ZDP isn't that tough...

20 deg inclusive + cutting metal is asking for trouble. Get a swiss army knife. I think the zdp did exactly what it should have done in that situation.
 
Couldn't find your P-38 I take it.

Had a friend borrow my early Bucklite [ probably 425M steel] to open a large can of Folgers coffee at a Wild Game Dinner at church....was well or 20 years ago but as I recall our friendship and the knife survived..was a semi-city boy at that time and maybe that was the way to open cans in West TN.
 
This is a case of wrong tool for the wrong job. At any rate, ZDP isn't known to be that tough in the first place.
 
Really? Complaining about a steel after you stab it through another metal? You know your endura is not a can opener..
 
To me, a can opener on a SAK is the best example of why heat treat (to a specific range of hardness) is so important. The can opener isn't very 'hard', compared to most knife blades, but it's hard enough to do that particular job without being damaged in the process.

ZDP's reputation is built on 'hardness' (high RC) for the sake of edge holding, for tasks the blade is actually intended for. But, 'toughness' is another matter entirely. There's always a trade-off.
 
Technique opening cans plays much more of a role than steel. A 40 degree inclusive bevel would have been better, such as that put on by the Sharpmaker.
 
diff_lock2 said:
All that from opening a tin can...

The cutting edge was more than 20deg inclusive. Overall I haven't had good luck with this ZDP blade (my only one).
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i used a straight razor to whittle a stick and it broke, carbon steel isn't that tough ;) .

maybe you shouldn't use a very hard blade that's designed for slicing, with a really thin edge to cut open a metal can.

based on the low angle you used (from the pics you posted) and the fact that you used it to open a can, ZDP did pretty good.

p.s. what type of can was it?
 
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I guess the lesson here is that high hardness knife steels ground to a thin edge should not be used to open cans.
 
Ive used 1095 to open cans several times. No chipping there. Used 154CM twice and had some very minor chips. But ZDP??? Id never do that.

singularity35 said:
I guess the lesson here is that high hardness knife steels ground to a thin edge should not be used to open cans.
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Its a simple lesson. No need to over-analyze what happened.
 
jimnolimit said:
p.s. what type of can was it?
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cm63l.jpg


I don't think its aluminium.
 
diff_lock2 said:
I have two vics, neither have a can opener, time for a third vic.
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I don't think that you can ever have too many Vics (though some members seem to be pushing the limit with that) and if you only have 2 then a 3rd is hardly over the top.

What about buying a Victorinox Farmer? It has a can opener and is a nice looking SAK, it doesn't cost a fortune either.
 
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