All About Pocket Knives

What, in your opinion, is the best knife to keep a good sharp blade that stays sharp - tactical, utility, pocket or whatever? I want something that, after cutting up a cardboard box, I don’t have to go re-sharpen it. I know carbon blades hold their sharpness better, but what about brands - or other blade types?

For me proven at work stripping cables Bucks 440C has always done it in my 49 years in the trade..

I can't agree with the premise that carbon steel holds an edge longer than stainless steel.

It's not a simple question to answer, there are trade-offs. Easy to sharpen generally means won't hold an edge as long. Likewise holding an edge generally means harder to sharpen. The key is to find the "sweet spot" that's right for you. Knife makers and steel makers have been searching for that perfect sweet spot for centuries.

Everyone has their favorites. There are numerous threads here about just that. I personally like carbon steels but I like 440C better. S35VN is growing on me. Buck uses both, Case has come out with S35VN in both traditional and modern style pocket knives. I'm sure there are others as well. Both 440C and S35VN hold an edge longer than CV or 1095, but are harder to sharpen - for me near impossible to sharpen without diamond stones.

Ken

I work in a box factory, we cut a lot of paper. Stainless steels are used extensively because of their abrasion resistance. In general the harder a steel is to sharpen the more durable the cutting edge will be as long as its not overheated or abused.

Carbon steel blades are generally easier to sharpen, but they do not hold an edge as well.

garddogg56 wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 10:54 pm For me proven at work stripping cables Bucks 440C has always done it in my 49 years in the trade..

Agreed!!!

garddogg56 wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 10:54 pm For me proven at work stripping cables Bucks 440C has always done it in my 49 years in the trade..