Supersteels. Do we really need 'em?

[FortyTwoBlades]

I don't carry around a sharpening stone (DMT or the like). If I'm in a situation of high knife use, I'll take a second knife along with me. But I always that two or three knives in my vehicle if the need arises in addition to what's in my pocket.

On the steel issue, I am not steel junkie. I try some of the super steels. But honestly of the higher end steels for my day to day use, I'm pretty comfortable with CPM154 or even 1095 or the steels used in my Vic SAK. I don't mind sharpening knives and sometimes it's fun. But if for some reason I am not successful relatively quickly at getting a good edge, it can be frustrating. I like to freehand sharpening.

I generally keep a couple of stones in my car or my bag rather than on my person, unless I know I'll be doing work in a spot where I'll be touching my edge up frequently. I've had those stashed stones come in handy more times than I can count.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

I was talking to Bill....Good for you though, thats really neat

Then you should have taken it to PMs. As is, public conversations tend to be...public.

 

[trevitrace]

Then you should have taken it to PMs. As is, public conversations tend to be...public.

Who'da thunk it?

 

[Sonnydaze]

Also if....when the zombie apocalypse/a nuclear war comes and you bug out with your supersteel blade. You will have to search around for diamond stones or carry your wicked edge while on the run. Also no one will care about how cool your steel is during these situations.....which kinda defeats the purpose.....This is a major problem!

DMT Diamond Card in my billfold...24/7... and with my supersteel, I won't have to sharpen it nearly as often, and I don't have to look for a river-rock to sharpen it. There's room for both sides of the argument...

 

[extrastout]

I carry a set of DMT Diasharp Cards in my pocket pretty much all the time. Checkmate.

Sorry Skip....I was never playing a game....sorry for your confusion

Back on track.....Super steels are great for compensating for being a Turkey in life....Sorry, I meant Ostrich

For me....Diamonds are meant for sharpening skate blades in my world, a little overkill for the knife blades in IMHO. Also I lied about the Zombie apocalypse....Its going to be ok

 

[trevitrace]

Glad you finally wrapped that up.

 

[Wowbagger]

Arguably most knives on the production market, and even many in the custom world, do not take full advantage of super steels when it comes to designing their blade geometry. Failing to do so severely dampens any benefits one might see from the use of the high-end material.

I couldn't agree more ! ! !
Ankerson's tests sure proved that over and over.
Part of the reason I give most of my "acquisitions" the grind, grind within a day or two that I get them. I even reprofiled my Cold Steel Lucky recently. Seems like a good heat treat judging by what it felt like on the 220 grit DMT. Good stuff !

In Heaven all knives are heat treated and ground by Phil Wilson. Until then . . .

 

[Alberta Ed]

I love the new super steels, they take a terrific edge (using diamond hones) and hold them a long time. I also appreciate plain old high carbon steels and low(er) carbide stainless grades which sharpen more easily and take a finer edge.

 

[Wowbagger]

Cant field sharpen super steels

Nearly every where I go I take my small pack (man purse). Has three feather weight diamond paddles. I use them at work all the time so I don't take them out on a day off.
I sharpen cobalt drill bits with them at work no prob. Would take my S110V, S90V, S35VN etc. to shave sharp at least.
What's not to like ?

 

[Lapedog]

........since you now seem to be taking the zombie apoc. and my sarcasm very seriously.....which is good. Think of a situation where you are at work and sh$$$ hits the fan, buuuut.....Im guessing you have a bug out bag in your car...you seem to not mess around. I am pretty sure Nuclear and Zombie stuff doesn't conveniently go down when you are at home. I think you do spend a lot of time at home though....you will be fine Do you need a bottle opener for that beer

Actually I don't participate in the bugout thing or apocolyptic fantasies. I access this site from my phone precisely because I am rarely at home. Don't worry though, you didn't hurt my feelings or even increase my heart rate 1 bpm.

But yes I usually have my half of a Sharpmaker medium rod in my car. Great for touch ups.

 

[NJBillK]

For me....Diamonds are meant for sharpening skate blades in my world, a little overkill for the knife blades in IMHO. Also I lied about the Zombie apocalypse....Its going to be ok

In my world, roller skates should never have knives on them. Too many children can get hurt...

 

[Wowbagger]

Actually I don't participate in the bugout thing or apocolyptic fantasies.

Yah me neither . . . although Shaun Of The Dead was pretty funny.

Shaun : "I'm not sure I have it in me to kill my flat mate, my mom AND my girl friend all in the same day"
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Great !

 

[Lapedog]

Yah me neither . . . although Shaun Of The Dead was pretty funny.

Shaun : "I'm not sure I have it in me to kill my flat mate, my mom AND my girl friend all in the same day"
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Great !

That movie is a classic. Good to see some more modern British comedy. There's two other movies in the Shaun O' the Dead series. Hot Fuzz and World's End. Shaun being the best known internationally I guess.

I wonder what knife steel Shaun would orefer.

 

[Wowbagger]

I wonder what knife steel Shaun would orefer.

He goes more traditional. Meaning : Cricket bat !

 

[halden.doerge]

That movie is a classc. Good to see some more modern Brotish comedy. There's two other movies in the Shaun O' the Dead series. Hot Fuzz and World's End. Shaun being the best known internationally I guess.

I wonder what knife steel Shaun would orefer.

Yarp.

 

[Wowbagger]

Yarp.

Everyone will get their just deserts.

 

[Pomsbz]

Although much maligned the Sharpmaker can do modern steels, just takes longer. I've brought both S35VN and M390 from unable to cut paper to hair popping sharp using my sharpmaker with the 600/1000 stones.

 

[halden.doerge]

Although much maligned the Sharpmaker can do modern steels, just takes longer. I've brought both S35VN and M390 from unable to cut paper to hair popping sharp using my sharpmaker with the 600/1000 stones.

Definitely true. It just really depends on the grind of the knife and how far gone the edge is. Trying to actually reprofile a blade on the sharpmaker is no fun.

 

[extrastout]

In my world, roller skates should never have knives on them. Too many children can get hurt...

Diamond is used to dress the wheels that sharpen hockey skates. Kids are raised playing ice hockey around here.... Parents don't coddle their children. If they get hurt its a lesson learned. Tell the to brush it off, suck it up and get back outside and play

 

[shinyedges]

Sorry Skip....I was never playing a game....sorry for your confusion

Back on track.....Super steels are great for compensating for being a Turkey in life....Sorry, I meant Ostrich

For me....Diamonds are meant for sharpening skate blades in my world, a little overkill for the knife blades in IMHO. Also I lied about the Zombie apocalypse....Its going to be ok

Insightful. How has the knife community made it this far without your 2 cents?!?

Super steels have many uses outside of our hobby. The make manufacturing more efficient and lower costs for products. The real question is why NOT continue to expand the cutlery horizon by using different alloys.

If you want plain jane, tried and true, you got it. If you want cutting edge (see that?) Performance and the latest and greatest, guess what... you got it.