52100 paring/bird/trout (Repost Price Drop)

[samuraistuart]

This blade is made from 52100 ball bearing steel and feature a new custom heat treatment. It is screaming hard, approximately 64-65HRC. The heat treatment procedure, for those of you interested, featured a thorough normalizing heat, and then 2 "pre-quenches" prior to the hardening operation. It was quenched in Parks 50 fast oil, and then clamped between aluminum plates to keep warping down to a minimum. After cooling to room temp, it was placed in a 0°F freezer just to ensure a good martensite conversion, and then triple tempered in a tightly controlled oven. The "pre-quenches" are another way of thermal cycling, but some evidence shows it results in even finer grain, and thus a slight improvement in toughness. The steel is only 0.050" at the spine, was given a full flat grind to a very thin edge geometry, and a hand rubbed satin finish. This knife is an excellent fine cutter in the kitchen, and will give you the willies when you slice thru an apple, lime, chicken, steak, fajitas, you name it (almost). Handles is blaze orange G10, and has a liner the same color as the angled spacer, with black micarta pins. This knife would do quite well as a paring knife in the kitchen, or as a bird/trout blade.

OAL: 7 7/8"
Blade: 3 3/8"
Handle: 4 1/2"
Thickness at spine: 0.050"
Edge: 15° per side, Spyderco Fine Ceramic (approx 0.008" prior to sharpening)

Asking price is only sold, and includes a felt lined plastic edge protector and free shipping anywhere in the USA. If you live elsewhere, just let me know and I will quote a price to ship it to your door. PayPal preferred (samuraistuart@yahoo.com), but will gladly take a check and ship once cleared. Feel free to PM me or email (same as my PayPal address) for any additional questions you might have. Thanks for looking, and follow me on Instagram: stuartalandavenport

 

[ndmiller]

I will take this, sorry I didn't see it the first go round.

Wife and I love your Pairing knives, how will this one hold up compared to the S7 pairing knives I have?

 

[Kukr!]

Stuart: I emailed you about this knife but will defer to ndmiller's unequivocal "Yes."

Great score. Seconds if you change your mind.

 

[NJBillK]

I am glad that I missed this, as I can't spare the funds... That being said, I do have a rather interesting offer being sent via PM, if you happen to make another.

 

[samuraistuart]

Thanks guys! This one is sold to ndmilller. Kukr!, i will have more to offer this weekend. Hang in there. Thanks!

 

[samuraistuart]

NJBillK, if you’re interested in parting ways with some of your well earned $$$ on another knife similar, hang in there. I’ll be posting a couple in a day or two. Thank you all so much for the interest.

 

[ndmiller]

Sorry to muck up this thread, but since I grabbed the knife, I wanted to add "why".

The reason why I love this Samurai Stuart(SS) Pairing Knife model so much is the thin tough sharpness I've experienced in O7 Steel at high hardness (Have 1 walnut and 1 mesquite). I'm expecting similar performance out of the 52100 steel as well. SS Use of wood on knives is exceptional as well, see previous threads.

The test with the O7 walnut was easy and not even planned. Wife bought broccoli in a 3 pack (2 pack below) plastic blister wrapped, sort of plastic heat shrunk around the three stalks.

My job was prep, so I placed the pack perpendicular to me and put the knife on the plastic halfway between ends with almost no pressure and pulled. It cut through plastic, 3 stalks, and rested on other side of plastic on cutting board. Board had a light line from the cut as well. That was back in 2016, and it's still razor sharp (stropped lightly once about a year ago). I asked SS for another and he made me one in mesquite. I've tossed or given away some Wusthof and another german knives I could never keep sharp and will get rid of another to put this orange one in the block as well.

My two SS Pairing Knives.

Always use, hot soapy water clean and dry my O7 immediately. A nice patina has formed and I mineral oil the handles every 6 months or so.