This begins as an odd story--a redhead showed me this knife. She lost her original model, and asked if I could get her a deal on a new one. I bought one from Blue Ridge and polished it--technically giving a redhead a knife and then turning my back for the third time.
The one pictured is one of my four Splines. It's small, it's very flat, gets incredibly sharp and pops open faster than most switchblades.
I started carrying it as a "left hand" knife. Then found I needed it more than more of the 3.75 inch and +4.0 inch knives I usually carried. I was opening boxes, envelopes and snipping threads (usually in public) and the small knife only seemed to garner as much attention as a common Swiss Army Knife.
So last week I switched pockets. The bigger knife wound up in my left pocket and the Spline became my right side knife. I'd peg it at 400,000 grit, but the blade blank is slender and it slices newsprint cleanly.
Because of the assisted opening mechanism it's a 22 dollar knife. But with a good edge, I'd carry one as a singular knife if events dictated.
I am beginning to like the price point and quality of the 'MOV' steels that are being produced. I just picked up a small boot knife of 9CR18MOV. Sharpening effort was in the middle of the scale, but as you point out, it takes an edge and polish nicely.
This Spline has a good slicing blade shape, with good thickness to the blade. which should mean it can take a bit more of a 'beating' without flex and you have more meat to work with for edge geometry.
That's a very low price for a quality knife! I wish I could sharpen and polish like you do. I'm mastering it for straight razors with my Naniwa stones, but that's easier because the spine (with a layer of electrical tape) defines the bevel angle. Knives, I have no clue on how to do that.
The edge on the Barge you sent me is a work of art. I hate to use it and mess it up.
Let me finish the Barges first. But yes, I did think about it because it's different from a Barge. There are times when one is a better choice than the other--and I carry both now.
It won't be that long, I'm getting better and I know what to look for.
The Splines are a nice, smooth, uniform arc, and they should go faster and still come up extremely sharp.
I didn't take mine "all the way." For me it's a work knife. But slicing a piece of newsprint so smoothly did get me thinking...
But like an old dog, I have habits I cannot break. If you called me, told me we were going to gone all day and you really hadn't planned anything, I'd take a Barge.
Well, right now there is no list. I'm still working on the first list, I'm a few days behind. Believe it or not our newly formed GMO "sent for me" for a meeting, my wife had to drive to Milwaukee to care for her mother, I had "doggy duty" so one day I didn't even get out of the house.
(Pardon me a second)
I'm doing laundry and I had to switch stuff to the dryer.
I know polishing looks so noble if you watch old Japanese movies, but sadly we are a disappearing race of craftsmen with wives that go out with friends at the drop of a hat knowing we're chained to the "the stones."
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