Worn Down SAK Blades...

B

blades4brains

Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
51
Once and a while I'll see a picture of an old SAK, where the main blade is used/sharpened to the point where its width is greatly reduced. I am just wondering how many years of use (speaking regular use) & sharpening would one need to put on a SAK blade to essentially ruin it?

I have a good idea about how my other knives will wear with time, but i'm not sure about my SAK blades (haven't used them as much).


Thanks guys.

-b4b
 
Most of the skinny SAK blades I've seen were either damaged (chipped) and reground or were sharpening improperly with those carbide sharpeners (too much pressure).

This is my orig pioneer from '82-'83 and it was my daily EDC for almost 20 years. I used for daily tasks and a lot of heaver stuff working construction with my FIL.

TheOrigALOX_zpse7856ff3.jpg


Nope that helps.

BTW, it's as tight as the day it left Switzerland and has super walk and talk! :D
 
Exactly as SAK Guy said. I bet most of those blades you see like that are either ground down to fix a chip or improperly sharpened over the years. I'm sure there are a few that are sharpened correctly and have just seen some major use over the years. I would guess it would be a good 40 + years of correct sharpening to get there. Just a guess though. No actual data behind that.
 
SAK Guy said:
Most of the skinny SAK blades I've seen were either damaged (chipped) and reground or were sharpening improperly with those carbide sharpeners (too much pressure).

This is my orig pioneer from '82-'83 and it was my daily EDC for almost 20 years. I used for daily tasks and a lot of heaver stuff working construction with my FIL.

TheOrigALOX_zpse7856ff3.jpg


Nope that helps.

BTW, it's as tight as the day it left Switzerland and has super walk and talk! :D
Click to expand...

Looks like at some point you ground off the split ring stud. I often wonder if that's worth doing. Did it make a big difference in handling?
 
znapschatz said:
Looks like at some point you ground off the split ring stud. I often wonder if that's worth doing. Did it make a big difference in handling?
Click to expand...


I was a SAK dealer and needed a heavy (cheap) work knife to cut up a bunch of heavy water heater boxes at my Dad's shop. I pulled this Pioneer out of the display case and put it in my pocket. I found out 2 things that day:

1) That SAK stainless is pretty damn good...after cutting apart 10 to 12 big/heavy boxes. it was still remarkably sharp and...

2) The first thing you do on a Pioneer that is destined for heavy use is remove the keyring nub. I had a big blister forming where it rubbed my hand that day.


I was absolutely sold on the Pioneer and EDC-ed it for about the next 20 years. :thumbup:

I have RA now and a lanyard on a knife is a little more important to me (and I don't do tons of heavy cutting anymore) but will still remove the nub if needed. I have Soldiers to use too.

I have a cherry new shield Red Farmer that I took the nub off back before I started really collecting ALOX again... it was destined for a pack/use. Second from the bottom.

Farmers2_zpsc3588adf.jpg


It does improve the handling...no question in my mind.
 
SAK Guy said:
Most of the skinny SAK blades I've seen were either damaged (chipped) and reground or were sharpening improperly with those carbide sharpeners (too much pressure).
Click to expand...

What kind of stone do you recommend using with a SAK? I have a silicon carbide and don't want to wear down my blades prematurely.

-b4b
 
I usually use either a Fallkniven DC-4 Combo stone or a Double Sided Diafold Sharpener to sharpen mine. Light pressure with a diamond works best for me....

I have Diafolds in Xtra coarse, coarse/fine and extra fine because I refurb old knives and sometimes they are dull as a butter knife.

This Pioneer was in rough shape and very dull. By the looks of the edge, the last owner was lousy at sharpening knives. Now it's nice and sharp after some work on the Diafolds.

REDAlox_zps73b90905.jpg




The DC-4 does daily/weekly touch ups on my EDCs. I really like these Fallknivens and have them in sizes from 3" to 8". :thumbup:

Use those little Smith's/Buck pocket rods too...keep one in my pocket most days...it's medium grit and is used on everything from pocketknives to axes/machetes. Good for a lick or two while your working. Easy to carry.

Nearly forgot, also have a fine grit 6" Smith Diamond bench stone that gets used every now and then.

So basically, diamonds.
 
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I took a pic of the re-ground Farmer and the Fallkniven DC-4 Combo today.

StonedFarmer_zps416eb994.jpg


A nice portable stone with 25 Micron diamonds on one side and synthetic rubies on the other.
 

This one is a 79 soldier I got from an airport security sale. It look like it had been sharpened free hand with an angle grinder, or a cinderblock. I didn't fully remove the scratches, or the big nick in the blade (more of a long single serration, or a short recurve) I just polished it, convexed it, and trimmed the kick down, since at that point the tip was fully exposed from the scales. Its a bit older than I am, but besides the wear, its rock solid
 
gadgetgeek said:

This one is a 79 soldier I got from an airport security sale. It look like it had been sharpened free hand with an angle grinder, or a cinderblock. I didn't fully remove the scratches, or the big nick in the blade (more of a long single serration, or a short recurve) I just polished it, convexed it, and trimmed the kick down, since at that point the tip was fully exposed from the scales. Its a bit older than I am, but besides the wear, its rock solid
Click to expand...

:thumbup::thumbup: Old ALOX never die...they just get confiscated at the airport! :D
 
I felt bad for whoever lost it, on that haul I got a bunch of other normal SAKs, many of which became gifts. i figure the least I can do is look after it as best I can for now, kinda like a stray puppy.
 
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