best steel for a knife you abuse

T

tomahawk2.0

Joined
May 26, 2008
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Hi guys, when I go on long backpacking trips I tend to get bored at times and that usually leads to fixed blade knife throwing (at logs and the ground). Although this is most likely counter-indicated in the operations manual, it is enjoyable (please don't hate me for abusing knives). I don't know a whole lot about various steels and was just wondering what you would consider to be the best for this situation (the situation being: throwing it around like crazy, but still having it be useful). Would you want something softer and more malleable so it doesn't snap? I'm guessing nothing would hold an edge well against this constant abuse, but it would still be nice to be able to easily sharpen again.

also, what handle materials are the most durable (and what are the ones to stay away from)?

thanks!
 
I often enjoy my Glock knife, great throwing knife, easy resharpened, strong built and inexpensive
Maxx
 
I think you'd best be served using a knife made from good ol' 1095 or, if you'd prefer a more stainless steel, 420HC. as far a handle material.... something synthetic like G10 or FRN might hold up better than wood or bone or hide.
 
I suggest bringing a cheap throwing knife alongside your regular blade. While for the most part knives will survive throwing it's very easy to break them with a bad throw, even the high-end super tough knives will sometimes have a handle scale fly off or a tip bend.
 
Get a Cold Steel Bushman, 1095, Tough (heck you could you use as a secondary fixed blade :P)
 
A Glock knife can be difficult depending on the grind lines. Mine were all out of whack, and it took me some time to even them out. It has ZERO edge retention, but it is tough as a masonry nail. Its utility I think is limited by this. You might try looking for a Ranger Shiv, or Ranger Shank. Some places still have them. Also, a cheap alternative is a Cold Steel True Flight or one of their other 1055 models. I might also ask a maker here on the boards if they can make you a utility type thrower.
 
I don't abuse any of my knives, but for a "hard use" knife I like 3v or INFI. There are a lot of great steels out there and each has its own pros and cons. Decide what your are going to use the knife for and what characteristics are most important for that task.
 
CS True Flight would be a good choice, or even the CS Shovel. I wouldn't throw anything expensive in the woods. Even if it doesn't break, it could easily be lost.
 
Go to the dollar store and buy a dozen of the bigest kitchen knives they have. Dude it will be rad just think of all the the knives you can throw before you have to go pick one up. Eat your freeze dried food using only a clever. Then see if you can melt one of them in the fire. Wow I am gettin myself excited now. I may need to stop on my way home and get a few more just to play with.
 
Manife said:
Go to the dollar store and buy a dozen of the bigest kitchen knives they have. Dude it will be rad just think of all the the knives you can throw before you have to go pick one up. Eat your freeze dried food using only a clever. Then see if you can melt one of them in the fire. Wow I am gettin myself excited now. I may need to stop on my way home and get a few more just to play with.
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Probably not the best idea, unless you know for sure how flexible each one is. Throwing cheap kitchen knives could lead to shrapnel.
 
To me, knife throwing is one of those things that people do because they've seen it done in movies. You would'nt throw other tools like say your gun, your hammer, or your screwdriver. Why throw your knife or axe?
 
wutitiz said:
To me, knife throwing is one of those things that people do because they've seen it done in movies. You would'nt throw other tools like say your gun, your hammer, or your screwdriver. Why throw your knife or axe?
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I throw my hammer all the time. Usually after a run in with my thumb. :D
 
If you can afford it, go with a Busse (INFI) or other Busse family knife. Not too sure about Swamp Rat or Scrap Yard (except that you have a lifetime guarantee- even if you were throwing it!), but I know a lot of Busse owners even throw the swords! Many videos showing proof. Holds an edge, easy to sharpen, AND tough enough to throw!
 
The best stainless steel for abuse and still easy to sharpen is 420 in my opinion. It gets a lot of negative remarks but if you have a knife made with it it is solid, durable and easy to sharpen. I have many knives with just about any steel represented and my three most used are the 440C, S30V and 420. I have chipped the 440C the S30V is hard to get razor sharp and the 420 has never had any issue and is by far the easiest to sharpen to razor sharp.
 
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tomahawk2.0 said:
Hi guys, when I go on long backpacking trips I tend to get bored at times and that usually leads to fixed blade knife throwing (at logs and the ground). Although this is most likely counter-indicated in the operations manual, it is enjoyable (please don't hate me for abusing knives). I don't know a whole lot about various steels and was just wondering what you would consider to be the best for this situation (the situation being: throwing it around like crazy, but still having it be useful). Would you want something softer and more malleable so it doesn't snap? I'm guessing nothing would hold an edge well against this constant abuse, but it would still be nice to be able to easily sharpen again.

also, what handle materials are the most durable (and what are the ones to stay away from)?

thanks!
Click to expand...


Welcome to BladeForums!

You are correct. For impact, especially impact due to throwing a knife in the woods, you will want a softer tougher steel that may not keep an edge all that well. You will not want an expensive exotic steel, but rather a simple carbon steel that is soft, tough, and expendible (cheap). Something made of 1050 Carbon steel would be the ticket. kiahs was right on when he recommended the Cold Steel True Flight. 1055 carbon steel shaped into a blade designed for throwing. If you are going to throw it in the woods, I would get some fluorescent paint and make that sucker dayglo orange so you can find it when you miss!

general guidelines for steel:
1) more carbon = better edge retention, but lower toughness.
2) less carbon = less edge retention, but better toughness.
3) At the same carbon content, stainless steels are less tough than steels that are not stainless.




By the way, there is a forum for knife throwers here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=722
 
thanks everybody, that was super helpful! The True Flight looks to be exactly what I had in mind; I ordered one today. It's a little heavy as I'm an ounce-watching ultralight hiker, but I have a hard time cutting ounces when it comes to carrying blades... I also carry a SwissTool Spirit and a Benchmade Kulgera (which any other ultralight hiker would consider excessive). This blade redundancy is also why I can spare one of the blades I carry to abuse a little (less of a tool and more of a toy).

I currently use a Sog Sealpup (AUS 6) as my beater and it holds up well, it seems that this might be a good steel for the task, but I want to give that True Flight a shot!

thanks!
 
knarfeng said:
Welcome to BladeForums!

You are correct. For impact, especially impact due to throwing a knife in the woods, you will want a softer tougher steel that may not keep an edge all that well. You will not want an expensive exotic steel, but rather a simple carbon steel that is soft, tough, and expendible (cheap). Something made of 1050 Carbon steel would be the ticket. kiahs was right on when he recommended the Cold Steel True Flight. 1055 carbon steel shaped into a blade designed for throwing. If you are going to throw it in the woods, I would get some fluorescent paint and make that sucker dayglo orange so you can find it when you miss!

general guidelines for steel:
1) more carbon = better edge retention, but lower toughness.
2) less carbon = less edge retention, but better toughness.
3) At the same carbon content, stainless steels are less tough than steels that are not stainless.




By the way, there is a forum for knife throwers here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=722
Click to expand...

What he said :) The 1055- 1080 steels (sometimes heat treated to lower hardness) will take a lot of impact abuse. Congrats on the Kulgera, might have to grab one of those myself!
 
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