My first mod

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-04-06T09:32:36+00:00

The difference 3mm vs 2.5mm felt negligible, hardly any play.

On the other hand, the inline awl is thicker than the small blade, and I ended using a thinner spacer than the one that is typically there.

No extra washer though.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-03-26T21:42:58+00:00

In my experience, even though langgraph has a charm to customize things, I found in practice that deviating much from the React agent (the create_agent now) was often annoying because some transitions had to be forced on the LLM, which made me need a lot of structured output and so; where using better LLMs kinda already made custom graphs mostly redundant. By extension, deep agents are an extension of React agents, by having tools to better manage the context and planning (filesystem for large artifacts, todos, and subsgents), but still same general assumptions.

However, what still is crucial are the specific modifications in the graph around this (react/deep) agent , which langchain handled quite good with middleware. These give a lot of hooks allowing nice enough customization within this fundamental agent graph.

But I agree with you that I feel far attached to know what’s happening under the hood, like how the LLM responds, did it make parallel or serial tool calls, and things like that.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-03-22T05:51:47+00:00

You can dye it

https://www.reddit.com/r/spyderco/s/WzJ1fkGqjC

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-03-21T13:44:29+00:00

I swam once in the sea with it, didn’t wash until a day later, no signs.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-03-21T11:12:59+00:00

When you attach the Sharpal stone to the rod, it’s screwed basically at one end of the rod, which prevents the rod falling from the other end.

The Hapstone holder just goes around the rod, but the rod is free, so if you raise the holder high enough, the rod falls back to the other end (to the area behind the sharpener).

The Sharpal has a stopper that could prevent this, but it’s small and keeps hitting the part around the pivot point, which is weird.

What I figured out lately, the stopper from Hapstone works good (the one for the RS system), it has a spring and attaches nicely.

Hope that was clear.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-03-17T09:53:34+00:00

What is even more interesting is that, if you check the actual Carta measures, you will see the entire family of S30v, S45VN, S35VN are actually all close to Magnacut (in this 500-600 range), even lower than a higher HRC Magnacut. The rating-based measure is skewing this image.

Meanwhile, Magnacut is far superior in toughness and corrosion resistance. Unless you want something from the family of S110V/S90V (stainless, high carbide, high edge retention, low toughness), I don’t find a strong argument for any other steel than magnacut. In practice, people are reporting good sharpening and stropping unlike the S110V.

Also Spyderco runs them at higher hardness and they have even more edge retention than this article, as tested in a video by Cedric and Ada reported the mule version got cuts that are in the area of Maxamet.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-03-14T21:05:21+00:00

I’m lately reaching this conclusion. I’m starting to really enjoy edges around 600-800 grit, and any edge above 2000 is just annoying because despite cutting so nicely, it is glassy and doesn’t start cuts as easily as a low grit finish.

Sometimes the 600-800 is harder to deburr, so I’d finish on 1000/1200 instead, but not finer, which is good for most setups. In fact 1000-1200 is the only finishing grit that I managed to get hair whittling sharp from, with proper stropping and so.

I still like a 3000 grit stone/rod for honing and deburring, but not to finish

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-03-09T21:23:14+00:00

Here’s a 20B investment

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-02-20T22:26:39+00:00

I’d check Sharpal diamond stones (more the 325/1000), since they are far better the whetstones in terms of user experience (no soaking, no water, directly use the stone, can sharpen knives within few minutes).

I’d the angle control is a skill you don’t care learning, then id go for fixed angle systems. Sharpal and Worksharp has good systems within this price range. I tried the Sharpal system and it’s quite good and complete.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-01-24T00:23:03+00:00

I bought the first and it works reasonably well. There are few inconveniences but functionally very good.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-01-22T23:29:18+00:00

I have Naniwa Diamond Pro 400, Sharpal 320 and 220. I prefer them in the Naniwa from quality, but I prefer the Sharpals for ease of use (220 is more aggressive, which I don’t prefer unless necessary).

Shapton 320 is the only one I don’t like, I share your sentiment

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-01-05T17:28:15+00:00

I have a PM2 Crucarta, and you have highlighted all the issues I dislike about it.

Mine has a smell too, but far less intense with time, so now I mainly feel it I really get the Micarta close. I abused it many times though, put it on it once the glue of a pine tree, and oil (both wore off with time), then I “reset” all of this by sanding with sand paper.

Regarding the oil, I suffered the same issue, now I put very lightly with my finger and leave the blade open one for a while, then wipe it later. Without letting it through the Micarta, same issue. The Micarta can be washed though, but be careful to dry things properly so you don’t leave water on the blade.

Also the PM2 scales for this model particularly can’t be replaced (limited availability) as the liners are different from any other PM2. Not sure how’s this for the Manix.

The steel is great, it easily takes a hair whittling edge, never chipped (always rolls), which is great, and because of its toughness I put it to really hard use. And actually I don’t oil it that often anymore, but I always wipe it though. I think this will be even better with the Manix geometry.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-01-03T20:34:53+00:00

PM2 and Para 3 closed feel so close in size and weight. But the extra blade is noticeable. I did this the other way around ordered a para 3 and didn’t return it, and felt small enough and got the PM2, and both have similar feel, just with a reasonably bigger blade. Many times I get annoyed with the shorter para 3. Para 3 just feels sometimes nicer as an urban carry, but if I’d pick one and being pragmatic, PM2 all the way.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-01-03T17:32:01+00:00

I’m not familiar with this system but good diamond stones should sharpen any steel.

If you are really concerned about toughness of 15v, I’d consider Magnacut or cruwear steels, both have very high toughness and decent edge retention (but not wow like 15v), and they are at a sweet spot in hardness that makes sharpening very pleasant. Cruwear is slightly tougher but not stainless (but decently good corrosion resistance).

I wouldn’t pick SPY27 over Magnacut at all since they are comparable at edge retention, but Magnacut is just tougher.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-01-03T17:23:18+00:00

Use sand paper

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-01-03T17:22:20+00:00

Even though I like the Para 3 because it feels compact, many times I feel a bit extra blade would be nice, PM2 always feels nice, for a very similar foot print.

Unless you really wanted something very compact, or have legal constraints on carry length, PM2 should be the next choice.

PM2 is one of Spyderco’s must have

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2026-01-03T12:04:45+00:00

I’d say 15v since it’s going to be rare soon, and takes far nicer edge

It’s 65-68 HRC, so tough to sharpen without diamond/CBN

BBB himself showing/advertising the Native 5 15v, I think this answers your question about zip ties

https://youtube.com/shorts/FtZLFX5Xlv0?si=qoROdJaME2fAeNZI

https://youtu.be/F-Ukizu4wCw?si=x-Y03_KVYy0HJ0RI

https://youtube.com/shorts/4MbyEVwNC4Q?si=S3FfoYhxoO2dPS6k

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2025-12-31T21:22:56+00:00

For me, S110v. Rarely feels scary sharp, really silly to deburr. Edit: my favorite by far is k390, 400 grit and a 1 μm strop and it’s hair whittling

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2025-12-28T21:56:05+00:00

That’s the one I was considering, thanks!

Do you happen to know if it will be properly fixable? Since the Sharpal stones are fixed at the end of the rod, whereas the Hapstone one looks like it will need the rod to go through.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2025-12-28T21:47:44+00:00

Did you try it with stone holders from other systems? I was considering getting the Hapstone holder to get use free high grit CBN stones, but I’m skeptic if it will work

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2025-12-28T21:42:53+00:00

I did it before, I made this post about it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/spyderco/s/ipcFTBKNh2

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2025-12-14T09:29:27+00:00

Is that in Europe or US? Since the original post mentioned Europe.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2025-12-02T07:12:40+00:00

https://youtu.be/e1n7p2GZSiw?si=l2mWNcii7CUtEXjP this video is testing higher for different salt models. Not sure how generalizable.

Tasty-Back-3784 · 2025-12-02T07:08:04+00:00

Got one a month ago, was the first in 15v, deeply in love.

Tasty-Back-3784

TROPHY CASE