I've always felt that when the top knife makers settled on a specific Rc level and heat treat for a given steel it was for a good reason. Never could understand why a guy like Chris Reeves would use a heat treat level 3 or 4 points lower than everyone else for the same steels. Yeah, I get the easier touch up aspect. But a $400 plus knife should be a premium performer and the steel can't do that at such lower levels. And quite frankly, it's hard to understand an outdoorsy hands on kind of guy that can't sharpen a knife.

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.