I finally managed to heat treat a batch of 1095 to a solid 64 HRC in my backyard forge using a thermocouple and Parks 50 quench oil. But now I'm wondering if that hardness is actually practical for a daily use knife or just a flex for the internet. Some guys say 62 is the sweet spot for edge retention without chipping, but I've seen makers push past 65 for competition stuff. What's your take - would you rather have a 64 hard edge that's a pain to sharpen or a softer blade you can tune up in seconds?
I picked up a Buck 110 and a Mora Companion last year to see which one could handle daily abuse better. The Mora was $15, the Buck was $45, and after 6 months of cutting cardboard and random yard work in my backyard in Boise, the Mora won hands down. The Buck's blade chipped on a dry branch, while the Mora just needed a quick strop and kept going. Anyone else find that price doesn't match performance with these two?