[campandtravel]

I'm considering buying a Spyderco Para 2 as my one blade to carry when I'm backpacking. (Currently carry a small tommy and an Opinel 8, want to lighten the load.)

The Para 2 can definitely handle the tasks I have in mind, not worried there.

But I don't know if 45VN steel can be sharpened in the field.

There is no way I'm adding weight, carrying something. I posted something about field sharpening a few years ago and got lots of comments from weekend warriors and hunters who doubtfully hike more than 20 miles in a week. I do that in a day. Ounces matter. I don't even have a handle on my toothbrush and I carry baking soda because the liquid in toothpaste weighs too much. Get me?

So I'll be sharpening this thing on a nice river stone when I stop for the day. I dont' mind sharpening every night, I consider that normal.

Seems like the Para 2 is really well made, but it's made for the kind of knife hobbyists who prefer "edge retention."

So can the Para 2 do what I want? Can I beat the **** out of it and then sharpen it with a stone I find in the field?

Oh, and please none of this "it will last until you're home." I don't have a ****ing home. I'm in the field. Get me?

Thanks.

 

[curt mini14]

ya the stone will work or buy the spyderco shape shape system it takes less then a minute to put the edge back no bull s---

 

[ForumSurvivalist]

I'm considering buying a Spyderco Para 2 as my one blade to carry when I'm backpacking. (Currently carry a small tommy and an Opinel 8, want to lighten the load.)

The Para 2 can definitely handle the tasks I have in mind, not worried there.

But I don't know if 45VN steel can be sharpened in the field.

There is no way I'm adding weight, carrying something. I posted something about field sharpening a few years ago and got lots of comments from weekend warriors and hunters who doubtfully hike more than 20 miles in a week. I do that in a day. Ounces matter. I don't even have a handle on my toothbrush and I carry baking soda because the liquid in toothpaste weighs too much. Get me?

So I'll be sharpening this thing on a nice river stone when I stop for the day. I dont' mind sharpening every night, I consider that normal.

Seems like the Para 2 is really well made, but it's made for the kind of knife hobbyists who prefer "edge retention."

So can the Para 2 do what I want? Can I beat the **** out of it and then sharpen it with a stone I find in the field?

Oh, and please none of this "it will last until you're home." I don't have a ****ing home. I'm in the field. Get me?

Thanks.

I suggest reposting this query on the Spyderco Forums. They know the steel and they know the different portable sharpening methods available.

 

[American Chestnut]

Internet says that steel has similar sharpening properties as S35VN.
I don't think that is going to sharpen well on a river rock.
Maybe some extra fine wet/dry sandpaper would do it and it weighs less than about everything else I can think of.
You'd have to do some experimenting to find the right paper.
I'll never do what you do because I just don't have the time and I have responsibilities that just won't allow for it... but I've considered what to put in get home bags, etc. I really light, forged hawk is a weapon, chopper, hammer and you could clean a fish with it if you had to but it carries a weight penalty.
I believe I'd carry a nice light high end folder and a Mora. The mora would be used almost exclusively, and I'd have a light as possible kydex sheath made for it. River rock sharpening would make me look to the carbon steel Mora.
I think I'd go with the wet/dry paper and a stainless Mora.
I own 2 Para 2 Spydercos one in S30V and the other in S110V. Neiter of them will ever touch a river rock if I can avoid it.

 

[ROCK6]

I'm considering buying a Spyderco Para 2 as my one blade to carry when I'm backpacking.

But I don't know if 45VN steel can be sharpened in the field.

There is no way I'm adding weight, carrying something. I posted something about field sharpening a few years ago and got lots of comments from weekend warriors and hunters who doubtfully hike more than 20 miles in a week. I do that in a day. Ounces matter. I don't even have a handle on my toothbrush and I carry baking soda because the liquid in toothpaste weighs too much. Get me?

First, I have a few of the Para 2's and it's one of my favorite folders; exceptional cutter. I don't have one with 45VN, but I do have some custom knives with S35VN, which is supposed to be similar. I distance backpack as well, I don't do 20 miles a day very often (usually average 12-15 miles), but we often plan 50 to 150 mile sections to trek (AT). I carry the diminutive Spyderco Dragonfly and have never needed to sharpen it in the field or on the trial. YMMV. I don't use my blade for much when backpacking honestly, so much depends on how your backpack.

Internet says that steel has similar sharpening properties as S35VN.

I don't think that is going to sharpen well on a river rock.

Maybe some extra fine wet/dry sandpaper would do it and it weighs less than about everything else I can think of.

The was going to be my suggestion. I little wet/dry sandpaper to strop every few days or after hard use would more than suffice for a couple weeks of field work and would only add a few grams. A simple 1000-1500 would help maintain that edge for normal uses and keep it razor sharp. Heck, you could even glue 1" strip to any pliable item in your pack to work as an improvised stop…

ROCK6

 

[trubulator]

If you need to be constantly sharpening in the field, I would pick a less exotic steel. I find my s30 and 35 blades to require ceramics and diamond to sharpen and would not want to try using a rock.

 

[campandtravel]

I don't think that is going to sharpen well on a river rock.

Sounds like that's one vote against the Para 2 for my situation. Thank you. Good luck with the EDC stuff you were talking about, that's not my field.

so much depends on how your backpack.

So much about the relationship between 45VN and rocks depends on how I backpack? That's probably not true.

If you need to be constantly sharpening in the field, I would pick a less exotic steel. I find my s30 and 35 blades to require ceramics and diamond to sharpen and would not want to try using a rock.

Thank you for answering my question. I will keep looking for another option, or hope that they release this in a steel that would not be out of place 25 years ago. (I don't think I'll ever own a diamond sharpener.)

 

[trubulator]

Sounds like that's one vote against the Para 2 for my situation. Thank you. Good luck with the EDC stuff you were talking about, that's not my field.


So much about the relationship between 45VN and rocks depends on how I backpack? That's probably not true.



Thank you for answering my question. I will keep looking for another option, or hope that they release this in a steel that would not be out of place 25 years ago. (I don't think I'll ever own a diamond sharpener.)

One thought that may or may not be out of line with your minimum weight focus: Walmarts carry the Lansky and Smith lines of sharpening tools. One of the things in every display is a small sharpener that has a coarse sharpeniner (diamond), fine (ceramic), and an itty bitty flat sharpening surface for blade rough spots fish hooks, etc. They are small and light and I keep on in the truck. The bright yellow Smith branded one weighs an ounce and a half and at least half the weight is the handle, so you could lose a bunch of weight by doing a little surgery on it. I have this one, but there are a bunch of other options: Smith's Fillet Knife & Hook Sharpener 50729 - Walmart.com

I have done a 20+ mile day on a hunt in October and I had way too much weight on me for it. I get where you are coming from.

 

[ForumSurvivalist]

I did some research yesterday and found that the following 3 are what I'll buy to sharpen my 4V, S35VN and 1095 field knives:

SPYDERCO WEBFOOT 308CBN($59.50)

Spyderco Ceramic Golden Stone Sharpener, Fine - 308F($75.60)

FALKNIVEN DC4($19.95)

 

[campandtravel]

The bright yellow Smith branded one weighs an ounce and a half and at least half the weight is the handle, so you could lose a bunch of weight by doing a little surgery on it.

That light? Hm, I might reconsider. But knowing me I would lose it and the blade would go dull and I'd have to come back to town weeks earlier than I wanted to to buy another one. Still if they are available at walmarts and maybe hardware stores then it would be easy to get. It's something to consider. I just think it's wrong to carry a blade that requires special tools to sharpen, I don't think I will get over that.

 

[American Chestnut]

Try the wet/dry paper. Nothing is lighter and it can sharpen a knife. Some of the papers are silicon carbide and other hard materials that will work on hard steel.

 

[campandtravel]

Try the wet/dry paper. Nothing is lighter and it can sharpen a knife. Some of the papers are silicon carbide and other hard materials that will work on hard steel.

No I'm sticking to my guns. A knife gets sharpened on a stone. If it can't get sharpened on a stone, it's not a knife. It's an objet del arte in the shape of a knife, meant for a display case, not for being in the woods for long periods of time.

 

[Jlrhiner]

This is the current line up for Dexter Russel Green River knives. Some fellas used and carried these @ 200 years ago (before all those fancy steels and sharpeners).

Pretty sure you could sharpen one on a rock........

 

[trubulator]

That light? Hm, I might reconsider. But knowing me I would lose it and the blade would go dull and I'd have to come back to town weeks earlier than I wanted to to buy another one. Still if they are available at walmarts and maybe hardware stores then it would be easy to get. It's something to consider. I just think it's wrong to carry a blade that requires special tools to sharpen, I don't think I will get over that.

Meh, up to you. I just mention it because in a pinch on a hunting trip we ran into a walmart and found these things useful. If you are hell bent on sharpening with a rock, choose a less exotic steel.

 

[Davehb]

You have experience and seem to know what you’re doing
Opinel 8 you have weighs about half the para2, and can be sharpened on a rock (1095 carbon).
Agree with others. Stick with simple steel if want to sharpen on a rock.
Personally having spent couple years mostly in the woods, and little to no contact with people, If living in woods Dexter Russell’s or some other fixed blade of 1095, 52100 or similar steel if I wanted one to sharpen on a rock. And I’d ditch cooking gear, tent, etc, keep 1 cup, to lighten the load before I’d compromise on a knife or ditch a sharpener. A good rock can be hard to find depending on the area. Cooking gear can be cobbled together from rocks, sticks or cans litter bugs leave. Even woods men of old would carry a good rock with them to both sharpen and start a fire. But that’s just me.

 

[ForumSurvivalist]

Just received my Bark River Knives 1V Machete. It sits at my right hand and whether it's TEOTWAWKI or a home invasion it's what I'm taking into battle. I'll also take a small diamond sharpener from Spyderco.

I have a lot of knives but this, if swung with intent, will take off a head or an arm.

 

[campandtravel]

in a pinch on a hunting trip we ran into a walmart

What were you hunting? Middle aged women in hot pants?

 

[American Chestnut]

Let me know how sharpening the 45VN on a rock turns out.

 

[ajole]

This whole thread seems odd.

It’s like a guy that wants the best gas mileage possible, but then refuses to buy a car that takes anything but 10W-40 motor oil. News flash…0W-20 is the thing in many newer small efficient motors.

You’ve got the cart pulling the horse.

Sharpening on a rock is nifty. But if a knife doesn’t NEED to be sharpened, or can be sharpened using a simple light tool, and you want to use that knife….then maybe get over the rock fetish.

You’re going to lose your sharpener? Sure. You could. You could also lose your knife, or anything else in your pack.

If your requirement is sharpening on river rock…then you are limiting yourself to certain types of steel. Nothing wrong with that. Accept that and move on, or change your paradigm about how important that particular technique is once you have better steel or superior sharpening technology.

I mean….honestly. This rationalization is like, I don’t want a semi auto pistol, because I might lose the magazine. I don’t want to use a water filter, because I might clog it up and have to go back to town to buy a new one.

Give me a break.🙄

 

[Jlrhiner]

I got the vibe weight was his issue. I'm not sure why, cause I've carried some pretty stupid things in some pretty dangerous places. A small whetstone and a piece of a small file always made the trip.