I'd say this one was a "hard use" knife. I carried, (and used) this Uncle Henry every single day for over 30 years. I bought it in a truck stop in 1970 & it was the first knife that I paid over $20 for. I'd probably still carry it, but the main clip blade has been sharpened so often that the tip rides above the liners & handle when closed.
That's an easy fix. Just take a small file and take the kick down a bit. Go slow, just a few strokes of the file and check, then a few more. File off just enough that the tip goes down even with the frame. Be very carful.
https://imgur.com/gallery/cbSOYCf
S30v performs well,and when you use a knife hard the edge will either dull or get damaged, so I prefer to have a less premium steel that is easier to sharpen on my real users
With regard to users i like 154cm, s30v, 14c27 and s35vn to be excellent steels
Honorable mention to M4 and the 4116 used by cold steel. This last one is really not a good steel for edge retention but you can beat on it as it sharpens very easily
I prefer to have s110v, m390, 20cv... on my edc where is use is softer
The Kershaw Blackout has just about seen it all on the job sites over the last 15 years. The blade coating has held up exceedingly well.
The Cold Steel AD10 is the new comer. It’s fighting it out with the 4MAX right now for new, big folder. Will be used mostly for landscaping duties.
I have one of these an love it. Just got one for my father for Father's Day because he loves it too. One of the best deals out there imho.imho (and no offence intended), but if you're using a folder for hard use, you're doing it wrong ; )
... a fixed blade is the tool you want
here is mine (tough 14c28n steel, 4 & 1/3" blade, and is priced very low so you won't mind losing it or using it hard)
Yeah my BO has a little play in every direction but is still functionally solid enough.The Blackout makes a great work knife. Scales work really well wet, greasy, dirty, or in any other condition, and also work great in gloves. Mine has been through Hell and back, but developed blade wobble and a suspect lock after my wife ran it through the tumble cycle in the wash (she always neglects to check pockets). Now it rides in the tool bag in the back of the truck. But I think yours might have seen a harder life
I don't have very broad hard hands and just yesterday I found a plastic bag of marshmallows too tough for me to tear open. I used my Victorinox classic to cut the bag, and then the marshmallow in half. I didn't want to hurt my teeth.
Spyderco plain-edge Rescue. Its been going to work with me every day for over a decade. I'm a commercial/industrial electrician.
Butch, I looked at the photos in you Smug Mug file. I especially liked the dogs and that beautiful vintage Indian. The folder you have carried for so long looks similar but a bit larger than my Spyderco C19 that I have carried for about 25 years.