brother!!!
I grew up on the water in Brooklyn and my family had a boat yard for years! I always got a kick out of the ‘rooster tail’ the Penn Yans threw with the Tunnel Drive!! We would follow them and jump their wakes all the time!
They were also great in very shallow water!
Thanks for mentioning them!
Joe

longbow said:
I've decided on First Edge folders for edc. I've 3 of them, a drop point and 2 tanto points. These use the trak lock system for opening and closing. Near as strong it seems to me as the triad lock. Grip ergos' I love cause I too have bad hands from working in the printing trade running big sheet fed presses and winding paper for 30+ years by hand, so a knife with a good a ergonomic handle is a must and the First Edge folders have it. Now all this being said they use Elmax steel at a high hardness, and it is a bear for to sharpen. I am around water a lot spring through fall fishing for salmon out of my Penn Yan on Lake O. The elmax is beyond rust resistant imho. But like I said a bear for me to sharpen, so I too use diamond stones and take it to a slightly toothy edge and although the edges might scrape hair off the blades do not lack for cutting performance at all. The edges it seems are just slightly thicker than they probably need to be but with that I don't experience any chipping that Elmax might be prone to. keepem sharp
Click to expand...
 
I tend to stay away from some of the newer high-grade steel due to their difficulty in sharpening. VG10 is the most “exotic” steel I own. It has, so far, proven to be delighful. It stays sharp longer than budget steels but isn’t too hard to sharpen. But I don’t use knives very hard anymore so that influences my choices too.

Although when I DID use my knives hard(10+ yrs ago), Buck, Victorinox and Leatherman handled everything I ever threw at them. I’d never even HEARD of most of the knife brands, options and steels I see now.
 
I'm apparently some sort of "Hipster", as I've settled in to a kind of old-school steel preference.

1095, VG-10, AUS-8, 154CM.... these are very gratifying to me to sharpen. Hair popping sharp on a coffee mug and some newsprint.

But I'm only 52, so I have a few years left to do me some learnin' about them there super-steels I suppose.

Hope I live long enough to make an old guy post some day.
 
Velitrius said:
But I'm only 52, so I have a few years left to do me some learnin' about them there super-steels I suppose.

Hope I live long enough to make an old guy post some day.
Click to expand...

It will get to be amusing for you. Sorting out the hype and actual value of things like blade steels will get to be a lot less important. I have been carrying knives daily for about 56 years now. Using the knives you have and finding the time to do so will be more important than talking about them. (Although that's still fun, too!)

You realize that every business needs something to sell, so EVERYTHING is an improvement, all offerings are better than anything they sold before. The younger folks will wonder how us older people like us managed to even stay in the game with the old materials and steels we had to suffer through. With new steels coming out every six months, new tempering processes, new manufacturing processes, etc., you will be less interested in the details when you realize how useful all your old gear has been over a few decades.

Maybe you don't need a "tactical" consideration for your EDC. Might not need to shave with your knife, cut up you steak in a restaurant, split human hair, or be able to see yourself in an edge that is so highly mirrored. You will still enjoy and love some of your knives, but they will probably have a bit different perspective in your life.

Just my 0.02!

Robert
 
I am very fond of 1095 myself. It sharpens easy and quick and no real special tools or techniques.I have sharpened 1095 in the field with river rocks, and got sharp enough to clean javealinas. Quality whet/oil stones are usually more inexpensive and easier to come buy locally. I do have some diamond stones and rod that I do use on stainless and D2. I've used 400seriea, Aus8, and cr13mov on stones. I would rather have every thing 1095 but I can't ;(
 
As long as the broad class of the steel is appropriate for the range of use and has a good heat treatment, that's all I care about at this point. Form factor is way more important to me, and I enjoy steels that are quick to touch up.
 
farmboy said:
OK, here's what I've done:

I dug out some diamond rods for my Sharpmaker, back when I had a Gossman Tusker in A2. That was some hard stuff, and they helped me (slowly!) bring back a severely dulled blade.

I started with them with a few light pressure strokes on the flats, and I got some tooth out of them. I then repeated with some feather light strokes, then on to the ceramics, brown stick corners, then flats, white rod corners, then flats.

I think I'm bringing some life to it, but I still have some work to do. It's sharp; sharper than it was for damned sure. Certainly sharp enough for the day to day stuff. It's just not a true hair popper yet.

I dunno. Those types of mind blowing edges are fun for bragging, but in real life, they don't serve much purpose. They seem to break down pretty quick.

Truthfully, if I just let it be and go with it as it is, it's probably good enough to go, now.

I just added a few DMT items to my Christmas want list, btw.........thanks fellas.
Click to expand...
Try m4 and hap40. They keep that super sharp edge pretty long. I just touch it up for a couple minutes every week or two and it's always got that bite.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top