Options for a plain, simple, boring, old timer like me.

[Blnd]

Sounds like you and your son just need a sharpener.

This may be sacrilegious, but maybe your son should get a box cutter or other replaceable scalpel type knife.

[R100]

I don’t believe VG10 rusted in the Midwest. I live in the dirty South and have never had a fleck including HAP40 going in the Gulf of Mexico on accident. My VG10 is just under H1 is corrosion resistance

My wife can rust VG10 no problem. She can also chip any steel known. Those YouTube hard use people have no idea how to abuse a knife.

Dan

[Evil D]

Sounds like you and your son just need a sharpener.

This may be sacrilegious, but maybe your son should get a box cutter or other replaceable scalpel type knife.

Not sacrilege at all IMO, they absolutely have their place. I love knives and all but if I did carpet for a living there's no way I'd waste time with a folder much less the money and realistically there isn't a folder made that will out slice a utility knife. We've even talked about a folding Spyderco utility knife but the purpose built utility knives are so fast and convenient and even safer in some situations it's a hard competition.

[James Y]

I don’t believe VG10 rusted in the Midwest. I live in the dirty South and have never had a fleck including HAP40 going in the Gulf of Mexico on accident. My VG10 is just under H1 is corrosion resistance

I've had mixed results with VG-10 and corrosion resistance. Most of my VG-10 blades haven't had any rust; but I've had a couple that did a little. One from only being in my pocket on a humid day, and I'm in SoCal, and am not the type that has the extra-corrosive sweat.

The corrosion was very minor and easy to remove, but the rust flecks happened without any effort.

For ME, the only stainless steel that has approached H1 and LC200N in corrosion resistance has been the steel Victorinox uses on their knife blades (SAKs and kitchen knives).

Jim

[JD Spydo]

Standard se delica, endela, endura, or native.

I perceive based on what I've just heard that the guy probably uses his Spyder very hard on occasion based on what I just heard him say. With that said I would like to see him get a new generation Native in either PE or SE. Yeah I know he said he wasn't all that excited about full SE blades but if he tried one of these new versions I think he would quickly change his mind.

[elena86]

He specifically asked for a “newer” and “higher end steel” though. S30V and K390 are perfectly valid suggestions for what he is asking for.

Compared to G-2, VG-10 is a high end steel. BDN1 might even be compared to G-2. But, yeah it seems you are correct. With a black handle, only VG-10 & S30v come to mind.

I'm currently using a gen3 Delica VG-10 since putting the G-2 away. It's fine, and if I were to sharpen it I'm sure it would continue to be fine. But I was looking for something other than a budget steel. S30V is an option. K390 concerns me a bit with corrosion. It gets hot and humid where I live, moisture builds up when outside in the summer. I've never been concerned with making sure my blades are oiled etc and I don't see that attitude changing.

I can't think of a better knife for you than the Salt 2.

You have two steels to choose from, H1 and LC200N.

Both are completely rust proof and very tough steels that can take on tough jobs.

H1 models are saber ground like you're familiar with, and the LC200N version is a full flat grind so it's not quite as tough but cuts thicker materials with less effort.

Both come in serrated and plain versions.

They're lightweight like your Delica. Most knives Spyderco makes these days are heavier due to steel liners inside the handles. Not sure if that concerns you or not.

If you want something with more extreme edge retention while not being rust prone, S90V would be a dramatic step up from G2 while being very corrosion resistant and tougher than the top end edge holding steels like K390, Maxamet and 15V.

M390 is another I'd look at. Very high edge retention, very good corrosion resistance, and easier to sharpen than a lot of super steels.

They've recently run the Delica 4 in M390 and S90V. Those have a different handle shape and have the steel liners I mentioned, FYI.

If you don't mind scouring ebay and the used market, the original Spyderco Salt 1 is basically a rust proof version of your Delica.



I'll echo the others in advising a sharpmaker. If you keep your new knife touched up once a month you'll get better performance out of it. You can drive a car for a year without touching up your PSI but the performance will be lacking

Hollow ground. Salt 1 in H1 is the best bet for the OP IMO. I moded mine with a pointy tip and it performs like a champ.