Hi guys (and Gals)

So I have finishes my lastest creation. It's a fighter/camper made from s30v blade thickness is .185, the thickness behind the edge is .020.

So I got a very nice edge going on the blade, enough to scare me which takes a lot. Anyway just kinda futzing around and did the pre umptive testing.

brass rod test- distorted and then sprang back.

Pound thru a brad nail - no problems there slightly dulled but no chipping or nicking

slice n dice 2 x 4 - it was like slicing hot butter.

Here's the kicker though. As I was doing my testing on the "BUTTER" I ran into the tip of a small brad nail. It totally dulled the blade and even looks like it chipped it/nicked it slightly.

Now it's nothing that some work on a stone can't take care of but I'm alittle worried since this is my rock em sock em knife.

I know the HT is good(paul bos) so that isn't a factor. Any thoughts.

Anybody do any experiments with microtooth edge vs. high polish performance with s30v

I'm a strong believer in the polished edge. Those "microteeth" break off, no matter what the steel. Once they break they leave the edge both dull and coarse, which causes even faster wear. A smooth surface resists both breaking and wearing, IMO.

I wouldn't be too alarmed over that failure. My acid test of steel toughness, which only 3V has ever passed and not always, is to bend a nail to 45 degrees then chop straight down on it. That will chip almost any edge due to the extreme lateral stress it induces. You're edge may well have contacted that nail at a glancing angle causing the chip. The problem might even be worse in wood since the blade is physically prevented from deflecting, so the stresses might be higher. Not surprised.

You guys don't need a knife - you need a laser sword. What were they called in Starwars, life savers.

Light sabers.....yeah I use that on my engine block splitting test