Thoughts on using an edc knife with 13° bevel?

Corton93 · May 28, 2022

So, just for curiosity sake, I just sharpened my honey badger down to 13 degrees. It's an 8cr13mov model. Just used this one to avoid potentially jacking up a more expensive knife. The lowest I have ever went was 16 for a knife I actually use.

For anyone who happens to watch Cedric and Ada on youtube, his "steel unleashed" tests usually consist of the knife being sharpened to 13 degrees. Got me wondering if 13 is still a usable bevel angle to use for a general edc knife, as well as how long the edge will last compared to a knife in the same type of steel but with a more common angle, say 17-20 degrees.

So, anyone here on BF use a knife with a steeper grind such as 13, or something similar? How did it perform under normal use?

Clarification edit: 13 per side, 26 inclusive

marthinus · May 28, 2022

Use it. If it chips ad a higher angle microbevel.

Chronovore · May 28, 2022

I don't love 8Cr13Mov and my recent review of the Honey Badger wasn't great. Like the Tenacious, it's too expensive for what it is. Of course, I keep a Tenacious on top of my microwave for the same "to avoid potentially jacking up a more expensive knife" kinds of use.

While not as tough as 14C28N, 8Cr13Mov is relatively tough for a stainless steel. The probably helped with the steeper angle. Pete got impressive results on rope. Will that translate to your EDC use?

I look forward to finding out. Please keep us updated as you go. Also, what was your sharpening method?

murat1983 · May 28, 2022

I usually sharpen my knives to 15DPS and have no complain so far. I recently sharpened a few smaller knives to 12-12.5 to see how they will perform. But I have not tried yet.

Corton93 · May 28, 2022

Chronovore said:
I look forward to finding out. Please keep us updated as you go. Also, what was your sharpening method?

Will do. I keep a Tenacious in the door pocket of my truck for the same reason lol.

Sharpened it on the KME, diamond stones. Took it to .05 micron (I use lapping films) and stropped.

Then wiped the rest of the black oil and grime slurry off the blade right onto the front of my freshly washed blue jeans..

Don't you know my wife just loves that habit

number41 · May 28, 2022

I run my Busse's at 15dps no micro bevel and use them extremely hard.

Wandering_About · May 28, 2022

I often go as low as 10 degrees per side, but use a microbevel that varies a bit depending on the steel and intended usage of an individual knife. Usually somewhere in the 15 degree per side range for the microbevel.

Billy The Hungry · May 28, 2022

I wasn't happy with how my Rat 1 cut, or held an edge, out of the box. So I dropped the edge down a significant amount, very shallow.
It took a laser beam cutting edge, but would not hold it. - too thin of an edge. So I put a steeper microbevel on it.
Now I am very happy with it. I couldn't say as to what degrees I sharpened the knife, but the initial regrind was very shallow.

So I think for a truly lighter duty edc, doing edc tasks, a very low angled bevel with the appropriate microbevel (depending on your steel) is absolutely usable, even on my AUS 8 Rat.

Just adding in my own two cents!