Wear and tear...

E

Eric_425

Joined
Sep 21, 2002
Messages
460
Well, when I first came to BF's, this was the place I went. I heard good things about how tough HIs big blades were, and the frequent DOTDs didn't hurt either. Around 4 years ago, I bought an AK Bowie from Bill as a DOTD. It's been terrific, but I think it's about done. The other day, I noticed the edge was deforming while chopping wood. I resharpened it and noticed a file cut readily into the edge where it used to skate a bit. I'm guessing I'm through the hardened edge? It's been beat on for about 4 years, probably thousands of bundles of firewood, sharpenings and resharpenings and also staves from particularly heavy period of use where I'd decided to try my hand at self bowyering. I expect if I post pics it'll probably take a few breaths away. It's been steeled and resharpened so many times it doesn't even fit tightly in its sheath anymore and even the sweet spot where the blade was mainly worked is noticeably thinned and worn compared to the tip or base! Will the HI warranty cover wearing down through use also, or only defects?
 
I think you got your nickels worth, don't you?
Why not support the company and just pick up another? I'm sure you can put it to good use! :-)
 
Get a khukuri.
The AK bowie is a relatively new thing, as you know, whereas the khukuri has been tried and tested for thousands of years.
And I’m sure by now after 4 years they have perfected the AK bowie.
 
Sounds like you might need to back off on how much material you remove during sharpening. If the blade has changed so much to affect its fit in a scabbard then you're taking off to much. That being said you should probably just buy another, sounds like you use them a lot so another would fit right in.
 
You could take the scales off, and send it to me. I'll reharden and temper it and send it back to you. Just pay for shipping.:)

Steve
 
Look in the dictionary under "Good Man,"

you'll find Steve Ferguson's picture there. :thumbup:
 
Wow...that's some severe grinding.

Doubt that would be covered...that's why the steeling is done.
 
l've put my AK through some serious heavy use for a few years and haven't needed to sharpen it that much.
 
Grime said:
Get a khukuri.
The AK bowie is a relatively new thing, as you know, whereas the khukuri has been tried and tested for thousands of years.
And I’m sure by now after 4 years they have perfected the AK bowie.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been thinking about that. The pen knife looks interesting, I would prefer a flat edge for some work. Is the pen edge hardened, or zone like the khuks?
 
I guess I could've tried steeling more, but it never seemed to work very well for me. I used the flat of a file to try to do it before, but it never seemed to do much except flatten the lump a little bit, but didn't bring it back in line with the edge. I usually just sharpened out dings and dents though.
 
ferguson said:
You could take the scales off, and send it to me. I'll reharden and temper it and send it back to you. Just pay for shipping.:)
Steve
Click to expand...

that sounds like the deal of the century :)

some sandpaper stropping, or a belt, or something along those lines... that's all you need. a file is for major reshaping/fixing bad things imho. even a mild stone to fix dings is about as far as i go once the initial profile is fixed. even with an axe, file is a one time deal, then just a stone.

4 years? good hard use? didn't break? that's a good user. get it re-hardened, reuse the handles (epoxy), or slap micarta or pretty wood on their, good to go.

bladite
 
You could take the scales off, and send it to me. I'll reharden and temper it and send it back to you. Just pay for shipping.
Click to expand...

Steve,
You (and others here) never cease to amaze me. Your an example for all.

Thank you
Drew
 
yea, that sounds like a good deal if i've ever hard one! I still couldn't imagine grinding a blade past the hardened zone, I guess it certainly puts the amount of use into perspective! Sounds like your knife may have lost some weight!
 
HI Guarantee is for material and workmanship and does not cover normal wear and tear. This is the usual guarantee found for most things---appliances, automobiles etc. Even these have a time limit which HI does not have on the material or workmanship.
 
Every product has a shelf life, and it seems you got 4 years plus out of the blade mentioned. Wear and tear are always factors to deal with, and you got some good results for the money spent. I'd order another and be done with it. Even a Busse can wear out!
 
Stubai said:
Every product has a shelf life, and it seems you got 4 years plus out of the blade mentioned. Wear and tear are always factors to deal with, and you got some good results for the money spent. I'd order another and be done with it. Even a Busse can wear out!
Click to expand...

Yeah... I suppose it's done though. I do have Busses and they'll be my go to knives from now on... I don't particularly wish to compare the two, like comparing glocks and 1911s, both good in their own way. Busses are through hardened, so I'll never get through the hardened material, and they carry the best warrantee around. This place just doesn't feel the same as it did back then... traffic's died down to a fraction of what it used to be and it seems a lot of the cool guys I used to know have jumped ship... and just a lot less friendly in general. Even feels like there's some sort of strange quasi-hostile anxious scrutiny directed towards me for even asking about this. I think I'm done here.
 
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