[Mischief]

It is amazingly difficult to find pocket knife for whittling in suburbia NY. Been to at least 6 stores this week looking for a knife that I could at least hold and know how it feels. Most carry scary knives. you know...Rambo serrated types. Anyway found Ace hardware carrying a range of Frost Knives. Frost Cutlery- Congress model but its 56-58 Rockwell Hardness. Is this too soft for carving?

[Mischief]

Just to update.
Lol...I can answer this myself now. I bought the knife ( it was cheap-$12.99)and i guess some blades were not sharpened from carving, so i proceeded to. What i realise is that this knife black marks on the sharpening stone, which I do not see when sharpening my swiss army knife. Its like the marks I get from Made in China knives. So I guess, Rockwell 56-58 is not suitable for long term carving.

[Eddy Smiles]

Mischief... If i was you I'd break down and order yourself a good pocket carving knife from Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers, Little Shavers ,etc.... Give them a call...see what they've got and what they recommend. They won't steer you wrong! And none of that cheap China knock off stuff either...................

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

56 to 58 is just fine for carving. In fact that about what your Swiss Army Knife is as well as most Case knives. The reason it looks different on your stone is just the alloy used. Victorinox is pretty secretive about what they use, but it has to be very high in chromium because it is almost impervious to rust. Most Frost knives and the better Chinese knives are 440C which is an excellent knive steel. Lower in Chromium content than whatever Victorinox uses, but higher in carbon, thus the black marks. Sharpen that puppy up and enjoy it.

[Mischief]

Eddie & Plain_Ol_Ed,
Thanks for the info. I caved in and bought Rick's beginner kit and also sharpened that Frost...and hacked a poor piece of wood till it looked a bit like an acorn.....=) I did say i was a beginner didnt I?

[rickm]

black marks are the oxidation or wearing of the metal. In other words, the way it was explained to me that its the little tiny pieces of metal coming off the blade to-- make it sharp! Like when u wax a car sometimes you'll see paint transfer on yr cloth, as, if the wax contains a cleaner, it is actually buffing compound and will take a very tiny bit of paint off, leaving a flat surface, which shines more and lets u think u are shining the paint, when in actuality u are removing dirt and imperfections, leaving a flat surface which shines.
Lots of words and i hope I;ve explained it , but remember when u sharpen u are removing metal and it has to go someplace.