[color:"blue"] Re: H1 steel and the Spyderco Salt series [/color]

You can find various reviews of the Salt 1 and a very detailed review of the Pacific Salt.

And here’s a couple of brief extracts from articles:

“On the Rockwell scale, H1 measures Rc 57-58…. Interestingly, this level of hardness is not produced as the result of the application of external heat. …the process of work-hardening alone is the responsible agent. This is borne out by some recent testing by the Crucible Specialty Metals metallurgical laboratory…conducted due to customer concerns that plain edge H1 blades don’t cut as long as serrated versions. ...during tests…the hardness progressively got harder the closer [the tester] got to the edge of the blades. While the core hardness of the blades that were tested measured in the high 50’s HRC, that hardness increased as the actual blade edge was approached. [The tester concluded]…the differences in the grinding operation…is causing the serrated blade to work-harden more, thus yielding a longer-lasting cutting edge.” [Durwood Hollis].

“H1 has a high corrosion resistance equivalent to 316 stainless (which has no carbon) [Butch Winter].”

A few years ago, my family and I were walking around an 18thcen market fair and came upon a vendor/suttler selling some nice handmade knives <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />. As I picked one up, which I knew I just had to have, my wife says ? How many knives do you need?, <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> without even blinking an eye the vendor says ?one more then he already has?. That is now my standard answer now <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

Pete

Dr. Phil says there are two kinds of people in the world...those who get it, and those who don't. It has become painfully evident to me that regarding knives, my wife is one of the latter. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Ah, desertrat1, now I understand. The knife-tied-to-the-pole spear is to ward off an attacking armadillo or hold your own against a hoard of hungry UFO survivors.
Again, please tell us in what situation would it be necessary to risk your only fixed blade knife as a spear point?

"There is nothing so frightening as ignorance in action"

woodsloafer,

How about a mammal with rabies? Or a mountain lion that is sickly and has decided you are an easy meal? One dragged off a young boy at Lake Pleasant a few years ago. Also a few years ago, in Scottsdale, a pair of coyotes attacked some kids. Here in the desert everything has claws, fangs, or stickers. I was at a remote location with my boys a few weekends ago. There were coyote prints and scat around. I was glad I had a sheath knife on my belt. I was wishing I had my Glock with me. A sharpened pole is good, a pole with a fixed blade is even better. Where can you get a pole in the desert? There are often dead Saguaros around. The ribs make excellent poles for hiking or whatever. I don't think they would sharpen very good. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Both of which are "right this second" situations. Unless you strap your knife to the shaft and LEAVE it there, the whole mental exercise is a wonderful fantasy. You are better off having a long(ish) stick with a metal cap or a slightly pointy trail tip in your hand, and your knife on your belt.

One of the funny things about spears- people think it goes in, and then.... the animal stops? Spears with BIG cross bars, like a European boar spear, are the only kind that I have any faith in when dealing with something that is just as likely to charge up the shaft and gut me if it can.

A flat tip, used like a tsubo (a bo staff with metal shod tips), is much less likely to cause you to have this worry. You can thrust with it, and if you have the speed (not just brute strength) it will break bones. Broken bones stop things a lot faster than poking a hole in it.

I maintain a good oak or maple staff with a shod base, wrapped with paracord that has a lanyard loop (fast reversals), and with a fishspear head in your pack IF you need to use it, is much, much better than sticking your one and only knife on the end of the long pokey stick.

The other reason is, if something gets inside my staff, I WANT my blade in my hand. If it comes to tooth and claw, I want to have my claw where it belongs, in my paw.

I, too, am one of those anonymous lurkers. I have read the forums for years & only recently decided to register. For the spear minded survivors, add the Cold Steel Bushman to the kit. It has a hollow handle so that you can put the spear shaft into it. If it is an additional "knife", you wouldn't loose your only knife if the shaft broke or the point came off.

FYI (and others), you can get get Sharpmakers on eBay for around $40. I just received mine today, in fact.

hmm...maybe I should stock up... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Finally, a voice of reason!