mrstabby
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Post by mrstabby on Jan 4, 2024 12:43:39 GMT
Hard to grind. Then again, my stone is pretty old. I probably just need a new one. Newer stones have definately become harder to keep up with the super steels. I have heard good things about the Shapton Kuromaku/Professional, I have one around but not used it yet. The cool thing is you don't need to water them for 15 minutes, they are splash and go and can, according to reviews, even sharpen S90V without being eaten. I have only used diamond for a long time now, but the ceramic stones like the Shapton give a cleaner edge, so I might switch to these for finishing up the edge.
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Post by randomnobody on Jan 4, 2024 13:38:28 GMT
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mrstabby
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Post by mrstabby on Jan 4, 2024 14:01:35 GMT
Ah, thought you had a stone-stone. I have been using a 1000 grit diamond for about 10 years now, not that it doesn't work any longer, but it's more like a 3000 grit now. It was my first diamond, when you put too much pressure on it, it will get less and less agressive - ask me why it is dull now. I think the particles sink into the substrate over time and become lost in it. 10s of years is a pretty good run.
I have new ones (bought with the Shapton), but I have no crap knives to break them in right now and I don't want to badly scratch up my nice polishes. I should have bought before 2020, they were much cheaper back then, at least in europe.
EDIT: I can really recommend diamond particle stropping sprays, they work well. 30ml cost 30€ but you get a lot of use out of it and you can use it to polish anything, even preciuous stones.
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Post by randomnobody on Jan 4, 2024 14:13:08 GMT
I've got a Lansky synthetic kit that I bought for a very stubborn knife, years ago, but even those stones (I think the lowest is 180 grit and the highest 1,000?) don't really help with the handful of knives I'm convinced just don't want to be sharp anymore.
The diamond hone I've been using started life as, I think, 800 grit but is probably 1,000-1,200 by now. It's pretty smooth to the touch, but can still take metal off most of my knives. Just the few I guess I'm having trouble with finding the right angles.
Anyway.
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Post by carbon on Jan 4, 2024 15:47:12 GMT
My EDC rotation:
Hoague Balista auto My EDC beater knife and it shows Benchmade Claymore Light and handy but not a heavy use knife
Kershaw Launch 6 Great knife for the money Benchmade Adamas A beast! The one I carry when I want a folder that can take heavy use.
For sharpening I have a coupe of systems but the one that gets the most use is a guided system made by KME. I have diamond stones ranging from 100-1500 grit, then finish off with a leather strop. Oddly enough, the 600 grit wears out the quickest for some reason. I also have a WS KO edition but rarely use it as I prefer doing the job by hand. May put it up for sale soon.
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Post by mrbadexample on Jan 5, 2024 11:40:30 GMT
I’m a teacher, so they have to be veeeery inconspicuous. That means that most of my many knives only get to come out on the weekends. I edc a Victorinox Classic (the tiny one) on my keychain, and a Bastinelli Picoeur. I love both for very different reasons.
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Post by madirish on Jan 8, 2024 23:19:41 GMT
Fontenille Pataud Le Thiers Pocket 10cm Attachments:
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hawthorn
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Post by hawthorn on Jan 10, 2024 2:03:31 GMT
I got my second ever EDC utility knife, a fox knives 752 in the mail last week (pictured alongside a GI tanto), and so far I've been using it for all my cutting needs, including a bunch of cardboard boxes (to make smaller boxes). No problems there. The 752 I got from deadwoodknives is just a flawless specimen both mechanically and cosmetically. I've worked its action hundreds of times on purpose to see if liner locks are as flimsy as I've suspected but it's still no worse for the wear. I'm not sure if that's typical. It also has the thinnest hollow grind I've ever seen. Even thinner than with my cold steel tuff lite. These primary bevels are like box-cutter blade thin. Basically I'm amazed at how much quality I received here in a knife whose price averages $30. What a cute and handy folder.
I'm gonna return to using my cold steel kudu all the time instead but this thing is absolutely staying on me for maybe special uses. *shrug* Whatever those would be.
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Post by shinycanoe on Jan 17, 2024 3:19:21 GMT
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Post by shinycanoe on Jan 17, 2024 3:23:33 GMT
I have seen a lot of OTF autos mentioned here. They are legal in my state but looking around I see they all seem to be very expensive; as in more than a lot of the swords for sale in the classifieds section. Any recommendations on a reasonably priced, decent quality option for a first timer?
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mrstabby
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Post by mrstabby on Jan 17, 2024 8:01:57 GMT
I have seen a lot of OTF autos mentioned here. They are legal in my state but looking around I see they all seem to be very expensive; as in more than a lot of the swords for sale in the classifieds section. Any recommendations on a reasonably priced, decent quality option for a first timer? In the lower price segment are the Lightning, the Titan and AKC has a few (F20 for example). Aren't the best but you can see how you like it for 30-50$. I would not recommend the F16, it is small and the button is uncomfortable and slippery, AKC has a good build quality over all so the others from them should also be ok. Cobratec is the next step up and you can find some D2 knives on sale for 100$, they are a bit more refined than the lower price section, but to see if you like it, I'd go with Lighning, Titan or AKC F20. They are 440A steel, so the edge won't hold very long compared to D2 or M390 in the higher price segments. You mostly pay for the steel with the more costly options (although for some like Microtec you also pay a lot for the brand name).
>Grindworx< is a good place to look in the US. If you go shopping, look at the weight though! Some are made of zinc alloy and weigh twice as much as the aluminium ones. They will function just as well, but be a lot more weight to carry. This one and all of its relatives for example >link< have the zinc alloy, it's a good knife, works well, but it's heavy. Another thing, some like the Cobratec have pretty tough springs, so they aren't very easy to open. If you have trouble opening it, it might get better after a few dozen open and close cycles, also cleaning helps a lot most of the times (beware the small springs!). If it stays just too hard try another brand or go with the ones that have the button on the side instead of the top. These are generally easier to actuate. The Lightning are generally pretty easy, the AKC more stiff.
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Post by shinycanoe on Jan 17, 2024 20:31:26 GMT
I have seen a lot of OTF autos mentioned here. They are legal in my state but looking around I see they all seem to be very expensive; as in more than a lot of the swords for sale in the classifieds section. Any recommendations on a reasonably priced, decent quality option for a first timer? In the lower price segment are the Lightning, the Titan and AKC has a few (F20 for example). Aren't the best but you can see how you like it for 30-50$. I would not recommend the F16, it is small and the button is uncomfortable and slippery, AKC has a good build quality over all so the others from them should also be ok. Cobratec is the next step up and you can find some D2 knives on sale for 100$, they are a bit more refined than the lower price section, but to see if you like it, I'd go with Lighning, Titan or AKC F20. They are 440A steel, so the edge won't hold very long compared to D2 or M390 in the higher price segments. You mostly pay for the steel with the more costly options (although for some like Microtec you also pay a lot for the brand name).
>Grindworx< is a good place to look in the US. If you go shopping, look at the weight though! Some are made of zinc alloy and weigh twice as much as the aluminium ones. They will function just as well, but be a lot more weight to carry. This one and all of its relatives for example >link< have the zinc alloy, it's a good knife, works well, but it's heavy. Another thing, some like the Cobratec have pretty tough springs, so they aren't very easy to open. If you have trouble opening it, it might get better after a few dozen open and close cycles, also cleaning helps a lot most of the times (beware the small springs!). If it stays just too hard try another brand or go with the ones that have the button on the side instead of the top. These are generally easier to actuate. The Lightning are generally pretty easy, the AKC more stiff.
Thank you! That is exactly the information I was looking for. I appreciate you taking the time to give a thoughtful answer and point me to a good resource. I am looking through those options now; definitely going to get something.
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Post by eastman on Jan 18, 2024 2:53:32 GMT
Cobratech look to be reasonable in the quality:price ratio. By the time they started to be more available, I already had Microtechs.
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rschuch
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Sharp blades are good to have, if Shire-folk go walking, east, south, far away into dark and danger.
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Post by rschuch on Jan 19, 2024 16:02:37 GMT
TacKnives is another affordable option. I had a Lightning which I gave away (too loud and sloppy), still have a Benchmade and AKC, but I carry the long Tac all the time. Nice and light and fairly cheap. Attachments:
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mrstabby
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Post by mrstabby on Jan 19, 2024 16:23:17 GMT
TacKnives is another affordable option. I had a Lightning which I gave away (too loud and sloppy), still have a Benchmade and AKC, but I carry the long Tac all the time. Nice and light and fairly cheap. There is a lot of variability with the Lighnings, some are loose, some are extremely tight. You can get the ringing of the spring away relatively easily if you put grease on them or put one twist on it. Take the L-shaped bracket on one end of the spring and rotate it 360 degrees to tighten the spring and put it back in, if there are two springs, like in the older Lighntings, grease is better. You'd need to unhook the springs from the L piece, well at least one, which is a lot of hassle many times (many times at least one end loop is open enough). The newer Lighning Elite have upgraded insides with only one spring and (finally) a steel spring guide. But in the end any OTF can ring and be loud, just add grease. I have seen a few Microtecs that rang like bells.
Not saying the Lightning is a superb knife, just that they have big tolerances. One of my tightest OTF is actually a Lightning, in the beginning it was so tight it did not fire when it was cold, easy fix though.
For me the problem with the cheaper TacKnives is, that most have the Zinc-alloy handle.
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Post by shinycanoe on Jan 19, 2024 21:33:26 GMT
I ordered a Lightning Elite. Does that make me an elitist? Should be here on Tuesday. Thanks again for the lead mrstabby!
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Post by eastman on Jan 20, 2024 3:24:45 GMT
no, if you were truly an elitist you would have spent the money on top line Microtechs (like the Troodon and Dirac)
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Post by durinnmcfurren on Jan 20, 2024 4:32:33 GMT
Bear & Sons folder with a thumb stud and a back thingie that you can push and it swings open.
Hopefully I can post this link here? I know these are cheap, but therefore, if something happens to it, it's no big deal, and actually this knife feels like a much more expensive knife. It's extremely well made for the price.
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Post by eastman on Jan 20, 2024 23:49:03 GMT
The Bear & Sons flipper knives are a good knife for the price. I used to frequently carry one of theirs when I lived on the IL side of the border.
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Post by El Chingon on Mar 19, 2024 22:22:14 GMT
I have a William's Heiho that's been my EDC for a decade. It serves me well. (borrowed Blade HQ's stock photo)
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