Another newbie question - recommend a very sharp EDC?

[GregNYC]

Right now, I'd say the sharpest EDC I've got has to be my Case Slimline Trapper with a CV blade, one of the least expensive knives I have. Then Rigwelder posted his super-sharp old Simmonns Hardware sheepsfoot, and it got me thinking!

--Greg

[jonet143]

hey greg, i recommend a very sharp edc! (dull will get you hurt)

[philco]

Hey Greg,
My advice to you is this. Having a good sharp knife is more about knowing how to sharpen and maintain a knife edge than it is about what knife you carry. Most any decent quality production knife such as Case, Boker, Buck or any of a host of others is capable of attaining and holding a very sharp edge. The key is knowing how to sharpen your knife when it needs to be sharpened. If you use a knife, it will eventually begin to dull no matter what knife you use. That's when it is up to you to resharpen and maintain the edge.

I use a Smith's tri-hone system to sharpen my knives and then use a set of crock sticks to touch up the edge as needed. There are a lot of good sharpening systems available. But none of them will help you have a sharp knife unless you use them properly.

Hope this helps.
Phil

[rigwelder]

All i use the old Simmons for is to sharpen a piece of flat soapstone. I usually run the blade across the soapstone a few times after i put the point on it. I guess it works as a soft whetstone, because the old knife never gets dull.

[TM]

Philco really summed it up best ...... an edc is as sharp as you make it! 1095 and CV gets very sharp when sharpened correctly. The angle also makes a big difference - 17 to 20 degrees will get you a razor edge.

Honestly, 2 of the sharpest knives I ever handled straight out of the box were also very affordable: a yellow CV Case Trapper and Sodbuster

I have a GEC Northfield Scout that was able to achieve a now effortless shaving sharp edge

[orvet]

Honestly, 2 of the sharpest knives I ever handled straight out of the box were also very affordable: a yellow CV Case Trapper and Sodbuster

When I was in the cutlery business in the 1980s & early 1990s the sharpest knives we got in new was Al Mar knives, (this was before Al died in 1992). The second sharpest knives were Kershaw. If I had been out of the cutlery store for more than a week (I ran two other smoke shops & men's gift stores as well and often had to spend extended time there), I knew I was going to bleed when I came back to the cutlery store. 9 times out of 10 it was an Al Mar or a Kershaw that bit me.

I think manufacturers today spend more time on sharpening their knives than they did in the 1980s.

Just my 2¢,
Dale

[lenny357]

GEC's 1095 steel gets really sharp!!

[philco]

GEC's 1095 steel gets really sharp!!

Hey Chris,

How does that 1095 steel do as far as edge retention?

Phil

[lenny357]

The GEC's have very nice edge retention, I can use my GEC 73L Stag all day camping and also using it for fun and it will still take the hair right off my arm. (Very very sharp) I also use mine in and around brackish waters and have yet to have any rust, now I do rinse my knife off when I get home.

For a Warncliff, sheapsfoot blade I prefer 154cm or ats34
for a Skinner or clip 1095 or high carbon blade

Sharpest knives out of the box I've handled
1. Rockstead $1200.00 I've sliced threw a phone book in one slice (showing Off, had to justify that price tag)
2. Kershaw Leak $30 (Bit me in the first 10 min.)
3. SodBuster CASE $10 (Never Bit me)
*. GEC out of the box had a collectors edge needed love

Fixed blade hands down; Helle $55

[justold52]

Hello lenny357;

I have to say your post was very well wrighten.

I also agree that out of the box Kershaw Leeks are super sharp.

As well as the Helle fixed blades. Never have I received a dull one.