I have only made about thirty knives from ATS-34 and I did so because I found a good deal on the steel a few years ago. It is just my opinion but it is about the same to grind as 440C and takes a nice polish. I cannot say if it holds an edge better so I would take the word of Laurence at Rhinoknives who make a lot of really nice knives and has much more experience with the steel than myself. I would buy more if I found a deal on it but I have been addicted to 440C for so long that I am hardly objective...the guys that buy my knives now ask for it because my personal knives are made from 440C and they think that I know the best steel. I just know what I like and I am now using CPM 154 as well as 440C and am happy with both. I make mostly sporting knives that start out as 5/32 or 3/16 stainless steel. I spend most of my energy looking for the ideal abrasives and trying to save hand sanding time which is impossible with the high polish that I like. The money that I save by buying 440C I use by buying it in the precision ground form rather than "mill" or "Blanchard' cut. My advice is that if you think it makes a difference then you should buy he ATS-34 and not have that to worry about. Merry Christmas! Larry
Larry,
I haven't hand sanded my blades in years. I use Hermes Cork polishing bests to get to a nice bright satin finish stopping at a 220 to 400 and others get close to a mirror at 800.
I add Green Chrome polishing compound and there is a thread about this over at Kd's for other tips from other makers as well.
http://knifedogs.com/showthread.php?39448-Cork-belts.
Colu41,
Whatever you choose I suggest you get a real respirator, not one of those paper things with the rubber band, before you make anymore. The dusts over a period of years can out right kill you, Lung problems, cancer etc.
I use stabilized woods and Kirinite and stopped using micarta several years ago because I became sensitive to the any of the dust, it gives me a mean headache, most likely because when I started I was very diligent about wearing a respirator but also because a sensitivity to formaldehyde seems to run in my family.
Micarta releases formaldehyde when you work it so keep children & pets always out of the work area. Use sharp belts and keep it cool.
But it makes about the most durable of knife handles and can be very attractive. I would use Canvas Micarta and leave it hand sanded to 220 grit to give it a real grippy feel for wet & bloody field work, There are a multitude of oily woods and stabilized woods to use.
K & G Supply does their own stabilizing, start there and look around.
