DT and I were out last night looking for some four legged outlaws poaching corn and melons <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. DT was telling me about how he re-profiled a couple of his Swamp and Yard knives and that I should come over Sunday evening and have some eats. After eating we could work on the Rodent Solution and War Dog. Headed over after their dinner and had me some yummy table scraps. Let me tell you, that Dog can cook <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />. While I ate some smoked venison bratwurst and smoked deer hunch he went to work on my Bussekin blades <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.
I had the Rodent Solution out not long ago and field dressed a deer and midway through, I needed to sharpen it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. I’m hoping the DT re-profile will last and at least let me get through three deer before a touchup is needed. I have a knife that is S30-V that has yet to be sharpened and I can’t tell you how many deer have been under this blade. After he got done with my War Dog and Rodent they truly took on a new profile. I look forward to putting my next deer under my War Dog.

Great to hear from ya man!!! Sounds like a good time. What kinda profile did you puy on the rs. I just got one and im waiting for it to come. Seems lots of.people dislike the factory edge.

Well that's a darn good question. He put it on a belt sander made for knife and blade sharpening and its setup for a 20 degree edge with a nice convex shape. The new profile runs much higher as compared to the original factory. I’m not trying to shame anyone at the Yard or Swamp but those edges just don’t hold. I’m not sure if it’s the grind used or what but I’m very interested to know why one knife I own can handle so many deer without ever having to be sharpened. The knife steel is S30-V and it is by far my favorite knife. I will restate my love for Swamp and Yard knives. I love the looks and beauty of the overall eye appeal but I have much concern about why they are not holding a strong working edge for a longer period of time.

Thanks bro. Brought a tear to my eye <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I used a Work Sharp on the blades and put a 20 degree convex edge on 'em. My War Dog is now one of the sharpest blades I have. Looking forward to trying my own reprofiled edge in the field <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Those s30v blades are super hard so they hold and edge forever, but they are hard to touch up and will not take a fraction of the abuse a bussekin will be for it snaps. Its always a give and take no steel is perfect but some are darn close and as they have stated on the site heat treat has a lot to do with the individual steel performance.

Oh and thats why I love this site free venison and a nice sharp edge good on ya DT.

The blade SF45ACP mentioned was the Gerber Freeman S30V. I have one too. Darn near the best hunting blade on the planet IMO. It went through about 15 deer before needing to be touched up. It was on the last one SF and I were butchering up that I FINALLY found the top edge where I crack open the rib cages getting dull. Two swipes on the honing belt on the Work Sharp and it was back to shaving. This blade isn't going to see lateral stress or break me out of a wrecked car, but it is never leaving my side when I'm out hunting. My Buck Vanguard in CPM154 and Buck Zipper in BG42 come close to the Gerber. We'll see how my reprofiled War Dog and SF's reprofiled RS perform in the coming weeks, but I honestly can't see replacing a hunting blade that can dress and butcher 10-15 deer before needed a slight touch up. No offense to any of the Bussekin products, since I love 'em and keep buying them <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

DT I totaly agree with your statements I hope I didnt come off as dislikeing s30v one of my ZTs has it and I love it. I only wish I had a the room for a piece of equipment like the work sharp from what I have read and heard its the bees knees.

greaser, isn't the work sharp only about the size of a large hand drill?

Skunk, it was the very size of a hand drill. If this new profiled blade of mine holds up, I will be buying one real soon.

I might need one to convex blades!

I don't know much about steel from a technical view, but from a practical one, edge geometry is key. My EDC is a Swamp Rat folder in S30V. It has a hand honed convex edge. It also has a small chip in the edge from some dumb thing I did with it. It holds an edge well. My convexed Swamp Rats in SR101 will cut like crazy and seem to hold an edge forever. I'm sure they would hold up to many deer skinnings. But the edge geometry is very important. I remember an old hunting buddy and I skinning a bunch of squirrels one day. He borrowed my Bucklite folder and was amazed at how sharp it stayed thru the whole time. That was just 420HC or maybe 425 steel, but it had a nice thin edge I had put on it. His Buck dulled faster.