52100

SpartanSaint

SpartanSaint

Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
970
I've been looking into Bark River Knives the last couple days and discovered a model i like using 52100 blade steel @58hrc

from what i've read it holds an edge great through high hardness and has great "edge stability" but what i don't know anything about is how brk's heat treat is nor how it holds up that soft

can you guys help me out?
 
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Unfortunately I can't say anything about BRKT's HT with 52100. I have one of their knives in A2 and it is great.

However 52100 has become my hands down favorite steel and I have 3 knives in it from different makers. Tad Lynch; Mark Wohlwend; and Swamp Rat Knives. From all 3 makers the 52100 takes a VERY crisp edge, even insanely sharp. Holds that edge exceptionaly well, while being easy to sharpen, touch up and maintain.

The only BRKT knife I have seen in 52100 is their Manitou and I have read several reviews where it was credited with very good edge holding and heat treat, but was considered a little on the thin side. Not really a problem as that knife was designed to be more of a skinner and slicer than a heavy use/abuse survival knife.

Hope this helped.
 
I also have a Swamp Rat knife, the Scrapivore LE. That is just a crazy slicer. It's one of the sharpest little fixed blades I've owned. 51200 being ball bearing steel does make great cutlery steel as well. If you have a chance pick up a knife in this steel do it, you won't regret it. :)
 
Don't have to twist my arm. Now I just gotta pick a handle material and whether or not I wanna pay an extra 40 bucks :confused::mad:
 
SpartanSaint said:
Don't have to twist my arm. Now I just gotta pick a handle material and whether or not I wanna pay an extra 40 bucks :confused::mad:
Click to expand...

What options do you have for handle material? Often times, when I get a choice of handle material I stick with Micarta or G10, in that order. I like stag and bone handles too, however, they can crack with temp changes and I'd rather have something a little tougher.
 
Bark River also made the Mountain Man and Mountain Man dagger in 52100, maybe others. My MM is awesome, thin, but made for skinning.
Their HT is quite good, and outside of have a piece of forged 52100, I don't think you would have any complaints about a Bark River in 52100.
 
My 2 cents on 52100: Keep it oiled when not in use. Do not get it in a bead blasted finish, polished is best if not coated. It likes to oxidize easily.
 
for handle materials i'm looking at a black canvas micarta with a slice of emerald elder burl through the middle from one dealer, and plain green canvas micarta from another dealer for another $40 cheaper. the first option is a real looker but i'd like to pick up either their camp ax, wetterling ax, or glen eagle ax [can't pick between them just yet] and idk if i'll be able to match handles haha

plus idk if its worth $40 yet...

as for the 52100 and oiling, i figured it'd patina nicely during the local steel head run :D

i've heard great things i just know that steels can behave very very differently depending on heat treat and hardness and wasn't sure how bark river did their run of it, especially being so soft. sounds like 52100 loves being super hard; though your guys' faith in it at 58 and from brkt is encouraging.

i originally had my heart set on a stainless bravo 1, but now i think i'm gonna get this manitou. and the camp ax. and maybe a ss gunny down the road. and a s35vn bravo 1. and possibly a wetterling ax for sh!ts and giggles...

never should have asked about brk. poor financial decision for sure
 
I own a swamp rat swamp warden ,RMD and a Scrapyard scrapivore and regulator all in sr-101 (which is pretty much 52100) and all I can say is it's an incredibly tough steel that sacrifices nothing when it comes to edge retention all in all it's one of my favorite steels for a fixed blade but it has a downside and that is corrosion resistance it rust very easily if not properly maintained.
 
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