Which steel rocks?

rrutledge1 · Sep 9, 2006

I need a knife that wears well (lasts forever) because I am a sharpening moron. It has to handle big, tough-hided game like bear, oryx and elk. I would like for it to last through each season or even a year so that I can send it out to be sharpened. I would rather have a brittle blade than a soft one. Which steel/alloy would be the best for my needs????

Quiet Storm · Sep 9, 2006

Welcome to the forums!

The longer the edge lasts, the harder it will be to resharpen when it gets dull eventually. And all steels will get dull eventually. And chances are that it will happen much more often than once a year if you subject it to hard use (which you plan to do).
Besides, a hard, brittle blade will chip readily, especially when you field-dress big game with it. That results in more sharpening.

I suggest that you buy a Lansky set (my preference) or a Spyderco Sharpmaker. It doesn't get any easier than that.

IUKE12 · Sep 9, 2006

I'd be looking at D2 if I were you, but it is easier to maintain an edge, takes much less effort and time than you would think.

rrutledge1 · Sep 9, 2006

I thought some of the alloys, like stellite and talonite, were supposed to be super-metals. Wouldn't those wear longer and stay sharper? My father-in-law got a ceramic lastyear but hasn't really tried it yet. I guess I just want everything in one $300 knife.

Hair · Sep 9, 2006

D2.

D2 holds an edge for a long time. It is brittle compared to other tool steels, but it is fairly tough. It also has a high amount of stain resistance compared to other tool steels and is almost stainless. So the edge will not dull from oxidation too much.

If you can spend $300 and want the best hunting knife you can buy, get a Bob Dozier.

I have been talking about Dozier's knives a lot lately, so I might come off as biased, but they really are that good. He is a legend for a reason.

He is the dean of D2. His D2 holds a very good edge for a very long time.

But even D2 might need a touch-up before the year is up (I have heard of them lasting whole seasons with no problem). If you want to skin animals for a year without sharpening, a ceramic might be what you are after. But I haven't seen a ceramic-bladed knife that is as good as a Dozier.

Sharpening really isn't very hard. Especially today, with all of the gadgets designed to make it so easy a child can do it.

Check out the Spyderco Sharpmaker or similar rigs.

They will at least allow you to touch your knife up a few times during the season, and then you can send it to get sharpened at the end of the year.

www.Spyderco.com
www.DozierKnives.com

Charles May also makes good hunting knives in D2, but I have never used one.

allenC · Sep 9, 2006

There is simply NO steel that will last a whole hunting season without getting dull (unless you shoot as well as you sharpen

), so I suggest you get yourself a Spyderco Sharpmaker.
It is so simple and easy to use that it is practically fool proof.

And once you learn to sharpen, you will not be limited to a few knives with a specific type of blade-steel.

Good luck and happy hunting,
Allen.

Quiet Storm · Sep 9, 2006

Ceramic breaks easily. I'd be surprised if a ceramic blade would hold up longer than two minutes max. when field-dressing big game.

rrutledge1 said:
I thought some of the alloys, like stellite and talonite, were supposed to be super-metals. Wouldn't those wear longer and stay sharper?

In short: no. For more info, please use the search function.

tidefan · Sep 9, 2006

I used a Dozier K-4 to field dress 8 whitetail deer and it was still scary sharp. I highly recommend Dozier knives...Jim

rrutledge1 · Sep 9, 2006

Thanks for all of the insight. I've been looking at the Dozier Master Hunter on AG Russell. I like the Dozier Skinner but the Master Hunter weighs twice as much. "Great weight = great Value".....if only in the weak mind.

Hair · Sep 9, 2006

Any Dozier should be great. You just have to pick the model that appeals to you the most. If you are mostly doing skinning, check out the Yukon Pro Skinner.

gaj999 · Sep 9, 2006

Why not just buy a box cutter and replace the blades when they get dull?

Gordon

Hair · Sep 9, 2006

Box cutters tend to not be very good at skinning....

Leatherface · Sep 9, 2006

There is no D2 like Dozier D2...

That being said, I would suggest you learn to sharpen...I am also one of those "sharpening morons" and am in the process of learning myself...A sharpmaker is HIGH on my list of must haves this year...

LHD · Sep 9, 2006

ZDP delica. End of story.

Cliff Stamp · Sep 9, 2006

Leatherface said:
There is no D2 like Dozier D2./QUOTE]

Which custom or production knives have you used in D2 and found Dozier's to offer better cutting performance and edge retention in the same profiles and edge finishes?

allenC said:

There is simply NO steel that will last a whole hunting season without getting dull...

Click to expand...

There are reports from guys like Mayo who have guys report using their knives on 40-60 animals before sharpening.

I'd suggest a 10V blade from Wilson, that will have much better long term edge retention than Dozier's D2.

-Cliff

allenC · Sep 10, 2006

There are reports from guys like Mayo who have guys report using their knives on 40-60 animals before sharpening.

I would take such stories with a huge grain of salt.

Of course, they could be talking about skinning squirrels and rabbits.

But 40-60 elk or deer without sharpening....I'm very skeptical.

rrutledge1 · Sep 10, 2006

Cliff, which Wilson are you speaking of??? Registry of custom knifemakers has at least 5 at any given time.

ceya one · Sep 10, 2006

DC53 steel! freaking awesome,IMHO.

My Ceya's Trident Warrior is made of it.

I got 5 designs on hold for this steel. 6 1/2 yrs using it.

S/F,
CEYA!
Ceya Knife Designz

Cliff Stamp · Sep 10, 2006

allenC said:
I would take such stories with a huge grain of salt.

You mean knife makers don't tell the truth and the whole truth about their knives - I am shocked you would suggest such a thing.

Of course, they could be talking about skinning squirrels and rabbits.

[bow hunter]

"...just sent his 440v knife over for sharpening....48 animals...this is a guy who goes hunting 3 or 4 times a week....is a guide."

For most people that I know who hunt that is more than a lifetime (legally). Of course skill and experience plays a large role :

"I've got a hibbin alaskan guide knife that is made with 420j2. It skinned and butchered three whitetails and an elk before needing to be sharpened. And then, just a few strokes on a set of ceramic crock sticks brought it back." - hlee

Now what would be expected of a harder and high wear steel? If you relax your sharpness requirements, given the nonlinear dependance of blunting on media, you can also do a lot more cutting. In general while it would not surprise me if Mayo's references were exaggerated, it would not suprise me either if they were not.

rrutledge1 said:
Cliff, which Wilson are you speaking of?

Phil Wilson, he uses very high carbide CPM steels which are ran very hard and grind very high performance cutting edges.

-Cliff

barrabas74 · Sep 10, 2006

Cliff Stamp said:
Leatherface said:

There is no D2 like Dozier D2./QUOTE]

Which custom or production knives have you used in D2 and found Dozier's to offer better cutting performance and edge retention in the same profiles and edge finishes?

There are reports from guys like Mayo who have guys report using their knives on 40-60 animals before sharpening.

I'd suggest a 10V blade from Wilson, that will have much better long term edge retention than Dozier's D2.

-Cliff

Click to expand...

I have a Razorback from Scott Gossman that has gone through 5 deer(w/o strop or sharpening), several rabbits, and latley has done 2 cows and some chickens.. I havent done anything but run it on a strop here and there. It still shaves hair. His is one I would recommend. Dozier I love and have a few of and his D2 is phenomenal. Yeah I would say D2 would be a great steel for you, it has large carbides(if I am wrong correct me) that have a real toothy edge and cut through meat and hide very nicely.

40-50 deer sounds like a hell of alot, when I say 5 deer I mean from gutting to skinning and quartering. Same with the cow. However I use differnt knives for boning and what not. The amount of game I have done with my Razorback w/o sharpening has suprised me . It has not chipped (YET ) my dozier's have been very good regarding that as well. You can get one of scotts for les s than 300 I believe. www.razorback-knives.com. Check out the makers forum , guys like J.Neilson, kbaknife(Anderson forge), Roosko(dark custom knives). These are just a few. they put out some real nice stuff for at or under 300 and you get a great sheath too.