What is your favorite Go-To knife for overlanding.

[bgenlvtex]

Yep, the S30V sure is hard to dull and hard to sharpen.

What sharpening setup do you use?

Smith's setup that I purchased in the '90s seems to work good for mine, but I'm wondering if something else out there is easier and faster.

View attachment 271138

Diamond plates (industrial sapphire). Modern knife steels aren't your Grand Pappy's old high carbon steels anymore.

S30v,S35vn,Manacut,Elmax,,S90V,S110v, M3,M4,M390,CPM D2 any of the powder metallurgy or high speed tool steels, you're not going to get it done with natural stones or even man made like Norton Fine India or Crystolon. Anything that hardens into the 60 Rockwell range is going to pretty much demand diamond plates or a loooooooong time and a very steady hand(or a guide system).
8cr13mov,9cr14mov,10cr15mov,AEBl,154CM,14c28n,VG10 can be managed on traditional "stones" and are adequate steel for most uses (pocket knife) but that is still dependent on who does the heat treat. Spyderco does a great job with 8cr and VG10(and heat treating in general), other brands 8cr is just junk.

People are quick to recommend the latest "super steels" but if the end user isn't prepared to deal with them when they need sharpening, they ultimately are not well served with them. If I was picking one folding knife steel that demonstrated good properties relative to usability (ease of sharpening, edge retention,high chrome content/stainless-ness,toughness) coupled with affordability for someone who is not prepared for super-steels, it would probably be Sandvik 14c28n .

 

[Tommys]

Geez! What a great post, I just broke my Rambo Blade last week in the bush, while splitting wood.
Looking to review any others out there, so send me your suggestions.

 

[TSO_NJ]

Diamond plates (industrial sapphire). Modern knife steels aren't your Grand Pappy's old high carbon steels anymore.

S30v,S35vn,Manacut,Elmax,,S90V,S110v, M3,M4,M390,CPM D2 any of the powder metallurgy or high speed tool steels, you're not going to get it done with natural stones or even man made like Norton Fine India or Crystolon. Anything that hardens into the 60 Rockwell range is going to pretty much demand diamond plates or a loooooooong time and a very steady hand(or a guide system).
8cr13mov,9cr14mov,10cr15mov,AEBl,154CM,14c28n,VG10 can be managed on traditional "stones" and are adequate steel for most uses (pocket knife) but that is still dependent on who does the heat treat. Spyderco does a great job with 8cr and VG10(and heat treating in general), other brands 8cr is just junk.

People are quick to recommend the latest "super steels" but if the end user isn't prepared to deal with them when they need sharpening, they ultimately are not well served with them. If I was picking one folding knife steel that demonstrated good properties relative to usability (ease of sharpening, edge retention,high chrome content/stainless-ness,toughness) coupled with affordability for someone who is not prepared for super-steels, it would probably be Sandvik 14c28n .

What are your thoughts about DMT for the S30V?

 

[bgenlvtex]

What are your thoughts about DMT for the S30V?

I have used DMT plates for more than 20 years. They will wear in and shed some abrasives along the way.

Coarser diamond plates WILL rip the carbides out of the edge, I use a (green) 1200 grit 12" mounted bench model they no longer make for sharpening and (red) 600 grit for re-profiling. The longer the sharpening surface the less manipulating you have to do with the blade. Note that flat plates and recurve blades are a bad combination. Spyderco Sharpmaker with ceramic rods do a good job there (and everywhere really particularly for the uninitiated)

I've also got a red Lansky mounted bench model. The Lansky has been a good "stone" I would not be afraid of them.

I hand sharpen everything, I've tried a Lansky guided unit and did not like it.

 

[pcstockton]

Ka-Bar Kukri!

 

[TSO_NJ]

I have used DMT plates for more than 20 years. They will wear in and shed some abrasives along the way.

Coarser diamond plates WILL rip the carbides out of the edge, I use a (green) 1200 grit 12" mounted bench model they no longer make for sharpening and (red) 600 grit for re-profiling. The longer the sharpening surface the less manipulating you have to do with the blade. Note that flat plates and recurve blades are a bad combination. Spyderco Sharpmaker with ceramic rods do a good job there (and everywhere really particularly for the uninitiated)

I've also got a red Lansky mounted bench model. The Lansky has been a good "stone" I would not be afraid of them.

I hand sharpen everything, I've tried a Lansky guided unit and did not like it.

I like the DMT Grit Chart.

 

[donmontalvo]

Diamond plates (industrial sapphire). Modern knife steels aren't your Grand Pappy's old high carbon steels anymore.

S30v,S35vn,Manacut,Elmax,,S90V,S110v, M3,M4,M390,CPM D2 any of the powder metallurgy or high speed tool steels, you're not going to get it done with natural stones or even man made like Norton Fine India or Crystolon. Anything that hardens into the 60 Rockwell range is going to pretty much demand diamond plates or a loooooooong time and a very steady hand(or a guide system).
8cr13mov,9cr14mov,10cr15mov,AEBl,154CM,14c28n,VG10 can be managed on traditional "stones" and are adequate steel for most uses (pocket knife) but that is still dependent on who does the heat treat. Spyderco does a great job with 8cr and VG10(and heat treating in general), other brands 8cr is just junk.

People are quick to recommend the latest "super steels" but if the end user isn't prepared to deal with them when they need sharpening, they ultimately are not well served with them. If I was picking one folding knife steel that demonstrated good properties relative to usability (ease of sharpening, edge retention,high chrome content/stainless-ness,toughness) coupled with affordability for someone who is not prepared for super-steels, it would probably be Sandvik 14c28n .

So when I bought my Benchmade Bushwhacker 162 (S30v) at REI, the knife specialist advised me to have a professional knife sharpener do the thing.

 

[bgenlvtex]

So when I bought my Benchmade Bushwhacker 162 (S30v) at REI, the knife specialist advised me to have a professional knife sharpener do the thing.

Did either of you have a man-bun?

JK


Benchmade will sharpen your knife for free for life if you need that and send it to them. Personally I do not.

 

[TSO_NJ]

So when I bought my Benchmade Bushwhacker 162 (S30v) at REI, the knife specialist advised me to have a professional knife sharpener do the thing.

The short answer is "it depends". The process requires being patient, methodical, and accurate. I worked from 1973 to 1983 at an aerospace and industrial fastener manufacturer. We designed and produced fasteners from different types of exotic alloys (i.e., fasteners for the cruise missiles). Carbide and diamond tipped/coated tools, such as those used for boring, sawing, or milling can cut the alloys without too much difficulty (cutting coolant was essential too). Carbide and diamond shaped almost all of the exotic alloys during my 10 years. Titanium was one tough alloy to manufacture with the tools available. The one key takeaway to remember is if one mistake was made we were required to scrap the part. Carbide, diamond, and alloys are EXPENSIVE, so being meticulous is a requirement. The last thing I want is to damage a blade costing a few hundred dollars.

 

[donmontalvo]

Did either of you have a man-bun?

JK

Benchmade will sharpen your knife for free for life if you need that and send it to them. Personally I do not.

I’m a 62 year old curmudgeon, no man bun here. LOL

I didn’t know Benchmade did that, I’ll reach out to them.

 

[bgenlvtex]

I’m a 62 year old curmudgeon, no man bun here. LOL

I didn’t know Benchmade did that, I’ll reach out to them.

From one 62 y/o curmudgeon to another, click the link for Benchmade Lifesharp

Lifesharp

 

[TSO_NJ]

From one 62 y/o curmudgeon to another, click the link for Benchmade Lifesharp

Lifesharp

WOW! An awesome service. The flip side is that my lips are quivering with just the thought of parting with my Benchmade. Kinda like the same feeling when I dropped my son off at day care for the first time.

p.s., bookmarked the link.

 

[bgenlvtex]

WOW! An awesome service. The flip side is that my lips are quivering with just the thought of parting with my Benchmade. Kinda like the same feeling when I dropped my son off at day care for the first time.

p.s., bookmarked the link.

The solution to your quandary is too obvious to state.

 

[SquishBang]

I have 2 Kershaw LINK knives and a Leatherman Wingman.

All 3 are on my daily EDC rotation, and I use them at work when I'm installing fiber optic cabling, copper comms or traffic signal wiring. I have been extremely happy with the Kershaws, I can't believe how long the blade holds an edge for. The Leatherman blade seems decent too. I take them off-roading and camping too.

A few years back I broke the tip off of one of the Kershaws (I'd been using them as a prying tool), and Kershaw replaced the blade for free. Most impressively, I frequently cut cardboard with the Kershaws, and in my experience, cardboard can dull some knives pretty quickly. Not the Kershaws, they just stay sharp... even when I inadvertently knick the blade, doesn't seem to affect it. Very low maintenance.... over 6 years I've never sharpened the Kershaws....aside from one blade replacement.

Oh, I only buy USA when I can, so it's nice some brands still offer USA made knives.

 

[John and Mandi]

EDC is a CRKT Mini My Tighe (CR1093K), I could use an upgrade but that little knife has served me well for over a decade. I also sometimes carry a knifeless Leatherman (Rebar) since there are places that don't allow pocket knives. Mandi's EDC is a Kershaw Ken Onion Scallion (1620BLST). Our everyday knives in the van are from L.T. Wright Knives (LTWK), a Genesis and a Coyote. The skinning knife serves as our pairing knife and the Genesis is our primary kitchen knife. There is an all stainless Spyderco, can't remember the model but IIRC it was designed for police, that lives in the center console and is well over 2 decades old. We also have an NRS titanium Co-pilot from our whitewater days that we still take when we partake in water sports. Lastly, we have an LTWK Machete which they have subsequently named the Overland Machete, it made quick work of coconuts (and pineapples) and was our primary "weapon" during our foreign travels.

Genesis and Coyote

 

[grubworm]

ran across this on the internet...i thought it was a cheese knife, but apparently it is a special knife/fork design
im ordering one because you never know when you might come across a piece of SPAM that is too big to take in one bite...

Knife/Fork Combo - Best Priced Products

www.bpp2.com

 

[bgenlvtex]

ran across this on the internet...i thought it was a cheese knife, but apparently it is a special knife/fork design
im ordering one because you never know when you might come across a piece of SPAM that is too big to take in one bite...


View attachment 271262

Knife/Fork Combo - Best Priced Products

www.bpp2.com

LOL, you're going to need to add a defibrillator to your gear

 

[Cypress]

I keep a Morakniv Companion in every vehicle as well as one in my day bag. Cheap, sharp, and durable. I don't have to baby it or care about it beyond the occasional sharpening.



For daily use, I carry a Gerber Diesel.

 

[Shawn686]

I keep a Morakniv Companion in every vehicle as well as one in my day bag. Cheap, sharp, and durable. I don't have to baby it or care about it beyond the occasional sharpening.

View attachment 271263

For daily use, I carry a Gerber Diesel.

Buy em cheap and stack them deep. Love the mora knives

Shawn

 

[Ebbs]

Not really my go to as ill use any number of my knives, but the one on my hip is a Buck 591 Paradigm Shift Auto Knife