Terzuola Blade Toughness/Ease of Sharpening

Another Terzuola question, somewhat of a follow-up to the other one posted nearby--I really like the Terzuola and currently have three of them (could not resist a few good deals).

One has been used slightly for opening boxes etc. None of them has been used hard...yet.

Can give me some feedback on this--with regular to hard use, does the blade chip the plain edge models? If so, is it so minor not to be a problem?

Also, due to the thickness of the edge and the hardness of the 440V, is the knife acceptably easy to sharpen with a Sharpmaker or with an Edge Pro (I am not the biggest fan of diamond hones)?

thanks

Matt
 
C

cut finger

Joined
Sep 20, 1999
Messages
178
The only time I chipped my Starmate was when I hit a rock with my blade. The 440V is not hard to sharpen, just don't let it get too dull.
 
I carry my BF Native with 440V blade at work in DC because of the blade limit. I have opened boxes and much else, cutting cardboard all year since I got it and have never sharpened it. It still shaves hair like a razor. I have not used my StarMate quite so hard as I do not carry it as much, but it shows every sign of giving similar service. I did raise a thread in the Spyderco forum back last March about sharpening 440V and got much good advice. You might try the Search function and look for it. Try "Sharpening CMP440V".

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
 
Originally posted by FullerH:
I carry my BF Native with 440V blade at work in DC because of the blade limit. I have opened boxes and much else, cutting cardboard all year since I got it and have never sharpened it. It still shaves hair like a razor.
Click to expand...

Damn! I wish I could one-tenth that level of edge holding from my BF Native! Even before my staple incident, just one session with cardboard knocked the shaving edge off mine. I resharpened it at one point, and went to see how it would hold it. I took cereal boxes, and started making cuts in them. I defined one cut as one pull through the cardboard, trying to keep the flow of the edge such that the cardboard moved along the edge consistently. The cut ended when the cardboard made it to the tip of the knife. After 50-something cuts, it would no longer shave. Maybe that is too much cardboard cutting? Anyway, don't get me wrong. I like the BF Native, and the 440V is good. But, I just don't see this legendary performance with mine.

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iktomi
 
Bowler,

I have not had any chipping problems, but I don't doubt some may have. Most metal people bump into while cutting (staples, wire) is pretty soft compared to blade steel IF THEY ARE SLICING or even push cutting.

If they are chopping (dunno why you'd do this with a folder, go find another tool), then the hardness/brittleness relative to anther piece of malleable metal could cause chipping. That, and sharpening the edge at too steep an angle. It's the difference between impact strength (Charpy measure) and abrasion resistance and hardness.

Chopping = impact strength is the measure to watch

Slicing = abrasion resistance measures edge holding

Push cutting = hardness of steel against a bump into another steel makes the difference.

I gave up on the "for show" style of super small included angle sharpening, i.e. 30 degree included (both angles included). Small angle edges can give some outrageously sharp hair jumpin' edges, but working with this kind of edge will teach it often is delicate and not as durable as larger angle edges. My experience anyway.

I settled on a 40 to 50 degree included angle for a durable working edge. I can still them to shave, but not make hair leap. Depends on what you want, show or go.

I was going to recommend diamond stones, as I like the toothy, biting edge that diamond gives for daily chores or even hunting chores. But if you don't like diamond, you don't like diamond. I find 440V to be no different to sharpen than ATS-34, etc with diamond... no problem. I don't use anything but diamond after putzing around (and wasting a lot of energy) with other carborundum and natural type stones though, so no other references.

 
Just for the sake of pedantry, Carborundum is not a natural stone. It's a Norton company trade name for silicon carbide.

-Cougar :{)
 
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