- Joined
- Mar 3, 2000
- Messages
- 4,798
Way back when, I had a Spyderco (can't remember model) and a Benchmade 970, (the CQC-7). They were both in ATS-34, which at the time, I thought was my new go-to supersteel.
The CQC7 took a Beating, I mean a capital-B Beating. I couldn't roll or chip that edge or the tip. It was a big fat chisel grind, which probably helped. Stayed sharp longer than it should have.
The Spyderco didn't get near the abuse, but seemed to need sharpening more frequently. As somebody already stated, due more likely to the grind than any different heat-treat or materials. It got sharper than hell with no great effort though, so I didn't mind.
Had a CQC7 later on that was from Emerson. Was in 154CM. I couldn't tell the difference between that model and the Benchmade one as far as steel performance and characteristics. If you wiped off the labels of both, I wouldn't be able to tell you whether the steels were the same or different.
Benchmade had an AFCK that was in ATS-34... and if I can find a Mini version of that knife I'm gonna grab it. I have absolutely no problem with the steel selection in that design. I'll sharpen it up for the rest of my life.
I suspect that a lot of us have had different knives made of ATS-34, in different configurations and grinds, from different makers at different hardness levels. You are doing it right, though. Try the hell out of them and keep the best ones. Your observations are going to guide you from there.
The CQC7 took a Beating, I mean a capital-B Beating. I couldn't roll or chip that edge or the tip. It was a big fat chisel grind, which probably helped. Stayed sharp longer than it should have.
The Spyderco didn't get near the abuse, but seemed to need sharpening more frequently. As somebody already stated, due more likely to the grind than any different heat-treat or materials. It got sharper than hell with no great effort though, so I didn't mind.
Had a CQC7 later on that was from Emerson. Was in 154CM. I couldn't tell the difference between that model and the Benchmade one as far as steel performance and characteristics. If you wiped off the labels of both, I wouldn't be able to tell you whether the steels were the same or different.
Benchmade had an AFCK that was in ATS-34... and if I can find a Mini version of that knife I'm gonna grab it. I have absolutely no problem with the steel selection in that design. I'll sharpen it up for the rest of my life.
I suspect that a lot of us have had different knives made of ATS-34, in different configurations and grinds, from different makers at different hardness levels. You are doing it right, though. Try the hell out of them and keep the best ones. Your observations are going to guide you from there.