AEBL or 14c28n

I’ve used both outdoors ( hunting , processing animals ). I wouldn’t say I’m super careful taking care of them. I can’t discern the difference but prefer the AEBL. Neither has ever shown any corrosion. They have not seen use around salty environments.
 
I’ve made/used kitchen blades with both. I personally like 14C28N better. Bose heat treats it for me to 63RC. I’ve also made some 14C28N hunting knives for family members in Northern Wisconsin. They’ve used them for field dressing multiple white tail, chopping up pork at pig roasts and whatever else in camp. Rave reviews all around. No staining, decent edge retention and easy edge touch-up.
 
I knew I could count on you NorCalAbacus
 
XtianAus said:
Aebl or 14c28n for a camp knife- If you've used both, which do you prefer?

● I'd love to know the difference in corrosion resistance and toughness

I am looking to get a custom done and the maker uses lots of AEBL. However he is happy to use 14c28n.

Corrosion resistance is important to me and on paper 14c28n is better. Do I run with what the maker is familiar with (AEBL) or go with 14c28n because it is similar to heat treat anyway and should give me improved rust resistance?
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David and I did a lot of discussion and some testing between the 2 a while back when we were looking into stainless steels. It really comes down to the individual blade and heat treat as the differences are very small. I think 14c28n won't harden quite as high, but it still gets into the 60's where you want it, like AEB-L. I want to say it was like AEB-L would max out at 64 and 14c28n would max out at 63, or some small difference like that. Most manufactured knives of either steel are at or below 60 rockwell, which isn't doing the steel any favors for edge retention, IMO, unless you're using it as a machete. I think the machete I have from David is 58 or 59 Rockwell in AEB-L and it's not had a single problem, with the steel anyway. We did other design elements on the handle that didn't hold up as well which we took forward to future designs and material choices.

14c28n does have a measurable improvement in stain resistance, if that matters for your use case. For most people looking at stainless steel, AEB-L is going to be plenty stain resistant.
 
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luethge said:
AEB-L is impressive stuff.. like others have mentioned it’s easy to maintain. My first AEB-L knife was a SITREP made by David Mary.. I did unintentionally dumb and abusive things to that knife without damaging it: chopped into brass, dropped on tile, thrown into pressure treated lumber, used on food and left to air dry - no issues I couldn’t fix with a croc stick and a strop. AEB-L reminds me of INFI in use.

14C28N I’ve only used in a folder - Southern Grind Bad monkey.. it’s was easy to keep sharp but I never abused it.
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Id try some .32 inch thick AEBL to chop crap.

That would be a fun time i think
 
David Mary said:
Crag the Truthteller is right in my opinion. But I want to make a 3/8” thick AEB-L knife some day anyway.
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Most of my stuff is around an 1/8th"........Idk How to go THAT thick? Haha....
Maybe it would have to be hollow ground? Or something???

Would be fun making it Naked
(No handle scales)
 
luethge said:
3/8 stock, full height convex, 2 inches spine to edge, tapered tang, 11 inch blade and a 6 inch handle… that would be fun.

Does AEB-L come in stock that thick ?
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Sounds like what I was thinking 🤔 😅

Or something like 6.5 to 7 inch long blade about 2'' from spine to edge.

Shaped like a bullet bill
 
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