JJ, you shouldn't have any edge retention problems. I read all the "I cut down 85 redwoood trees with thing and it still shaved hair"! Hehe, well it may not hold an edge for THAT long, but I cut about a 6 inch thick limb that was a good 1 feet long with a lot of branches off it anywhere from 3 to 1/2 inches thick and it still had a VERY good edge on it when I was done. All in all I probably chopped for about 20 minutes with it. Granted this was an old redbud tree, but this is the first knive I have done that much cutting with and had it remain that sharp afterward, Stainless steel OR carbon!