3V on a budget - Cold Steel, custom, roll your own?

[RX-79G]

3V sounds pretty neato, but I don't need any $200 knives right now.

Who's doing 3V more cheaply, and is it decent. The CS Master Hunter is $92 - any good?

I don't believe Spyderco ever did a 3V Mule.


A chunk of 3V really isn't that expensive. Finding a heat treater that is doing the "best practices" thing and will do a single blade would be the challenge.


Anyone have thoughts?

 

[Czechmate]

3V is a great tool steel but to expect a decent fixed blade in it for less than $200 (especially a full custom) is a bit unreasonable IMHO.

Cold steel is a great choice for fixed blades and the master hunter in 3V has received great ratings (aside from one chipped from batonning LOL). Their warcraft tantos look pretty interesting as well. :thumbup:

FWIW, Ferhman, or Dan Keffeler make nice blades using 3V at fair prices IMHO.

 

[yakantosh]

Spyderco has a 4v mule out right now. I find it to be a good steel, but cannot compare it to 3v. Its worth taking a look at if you are interested in the pattern.

 

[Czechmate]

Spyderco has a 4v mule out right now. I find it to be a good steel, but cannot compare it to 3v. Its worth taking a look at if you are interested in the pattern.

Big Chris is another maker here on the forums using 4V; sweet steel from what I've heard and it's 1 better than 3V... :foot::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[RX-79G]

3V is a great tool steel but to expect a decent fixed blade in it for less than $200 (especially a full custom) is a bit unreasonable IMHO.

Cold steel is a great choice for fixed blades and the master hunter in 3V has received great ratings (aside from one chipped from batonning LOL).

I am trying to understand how these two statements work together. If the $92 Master Hunter is a "great choice", how is it unreasonable to expect a decent fixed blade for less than $200?

 

[shinyedges]

Do what I'm doing; buy the steel, cut your pattern and attend the bark river grind in and make your own knife Oh send it out to get heat treated as well.. I'm thinking of hitting Darrin sanders up.

 

[RX-79G]

Big Chris is another maker here on the forums using 4V; sweet steel from what I've heard and it's 1 better than 3V... :foot::thumbup::thumbup:

According to CPM it is only about 60% as tough while maybe 30% more wear resistant. It just depends what you're looking for.

 

[RX-79G]

Do what I'm doing; buy the steel, cut your pattern and attend the bark river grind in and make your own knife Oh send it out to get heat treated as well.. I'm thinking of hitting Darrin sanders up.

I can grind and finish it, the trouble is finding someone to do the best possible HT and cryo on a one blade without a $100 minimum charge. Does Darrin do just HT?

 

[Czechmate]

I am trying to understand how these two statements work together. If the $92 Master Hunter is a "great choice", how is it unreasonable to expect a decent fixed blade for less than $200?

It's the only blade that size I've seen in 3V at that price point; that's why I said what I did.

Even the Survive Knives value version of their 4.7 model is $189.00... Bark river 3v bravo's are well over $200. ZT0100 sold for around $250.00.

 

[RX-79G]

If CS is truly the only one making a 3V knife for less than half of anyone else, you'd think finding one would be panning for gold in Lake Michigan.

 

[Czechmate]

I can grind and finish it, the trouble is finding someone to do the best possible HT and cryo on a one blade without a $100 minimum charge. Does Darrin do just HT?

So, let's say $30.00 for the steel, plus any tools needed to cut, grind/profile the blade and then send for a $100.00 heat treat? Then add handle materials, finish the blade to your liking and sheath it.

That Survive 4.7 is sounding really good about now LOL... :thumbup:

If you can do it for under $200 made to your own specs I say go for it; just seems like so much work if you're not an established knife maker IMHO.

 

[RX-79G]

For $20 I can buy enough 3V for two 8 inch knives. If 3V heat treating costs $100 per blade, that's a problem. I know you can get air quenched steels HT'd and cryo'd for $15 from at least one company, so I don't know what to expect for 3V, but 7 times the cost seems high.

I would think you could find the steel and heat treat from the right people for a total of $50, plus my labor. IF, and it is a big if, anyone worthwhile in the HT business will do one or two blades for a reasonable price.

 

[shinyedges]

Darrin used to do heat treating for REAL affordable.. I think it was like 3 blades for 50 bucks or so. I was planning on giving him a call to see if he still did H't ing.

For $20 I can buy enough 3V for two 8 inch knives. If 3V heat treating costs $100 per blade, that's a problem. I know you can get air quenched steels HT'd and cryo'd for $15 from at least one company, so I don't know what to expect for 3V, but 7 times the cost seems high.

I would think you could find the steel and heat treat from the right people for a total of $50, plus my labor. IF, and it is a big if, anyone worthwhile in the HT business will do one or two blades for a reasonable price.

 

[Sunyata]

For $20 I can buy enough 3V for two 8 inch knives. If 3V heat treating costs $100 per blade, that's a problem. I know you can get air quenched steels HT'd and cryo'd for $15 from at least one company, so I don't know what to expect for 3V, but 7 times the cost seems high.

I would think you could find the steel and heat treat from the right people for a total of $50, plus my labor. IF, and it is a big if, anyone worthwhile in the HT business will do one or two blades for a reasonable price.

Plus shipping each way, plus time (the true expense), plus tools for manufacture (belts, cutting gear) and materials for a handle. The survive knife seems like the best option

 

[timos-]

I think its about 25$ for heat treat one blade plus shipping both ways, peters heat treat

edit: darrin has a subforum here you can ask him about 3v heat treat

 

[Czechmate]

Plus shipping each way, plus time (the true expense), plus tools for manufacture (belts, cutting gear) and materials for a handle. The survive knife seems like the best option

You forgot sheath material; whether kydex or leather LOL...

Again, not trying to rain on RX's parade but there's a lot more invested in a knife than just steel and heat treat.

 

[RX-79G]

Plus shipping each way, plus time (the true expense), plus tools for manufacture (belts, cutting gear) and materials for a handle. The survive knife seems like the best option

I have all that stuff, and I was factoring in shipping.

Heat treat is definitely the single biggest cost. A basic belt grinder, skill saw blades, wood, epoxy, kydex, leather - they really don't add up to much. If I was starting out from nothing I could do a knife for $70 and have a bunch of tools and materials left over for the next 10 knives. Knife making is not an expensive hobby.

 

[Sunyata]

You forgot sheath material; whether kydex or leather LOL...

Again, not trying to rain on RX's parade but there's a lot more invested in a knife than just steel and heat treat.

Ohh yeah and since he'd be custom designing the knife it would be hard to find a generic sheath for it.

I'd just get the S!K

 

[shinyedges]

I wouldn't go that far, electronic ovens, variable speed grinders, forges, drill presses, hand tools will all definitely add up. For an amateur making a knife or too they can get by without many of the things I mentioned if they out source things but out sourcing costs $ as well.

I have all that stuff, and I was factoring in shipping.

Heat treat is definitely the single biggest cost. A basic belt grinder, skill saw blades, wood, epoxy, kydex, leather - they really don't add up to much. If I was starting out from nothing I could do a knife for $70 and have a bunch of tools and materials left over for the next 10 knives. Knife making is not an expensive hobby.

 

[Czechmate]

Heat treat is definitely the single biggest cost. A basic belt grinder, skill saw blades, wood, epoxy, kydex, leather - they really don't add up to much. If I was starting out from nothing I could do a knife for $70 and have a bunch of tools and materials left over for the next 10 knives. Knife making is not an expensive hobby.

Where'd you find a belt grinder for less than the cost of heat treat? I'm assuming you mean a 1x30?... Definitely not a 2x72 even a home made one LOL.

I've obviously been shopping at the wrong places because all the leather, kydex, hardware and tooling to work both materials is far from cheap. :foot: