That Spyderco "Sticky Edge"

JTR357

JTR357

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Sep 10, 2007
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You know what I mean? That edge you rub against your thumbnail & it sticks like glue. No other manufacturer has that kind of factory edge, from what I have seen.
 
Surprising the only two other brands that have done that routinely for me are Cold a steel and BPS knives. It's odd because both generally have pretty ultra budget stuff. I've had some pretty highish end puukkos and other very expensive folders that don't do this...so that fact a 25$ cold steel and a 40$ BPS in 1066 came with PERFECT even zero grinds is weird.
 
Does anyone know what causes the sticky feeling? Is there anyone who has an unused blade with it and can examine it under magnification and let us know what they find?
Thanks!
 
JTR357 said:
Now that I think about it, BUCK has had it too. Every 110 I got was sticky sharp.
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I bought three Buck 110s in 2021 toward the end of their $39 glory days. All three were incredibly sharp when new with a clean apex/no burr, but still grabby enough to slice fibrous materials easily. They were the equal of the sharpest Spydercos I've acquired over the years.
 
rhino said:
I bought three Buck 110s in 2021 toward the end of their $39 glory days. All three were incredibly sharp when new with a clean apex/no burr, but still grabby enough to slice fibrous materials easily. They were the equal of the sharpest Spydercos I've acquired over the years.
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I think the key is an acute edge that is sharpened to 400 to 600 grit. That makes them very sharp but also a little "toothy" to grab material. Polished edges look good in pictures but do not cut nearly as well as a lower grit edge, especially for EDC purposes (I am sure there are scenarios where a polished edge is preferred).
 
Sometimes I wonder if I'm sharpening too much past the point of "bang for buck" where buck is time invested, where a less sharp edge actually ends up being more useful for edc.
 
stillshot2 said:
Sometimes I wonder if I'm sharpening too much past the point of "bang for buck" where buck is time invested, where a less sharp edge actually ends up being more useful for edc.
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I’ve always thought a sharper edge is generally more useful, so I’m curious to hear some elaboration on your perspective, if you'll indulge me?
 
David Mary said:
I’ve always thought a sharper edge is generally more useful, so I’m curious to hear some elaboration on your perspective, if you'll indulge me?
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I don't always have a lot of time to get a hair shaving edge so I'll stop once I can slice newspaper or paper towel, and find that going much past that I lose the hair shaving edge quick enough that a toothier, less refined edge may be a better use of my time. And others were mentioning how a toothy edge seems to grab on to things quite nicely which is something I am finding I kinda like.
 
David Mary said:
Ah so you equate toothy with less sharp. I’ve always just seen it as different sharp. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
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I would describe it the exact same way. If you want a highly polished shaving edge for say... umm shaving then that's the way to go, but my work knives I usually stop at 800 grit for the type of work that I'm doing. OTOH lately we've been using synthetic roofing underlayment & it has changed the game. I need an edge that won't snag whatsoever so I've been going to 2000 grit & stropping my work knives. & yes, I realize I have contradicted myself in this short paragraph. 🤦🏼‍♂️😁
 
David Mary said:
Ah so you equate toothy with less sharp. I’ve always just seen it as different sharp. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
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I mean when you really think about it, isn't it less sharp, going strictly by the progression of sharpening? I'm not about to argue sharpness with a knifemaker, but this is a curious conundrum. I'd really like your take on this.
 
I did really think about it, and if they have the same angle, I ascribe them the same level of sharpness, and if there is a disparity in finish grit, then I ascribe them a disparity in finish grit. If toothy always cut everything more poorly than refined/polished, then I would be on board with the "higher edge refinement means sharper" thesis. Geometry is king. Edge finish determines in which kingdom.
 
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