52100 in production blades

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thombrogan

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Nov 16, 2002
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I saw some production fixed blades being sold that listed the steel as 52100. They were from the brands Blackjack, Marbles, and Warner.

Is this steel good in a production fixed blade? Shame on me for wanting custom quality without paying a custom price, but I'd like to know. Thanks.
 
I think Marbles has stopped using it recently.

I have an old Blackjack bowie in 52100 that a friend gave me. Tested it out by chopping down a pine tree in our front yard that we had wanted gone. Also used the knife to cut it up to pile it in the back of the truck. It wasnt a huge tree, but fair size anyways. The knife performed great and just stropped it a couple of times throughout the job.

The particular knife has been out of production for several years, and i dont think many were made...but the one i have, i like very much.
 
52100 is my favorite steel; I have three older Marbles (a Fieldcraft and two Campcrafts) in 52100. Swamp Rat uses something very close to it, I believe, and Blackjack uses 52100. Marbles has switched to some mystery steel. There are quite a number of custom smiths who use 52100
 
Well heat-treated 52100 is an amazing steel, even in a production knife. The performance and durability of 52100 can be mind blowing, in my experience. I have a few Blackjacks and Marbles, and love every single one of them. To this day, my "go to" outdoor knife is a Marbles Fieldcraft. I've chopped, whittled, batoned, carved and cut with that Fieldcraft extensively, and it's never let me down. I didn't know all that much about knives when I first got my Fieldcraft, and did terribly abusive stuff to it. The knife never even flinched. The blade is nearly indestructible as far as I can tell.

For your reference, here are some 52100 related reviews I've done in the past.

Marbles Fieldcraft Review

Real World Marbles Tests
 
52100 is one of the great blade steels, but in my opinion it is suited best to forging. That seems to be the way that it reaches its full potential. That's not to say that it isn't a good steel for stock removal as well. As long as the heat treat is good and the blade geometry is right, you will end up with a very good blade.

Many of the Blackjack knives did not use 52100. If I remember correctly a lot of 1095 and A2 was used. The three Ken Warner Blackjack knives all use 52100, and I really like the Blackjack Small. The other Warner knives use 5160 (another great steel) and AUS-8.

Marbles quit using 52100 last year, so if you want one of their 52100 knives you are going to have to look for older versions. Nice knives too, but they could put on a more substantial guard. That's just me being picky.
 
I agree with what Keith had to say about the small Blackjack. I have one that I carry everyday and I sure do like it.
 
Thanks, everybody!

Buzz,

Those reviews were great. I'm still on the fence due to needs (I'm an avid indoorsman), but you've convinced me that these companies are offering a potent package with the 52100 and convex grind.
 
Yep. That Blackjack Small is a honey of a knife. I often carry it while day hiking. It's a scalpel and surprisinly robust. Mine isn't too big in the fit and finish department, but it has a huge utility value for its small size. My only beef is the design of the back pocket sheath. It really needs a center piece of leather to prevent the tip from poking through the bottom.

thombrogan - If you want a really sweet 52100 Marbles, take a look around the A.G. Russell website ( http://www.agrussell.com/marbles/index.html ) A.G. has a guarantee worthy of the extra cost. If you don't love the knife, A.G. will make good on the deal. His Drop Point Hunters look like they have the excellent old leather pouch sheaths, the best Marbles sheaths I've ever come across.
 
There may be some good 52100 blades on the way. I got a call from a new production outfit, I taught the owner years ago. We talked about forging blades the right way, as much as production methouds will allow, working together to get the best blend. He wants to use our 5 1/2 inch virgin round stock. It is a glint in daddy's eye right now, and will probably be at least a year getting off the ground, but we are working on it. He may sell forged stock for stock removal as well. It will come with formulas for heat treat. And more.
 
That sounds really exciting, Ed. It sure would be great to see someone using forged 52100 on production knives. Sounds like they will probably be in a higher price bracket.
 
Originally posted by Keith Montgomery
Sounds like they will probably be in a higher price bracket.
Click to expand...

I keep hearing that we get what we pay for, but I always hope that searching for bargains is part of the price. Also, I doubt that a production 52100 will cost as much as one made by people who've devoted themselves to the performance of 52100, such as Mr. Fowler.
 
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