Spent too much on a knife

[IMAUDIGGER]

Anybody else do stupid things like that?

Involves carbon fiber, titanium, and SV35VN blade steel.
Silly for an everyday carry.

 

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[Toecutter]

Microtech UTX-85.... is my EDC so i can relate..

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

I'd have bought an auto if it was legal in my state ; (

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Nope. My work-day EDC is an eminently sensible G10 over stainless liner, S30V.

Weekends: carbon-fiber over S/S liner & AUS-8 blade (not fancy but also not pampered at all around the homestead).

But the other 67 knives I have lying around may feel underutilized. ;-)

If you enjoy it you didn't spend too much.


Unless you went out for a four-figure Brian Tighe or a Jena Anso . . . in which case it's artwork and probably won't ever see the inside of a deer or the outside of a building.

 

[Toecutter]

I'd have bought an auto if it was legal in my state ; (

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OTF knives are illegal in Michigan but I have a prosthetic left arm and my Dr said he would write a prescription if needed ....

 

[Toecutter]

Nope. My work-day EDC is an eminently sensible G10 over stainless liner, S30V.

Weekends: carbon-fiber over S/S liner & AUS-8 blade (not fancy but also not pampered at all around the homestead).

But the other 67 knives I have lying around may feel underutilized. ;-)

If you enjoy it you didn't spend too much.


Unless you went out for a four-figure Brian Tighe or a Jena Anso . . . in which case it's artwork and probably won't ever see the inside of a deer or the outside of a building.

I carry the Kershaw Launch 3 outside of work...Its a little more sensible...

 

[Milspec6]

Never saw the value in carrying a knife when you can carry a Leatherman Multi-tool instead. You can buy a nice "wave" for cheap and be ready for anything.

It would be different if buying a combat knife for use in....well, combat. In that case, you can never spend too much.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Never saw the value in carrying a knife when you can carry a Leatherman Multi-tool instead. You can buy a nice "wave" for cheap and be ready for anything.

It would be different if buying a combat knife for use in....well, combat. In that case, you can never spend too much.

I carry a well stocked toolbox in my truck.
Rather grab the right tool for the job.

I have carried a multi-tool in the past.
Never really stuck with me.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Never saw the value in carrying a knife when you can carry a Leatherman Multi-tool instead. You can buy a nice "wave" for cheap and be ready for anything.

It would be different if buying a combat knife for use in....well, combat. In that case, you can never spend too much.

I carry a Gerber Multi-Plier 600 on the weekends. But it's not much use for self-defense; as the version I have doesn't have a blade. But If I am fast enough to get a jaw in each of your nostrils I'm in charge.

Anything that's designed to do a lot doesn't do any one thing the best.

Since I can't carry a concealed pistol at work I have a defensive knife in my pocket (right now a Benchmade 940-2 front and a Victorinox SAK Camper beside my wallet at the rear). Just one blade, rugged, and fast opening. It's better than harsh language - but only just.

 

[Milspec6]

Until some jack-wagon steals that tool box. Happened to me twice in 5 years.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Definitely 'Tacticool".
The S35VN steel sure is more attractive than the SV30.
Takes a nice polish.

I'll be interested to see how easily it is sharpened and holds an edge.

With a previous knife, I was disappointed with the Benchmade SV30 steel. It didn't seem to hold a polished edge very well. Looking closely, I could see chips. Benchmade's factory edge is a coarse grind maybe that's what it needs?

 

[Toecutter]

I dont know alot about steel but the Microtech steel is American made CTS-204P

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Definitely 'Tacticool".
The S35VN steel sure is more attractive than the SV30.
Takes a nice polish.

I'll be interested to see how easily it is sharpened and holds an edge.

With a previous knife, I was disappointed with the Benchmade SV30 steel. It didn't seem to hold a polished edge very well. Looking closely, I could see chips. Benchmade's factory edge is a coarse grind maybe that's what it needs?

CMP S35VN has a finer grain than S30V. Both are Crucible steel (big foundry right beside the NYS Fairgrounds - now closed down) but the S35VN polishes up better. If you want a shiny knife. They have similar qualities, including edge retention, though S30V is harder to machine. So they added 0.5% niobium in place of that much vanadium to S30V and it becomes S35VN.

https://www.knifeart.com/s30vvss35vn.html

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

CMP S35VN has a finer grain than S30V. Both are Crucible steel (big foundry right beside the NYS Fairgrounds - now closed down) but the S35VN polishes up better. If you want a shiny knife. They have similar qualities, including edge retention, though S30V is harder to machine. So they added 0.5% niobium in place of that much vanadium to S30V and it becomes S35VN.

https://www.knifeart.com/s30vvss35vn.html

Well I hope it resists chipping enough to overcome that issue.
Truthfully I'd take old fashion Buck steel over the Benchmade SV30.
Maybe I just need to learn it better.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Go for it.

With the dozens of different steels there is a lot of overlap; and some folks don't mind spending a few minutes restoring an edge. Some even find it satisfying. And some are happy with D2 - that takes a mediocre edge and holds it forever. We all have different needs and expectations from our knives.

Two of my favorite knives are a forged 1085 steel 4.5" skinner made from an old plow coulter, and the other a forged 10" "Rifleman's" knife from 5160 off a Ford truck leaf spring. Have to watch out for rust but the edge retention is astonishing and they will "pop" hair off your arm when fresh.

And both VERY much made in the USA. ;-)

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Go for it.

With the dozens of different steels there is a lot of overlap; and some folks don't mind spending a few minutes restoring an edge. Some even find it satisfying. And some are happy with D2 - that takes a mediocre edge and holds it forever. We all have different needs and expectations from our knives.

Two of my favorite knives are a forged 1085 steel 5" skinner made from an old plow coulter, and the other a forged 10" "Rifleman's" knife from 5160 off a Ford truck leaf spring. Have to watch out for rust but the edge retention is astonishing and they will "pop" hair off your arm when fresh.

And both VERY much made in the USA. ;-)

Yes, I’m not big on paper studies (ya it’s a pun)...I’ve seen some very old useful professional butcher knives that would sharpen to to a useful edge in seconds and could be quickly touched up during butchering. Not hair splitting razor sharp edge, which is not very useful butchering, but a good cutting edge.

Personally, I like to use a set of Smith ceramic rods to bring my knives back to very sharp. 20 seconds and the softer steel is shaving again if you don’t abuse it. Might not hold it extremely long, but easy to fix.

Whatever Oldtimer used was easy to sharpen, but the Buck steel was the best compromise between easy to sharpen and lasting a reasonable time.

Well I’ve got a blade now that’s considered by many
to be one of the best modern blade steels today. I’m excited to see how it works once the factory edge is used up.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Go for it.

With the dozens of different steels there is a lot of overlap; and some folks don't mind spending a few minutes restoring an edge. Some even find it satisfying. And some are happy with D2 - that takes a mediocre edge and holds it forever. We all have different needs and expectations from our knives.

Two of my favorite knives are a forged 1085 steel 4.5" skinner made from an old plow coulter, and the other a forged 10" "Rifleman's" knife from 5160 off a Ford truck leaf spring. Have to watch out for rust but the edge retention is astonishing and they will "pop" hair off your arm when fresh.

And both VERY much made in the USA. ;-)

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Pics? Please. Thank you.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Charlie, I was the youngest among a half dozen old timers at buck camp. Me ->12. Them - > old enough that they wanted to hunt pigeons along the road instead of packing bucks out along the dusty trail.

One of the guys (AL) was kind of an artist/craftsman. Every year the older men would have an axe throwing contest. This was something learned in fire camps during their youth. There was an old tree in camp that had long ago been killed by annual contests throwing double bit and boys axes. I had put in a couple years at camp and felt accepted as a man if you will. When it came time to throw axes...AL brought out these hand forged axes, with hand shaped handles....long story short, first throw, I snapped that glossy handle in half.

He gathered up his toys and put them away. I think that was the last year they ever threw axes.

 

[Toecutter]

Charlie, I was the youngest among a half dozen old timers at buck camp. Me ->12. Them - > old enough that they wanted to hunt pigeons along the road instead of packing bucks out along the dusty trail.

One of the guys (AL) was kind of an artist/craftsman. Every year the older men would have an axe throwing contest. This was something learned in fire camps during their youth. There was an old tree in camp that had long ago been killed by annual contests throwing double bit and boys axes. I had put in a couple years at camp and felt accepted as a man if you will. When it came time to throw axes...AL brought out these hand forged axes, with hand shaped handles....long story short, first throw, I snapped that glossy handle in half.

He gathered up his toys and put them away. I think that was the last year they ever threw axes.

Lmao... damn kids..

 

[Terry Soloman]

I have been selling and making knives since I was 20-years old. Here is a Ken Richardson knife made from an old leaf-spring, and a couple of my favorite Gerber models. Can't give the full link to my store TerrysKnifeStore but I can special order anything and everything.