My Texas Jack gets back to razor sharp with just stropping. Unreal! I can't believe how easy this steel is to maintain. I know it has been discussed before, but I'm not one to believe everything I read. Anyone else have this experience with Case or other knives?
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
What is this magic that is Case CV steel?
- Thread starter Eric J
- Start date
Primble
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2014
- Messages
- 8,640
Like 1095 it's very easy to maintain in the field with just a steel, strop or ceramic rod. A few swipes and it's good to go again. It doesn't have any large, hard carbides so the edge lasts shorter than the "super steels", but on the other hand there are no large carbides to rip out of the steel matrix so in use it keeps a finer edge that comes back easier. It's a great tradeoff.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2014
- Messages
- 105
I've never owned a CV case knife, only stainless thanks to a very kind gesture by the man of #7. I hope to one day own a CV steel Case knife.
-D
-D
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2013
- Messages
- 344
Get yourself a Sodbuster Jr, twenty bones and never look back.
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2013
- Messages
- 1,558
I do love their CV. But does anyone know if its the same as their old Carbon steel, from before they started tang stamping CV on the blades. I may be just imagining things but that stuff seems even sharper.
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2013
- Messages
- 1,558
Agreed. Cant go wrong there. By the Way Ace - Just noticed you're a fellow Brooklynite. Which part? I'm in Flatbush.
CASE CV Content here:
These 2 would do everything you'd most likely need to do
Case CV is a perfect example of how something simple sometimes works far better in the real world than something that looks far better on paper. There are some very complex and advanced steels on the market, than on paper will output and last better than some simple steel like Case's CV. Simple 1095 series and 1085, and other simple steels work well in most real world pocket knife use as the so called better steels.
I remember Bob Loveless making a big deal out of the fact that the steel he was using was formulated for the blades in jet tubing engines, and will hold their temper at 700 degrees. This was the 1970's when knife makers were making outrageous claims even than about super edge holding. If I'm someplace that it's 700 degrees, I'm definitely not going to be worried about how my knife is holding up. The supporters of the super steels like to make a lotos, like how large a herd of deer can be field dressed without having to sharpened. After a while it gets a little silly. But what isn't silly is how long or difficult it is to sharpen that blade.
Yes, there are steels out there that will hold a cutting egg a lot longer. But when it comes to sharpening, will be a giant pain in the south end of a northbound person. Case CV, like the SAK steel, can be stropped back to a razor edge in very quick time with almost anything on hand. A cardboard back of a notebook, coffee mug, top of a car window, piece of brick or smooth stone from a creek, back of a belt. Most of us that are not born to the manner, and have a life of wealthy self indulgence, have to go to work. That means we leave the house in the morning, and don't come home until evening. Or we may take a weekend trip. What happens when we are away from home and our knife needs sharpening? Since most of don't carry a large home based gadget with us, we need to be able to sharpen that knife on what's around. A simple steel like CV is great for that.
I can remember being on a trip up visit some of mom's family in Patterson New Jersey, and dad had helped Uncle Paul with something that morning. He'd cut some rope and then felt the blade on his peanut and kind of made a "Hmm" sound. Later that day, after lunch, he finished his coffee, and turned the cup over and honed his peanut for a minute, felt it, and was satisfied it was serviceable again.
Case CV is a reminder that there is some truth to the old saying; sometimes less is more.
I remember Bob Loveless making a big deal out of the fact that the steel he was using was formulated for the blades in jet tubing engines, and will hold their temper at 700 degrees. This was the 1970's when knife makers were making outrageous claims even than about super edge holding. If I'm someplace that it's 700 degrees, I'm definitely not going to be worried about how my knife is holding up. The supporters of the super steels like to make a lotos, like how large a herd of deer can be field dressed without having to sharpened. After a while it gets a little silly. But what isn't silly is how long or difficult it is to sharpen that blade.
Yes, there are steels out there that will hold a cutting egg a lot longer. But when it comes to sharpening, will be a giant pain in the south end of a northbound person. Case CV, like the SAK steel, can be stropped back to a razor edge in very quick time with almost anything on hand. A cardboard back of a notebook, coffee mug, top of a car window, piece of brick or smooth stone from a creek, back of a belt. Most of us that are not born to the manner, and have a life of wealthy self indulgence, have to go to work. That means we leave the house in the morning, and don't come home until evening. Or we may take a weekend trip. What happens when we are away from home and our knife needs sharpening? Since most of don't carry a large home based gadget with us, we need to be able to sharpen that knife on what's around. A simple steel like CV is great for that.
I can remember being on a trip up visit some of mom's family in Patterson New Jersey, and dad had helped Uncle Paul with something that morning. He'd cut some rope and then felt the blade on his peanut and kind of made a "Hmm" sound. Later that day, after lunch, he finished his coffee, and turned the cup over and honed his peanut for a minute, felt it, and was satisfied it was serviceable again.
Case CV is a reminder that there is some truth to the old saying; sometimes less is more.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2015
- Messages
- 174
Well said. I couldn't agree more. When I think of traditional knives, really want it to be simple, straight forward, sharp and easy to maintain. Seems like when folks are looking for a "super" something, they want something that can be all things and do all things. Everything has it's purpose and place. For me CV and simple steels meet 99.9% of my needs. But hey, you like what you like. And then there's the job that needs do'n.
- Rex
- Rex
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
- Messages
- 20,039
I prefer my slipjoints to have super stainless steels, or at least 154CM and the like, but my most used blades are the ones I can easily maintain. My favorite steel, A2, in addition to 1095, CV, O1 and the Victorinox steel. Looking at the few steels that are used in custom slipjoints, like S35VN, ATS34 and CPM154 or 165CM, heck, 440V especially, they need constant maintenance. I've heard from knife makers they like to freehand sharpen, but to maintain the edge. Bringing an edge back from dull is a task best suited to their machine belts.
I think I missed the magic some where along the way. I grew up with 1095, Case's mystery CV and finally 420HC. What I remember is, I spent a lot more time touching up and resharpening. A few years back I spent the week with two stockmans, one Queen and one Case. Using only the clip blade. I spent more time sharpening the Case, because I didn't have to sharpen the Queen.
If I'm away from the house for a couple weeks I don;t have to carry the whole KME set, a DMT Credit Card Diamond Stone works like a champ.
I use my pocket knife as a pocket knife, it cuts it slices nothing more. I learned how to sharpen 1095, then I learned how to sharpen D2 and CPM-154.
CV was good enough for my grandfather and my father but I'm glad I don't have to use it any more. I carry single blades more now because I no longer need 3 blades.
For me, at best CV is an over romanticized memory of a different time and place.
If I'm away from the house for a couple weeks I don;t have to carry the whole KME set, a DMT Credit Card Diamond Stone works like a champ.
I use my pocket knife as a pocket knife, it cuts it slices nothing more. I learned how to sharpen 1095, then I learned how to sharpen D2 and CPM-154.
CV was good enough for my grandfather and my father but I'm glad I don't have to use it any more. I carry single blades more now because I no longer need 3 blades.
For me, at best CV is an over romanticized memory of a different time and place.
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2006
- Messages
- 42,793
I have copies of two certs (certificates of analysis) for alloy steel (non-stainless, but not straight Carbon steel) sold to WR Case by Crucible Steel. One is from 1957 and the other is from 1968. The compositions don't match. The 1957 lot had 1.05% carbon. The one from 1968 had 0.86% Carbon.