Best Knife to Hold Edge with Heavy Use

[sleev-les]

At work, I use my knife daily to mainly cut shrink wrap and packing tape etc. I just use a Kershaw, but it dulls very quickly. Its to the point where I could probably get better results using a key. It was recently sharpened too. Any recommendations on a good knife that won't break the bank, but can handle some daily abuse?

 

[mopar92]

Box cutter with replaceable blades?

 

[atblis]

Is it really just paper and plastic or does it encounter other things? I would try something with S30V steel or one of the other exotic steels. I mention S30V because you're likely to find a deal on a knife with that steel. Something like S90V appears to be a $200+ proposition.

 

[iH8DemLibz]

Use knife.

Sharpen knife.

Rinse and repeat.

 

[sleev-les]

Its easier to have a spring loaded knife that I can keep in my pocket and not be as long as a full box cutter. I was just curious what was out there.

 

[sleev-les]

Is it really just paper and plastic or does it encounter other things? I would try something with S30V steel or one of the other exotic steels. I mention S30V because you're likely to find a deal on a knife with that steel. Something like S90V appears to be a $200+ proposition.

Thanks. I'll definitely look into that. Mostly just plastic. I work after hours with furniture so its always in boxes so tons of tape and shrink wrap. Every so often a piece will have be banded to a skid, but the bands are plastic, not the metal ones.

 

[dapefley]

You can get a spiderco manix 2 in s110v for about $110.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Plan A - Aquire the skills/ tools to sharpen yourself. Once the desired edge geometry is established, it only takes a few strokes to keep it that way, as long as you maintain the edge before it gets seriously out of shape.

Plan B- Get a replaceable blade utilitu knife. Some of them even resemble lock back folding knives, so you won't look very dorky from 5 feet away. Reserve the Kershaw for mundane pockeknife uses.


Yeah, we could have a neverending discussion about designer steels. But when constantly subjected to industrial packaging material, everything WILL lose an edge, its only a matter of degree. And then the catch 22 of supet hard steels often being a Hillary to resharpen, more so than average everyday mid priced steels.

 

[ClutchyMcClutcherson]

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Folding-Lock-Back-Utility-Knife-21113/100020658

This is what I use for those type of jobs. Cheap and easy to replace blades. Solves the problem of a full sized utility knife in your pocket because it folds, and locks. Oh and it has a clip for your pocket too.

 

[ponypeddler87]

I have an Ontario Rat($30) for work and other similar prices knives. I have a wicked edge sharpener and have no problem keeping an insane edge. S30V is good steel for what you're looking for without breaking the bank I feel.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Buncha posts while I was tapping.

Look , if you WANT to get a bragging quality knife with super steel on purpose, by all means go for it. ( Heck , I started a thread on it.) But if you just want to cut thru a crap load of packaging, use intended tools.

There are utility knives that are the same size as pocket knives, at least some of which have pocket clips. Just about every hardware and auto part store will have at least one. With 10 sec of googling, I found a comparison test by trucktrends dot c , comparison of 6 between $14.99 and $4.99 . Any of the top 5 would be sufficient for your needs, and general usage.

 

[doggyjacket]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-F...L/202710473?keyword=folding+razor+blade+knife

 

[jimbobborg]

You can resharpen them? I throw them away when they get dull. Who knew?

 

[atblis]

There are also ceramic options. Maybe a carpet knife. Zirconium oxide. It has its own set of issues though. I think harbor freight has some.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceramic_knife

 

[Biggfoot44]

Yes you can resharpen utility blades. After doing it a cpl times to impress your friends with your mad knife sharpening skills, its not worth the effort.

 

[THier]

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/...BZhbOmdboV8NxfJmUStyVGPpIXB_scTcL8aAs8b8P8HAQ

Get this!! Amazing how easy it is to use. I use cheap picket knives, and keep them sharp. This machine is amazing how well it works

 

[kalister1]

http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/tHIAAOxyFrNRrxvr/s-l225.jpg

Can't get the picture to copy. Cheap box cutter uses single edge razor blade.

 

[smokey]

You can get a spiderco manix 2 in s110v for about $110.

I have one of these, but I also have a contego in cpm-m4. They both have amazing edge retention...but in different ways. The s110v loses its fine razor sharp edge if you breathe on it wrong, but then holds a working "good enough" edge forever. It feels like the edge isn't stable enough to support the carbide volume and breaks down into a toothy, chippy edge with any lateral pressure. The s110v is also a b!tch to sharpen.

In contrast, the m4 is pretty easy to sharpen(with diamond stones). The m4 also holds a razor edge waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay longer than pretty much anything else I've used. The razor edge will slowly dull and then continue slowly dulling through a working edge. It's a much tougher and more stable steel, although it's still very hard and has a good amount of carbides. It also comes back fairly easily with a pass on steel followed by the strop, where the s110v basically needs to hit the stones to bring it back.

The gayle bradley spydercos and the benchmade contegos both come in cpm-m4 at around 62-64 hrc. Either way, you're looking at around $120-200 for a knife...not much for knife people, but it's not as cheap as a box-cutter with a whole sleeve of extra blades for work. There's also a reason people use box-cutters to...umm...cut boxes. Only having a knife blade protrude .5" really helps cut down on damaging whatever is on the other side of the packing tape.

 

[zoostation]

Anything with S90V or M390 steel should work well. Those are some of the best for edge retention. Provided it was heat treated properly. That's a problem with cheaper knives sometimes. Best steel composition in the world isn't worth a shit if not heat treated right. Benchmade Barrage might be a nice choice.

 

[iH8DemLibz]

For the money, a Gerber Gator is a good manual folding knife. Very grippy too.

It's gone through 35 or so Bambis in the past decade. It's only needed an occasional sharpening.

Hair, hide, sternum, and esophagus is a fair amount of abuse. But still holds an edge.