Putting a edge on carbon steel?

[Chappers]

If i put a edge on high tensile carbon steel would it keep its edge?

[Joel]

Pretty general question.  Some steels have better edge holding characteristics than others.

[Chappers]

i don’t know much about steel.
Here is the plan, i was at the local hardware store looking a shovels (good tool to take camping with, for your general shovel stuff and i found out if you ever get bogged in the sand dig out the wheels a bit the lay the shovel face down so the wheels have something to grip)
i came across a small spade thought to myself i would be a good camping shovel. the side of the spade is strait and i was wondering if a put a edge on it i might not need to take a axe camping (i have little use for a axe apart from making kindling and braking bones when braking up a carcass) the only thing it did say about the steel was that high tensile carbon steel...
Think it would work?

[Dee]

I have a small camping shovel made by "Cold Steel" with an edge on one side. The point is, that if you take a file and sharpen one side of YOUR shovel you will find out. It probably will for small limbs and stuff, and maybe a little brush. It won't cut down a tree, but it's worth a try.

[Joel]

It depends if the shovel was heat treated, and to what Rockwell C it was hardened to.  Many tools are hardened to a Rockwell of 45, which is what "spring steel" is.  Most sharp tools are hardened at rockwell's from 52/53 to much higher.  A spring steel tool will hold and edge, but it won't stay sharp too long if subjected to a lot of hard pounding.  I use a lot of hoes and mattocks, and every so often I'll put a basic edge on the tools, mainly to thin them.  Any sharpness doesn't last long; of course we're dealing with digging in dirt here.