any high quality carbon steel folders out there?

I.V

Joined
Sep 6, 2004
Messages
169
i want a non stainless steel folding knife, i have not found anything other than opinels & i want something a little beafier.
i prefer a locking 3" blade but if i must, a smaller blade or slip joint will do (if there's nothing out there i'll get an opinel probably - which steel are they made of btw?).
thanks!
 
Case & Queen come immediately to mind. I think some of the Trad looking German stuff use it too.
 
Benchmade made a mini version of the AFCK called the 812 available in M2 highspeed steel (812HS). This is the old linerlock version, not the newer AXIS. Might be hard to find though, especially in your neck of the woods. There might be some other, older BMs like this, but I'm not much of an historian.

As far as I know, there aren't any current BMs made with M2 that aren't 4" knives. There might be some available in D2 though, which is considered more a "semi-stainless" steel, due to it's higher chromium content, but not enough to be considered stainless. If I'm not mistaken, the 960 has D2 steel and is a bit longer than 3".

Queen Cutlery makes a lot of their knives in D2 as well. Mostly slipjoints, but there's a couple linerlocks.
 
Of the top of my head I know of four production carbon steel folders. Cold steel Makes the Carbon V Trail guide. recently Cold Steel discontinued this knife, so you can get it cheap (around $22.00) as long as they last.

Cabelas carries a Benchmade D2 Griptillian that goes for $78.00

Kabar makes two D2 folders, the Dozier Thorn, and the Folding Hunter.

I know there has to be a lot more carbon steel out there, I just don't know about them.
 
Try mooremaker.com. They sell a few with a locking blades. In fact, they make a medium trapper and a large trapper where both blades lock. All of them are 1095.
 
Opinels are made of something like 1075 or 1085 carbon steel. This is pretty tough and takes a fine edge. It is a little softer than you might want for a blade in the size that you are talking about. I would think that 1095 might be a little more optimal. Camillus makes some 1095 alloy folding knives. The #61 Gent's Lockback and the #63 Stockman models have 1095 alloy blades. These aren't any beefier than Opinels, but you might like the design better. The Cold Steel Trail Guide is distinctly beefier, but not very elegant or compact.

Queen Cutlery makes some D2 bladed models, but they mostly are not lockblade. Here is one that might fit the bill:
http://www.bullmancutlery.com/catalog/queen/products/qn44jbc.html
 
thanks everyone for the replies, lots of good things for me to choose from, keep'em coming please :)
pickupman, mooremaker.com seems to have a few very nice things, very close to what i'm looking for, how are they quality wise? thanks
 
Take a look at Benchmade models in M2 and D2 especially the 806D2 and 710 HSS or something like that. Other than that I would look at Queen slipjoints and Kabar Dozier knives.
 
s0rce said:
Take a look at Benchmade models in M2 and D2 especially the 806D2 and 710 HSS or something like that. Other than that I would look at Queen slipjoints and Kabar Dozier knives.

Like he said.
 
I was in the same boat as you about two years ago I guess and couldn't find anything that suited me in a locking folder with a high carbon blade either. So I just bought a Russell Green River fixed blade knife (see below) and turned it into a liner lock folder. This is great great cutlery steel. I use the folder I made out of this blade for a good bit of my wood carving for my walking sticks and entertainment for my nephews. Nice 3/32 thickness and I love the patina of carbon steel that develops over time. I don't know what this steel is actually, maybe 1095 or 52100, but whatever it is it works well and holds a good long edge.

Maybe Jeff or one of the other steel knowledgeable guys know what it is. I've never had any luck finding out that bit of info on these Russell knives. They say it is a secret or something. I know they've been around a long while.

Anyway, the point is if you want I will gladly share my pattern with you and you can make your own.

RussellGreenRiverknife-copy.jpg



CarvedCanoe-copy.jpg
 
I.V said:
i want a non stainless steel folding knife, i have not found anything other than opinels & i want something a little beafier.
i prefer a locking 3" blade but if i must, a smaller blade or slip joint will do (if there's nothing out there i'll get an opinel probably - which steel are they made of btw?).
thanks!

I have a nice eye brand 3 blade stockman with natural bone scales. It is a little larger than your average stockman. Cost me about $40 from SMKW
 
Moore Maker and even the same Russell company as I already mentioned make some folding knives also but I think all you'll find is slip joints. They are high carbon steel though.
 
In Germany there are not many companies left that make decent folders in carbon steel. Among the better offerings are Loewenmesser - traditional slipjoints with a very stiff spring. Reasonably well made, with good steel that takes a very keen edge:

http://toplicht.de/shop/index.html

Choose "Suche", type in "loewen", and you'll get a list of their knives. The ones made in "Gußstahl" are carbon steel.

I have a couple of their knives, and they're pretty good.

Hans
 
hi STR, the knife you made looks incredible & i'd love for you to make one for me. the only thing that has prevented me from buying a custom so far is that i am on a tight budget (mainly because of complicated customs issues here.
anyway, you got me very interested so i'll be happy if you could PM me on the spyderco forum or e-mail me with the details, thanks.
 
I.V said:
thanks everyone for the replies, lots of good things for me to choose from, keep'em coming please :)
pickupman, mooremaker.com seems to have a few very nice things, very close to what i'm looking for, how are they quality wise? thanks
I find them to be very high quality. The bone handled ones are made by Queen and the working knives are made by Camillus. If you search the forums for Mooremaker, you will find many posts that comment on the quality of their products.
 
Moore maker is one of those companies that makes knives like the old Case knives used to be. In other words they are high quality folders that are hard to find flaw with. For the money they are probably one of the better buys in folder cutlery right now in my opinion.

Oh, IV. I sent you an email with some details for making your own and some patterns.
 
John Greco makes his folders from a steel similar to A2. These folders have all steel frame lock construction. Definitely worth looking into.
 
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