blade material of choice

[bandaidman]

What is your favorite blade material for a custom blade?

I lean towards the Haynes alloys (stellite/ talonite) but am also intruiged by damascus, 52100, and the new CPM steels

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Would have picked two of the above if possible. I went with my absolute favorite in forged 52100, but a close second is CPM 3V.
Both of these steels has so much to offer, but when the blade is made by Ed Fowler and others pushing the limits of 52100, it is my steel of choice.

I also really like damascus and stainless damascus.

 

[Joss]

...but hand made & forged damascus would be right there with it...

JD

 

[Bastid]

Gus and I have to go with all of the above. It depends upon the application. So I am no help here other than all or most of the above.

Example: I decided on a custom white water rescue knife purchase. (it will be a single purpose knife) Stellite or Talonite is the answer for me here.

At the same time I am a big forged blade fan.

If I am going for a tough using blade my pref. is 52100, D2, or 3v.

I love damascus in my art knives. It is a cool thing when the maker does it all themselves. I have some that I enjoy where the maker used another maker's damascus.

I am partial to 52100 or CPM steels in my working folders. I prefer them to ATS-34, 154cm and BG-42 et all.

Then if I think about it a little more none of the above are hard and fast rules for me, other than the makers thoughts and the function of the knife having the greatest influence .


Even more important than the steel to me is how the steel is treated . I want to have faith that even the most artsy knife that I am interested in is first a knife that will function.

I guess I am no help at all, but I sure like having all the choices.

 

[Burke]

Bastid, we all know what you and Gus like for handle material: goat horn!

 

[Danbo]

Yeah, from a horny goat!

 

[PhilL]

Steel shmeel...Does it have a stag handle?

I don't buy knives because of the steel, I buy the knife and who made it and let them decide what works best for them. My favorite knife is my Ed Fowler Pronghorn and he only uses 52100. I'm not going to ask him to try something else. For pure edge holding my Carson M4 in Stellite & stag is pretty darn close and I'd love a Carson fixed blade in 6K. But to be perfectly honest I bought the knife from Kit because of the stag, I didn't find out unitl later that the blade was Stellite. Then I had to find out what Stellite was.

So I guess I'm not voting here. My suggestion is work with a custom maker, let them know what you want to do and let them help with pick the best steel for the job. Because in the end what steel that's used is just part of the knife.

 

[tom mayo]

Me.......I like AOTA!!!!!!!!!!!








all of the above!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Will York]

The traditional steels have a faithful following, for good reason, but in terms of performance I don't see how they can compete with the CPM process steels for strength, toughness and wear resistance--or compete with Stellite 6K for corrosion resistance and edge holding.

Of the CPM and cobalt-based offerings, the blade material I prefer depends on size and intended use. For a 4" or shorter fixed hunter, I like CPM10V for a super thin beveled cutter with maximum strength, aggressive edge, and long edge life. I have both forged and stock 10V blades in this configuration, and haven't been able to tell a big difference. Both at about 63 Rc, and both super workers. For the same size blade that needs to be extra low maintenance, such as in a folder, but still take a super thin edge, S90V (CPM420V) is just right, and if it needs to be a little tougher and still hold an edge forever, I prefer Stellite 6K. My EDC right now is a small carbon-fiber Carson M4 in Stellite 6K, and I'm not looking to change--ever.

For a big, tough knife that can stand up to all manner of abuse and still take and hold a high-performance edge, I don't know which is better--INFI or CPM3V--but I'll happily take either.

I'm really intrigued with the new CPM stainless known as S30V, just now coming into the market, and can't wait to see it tested--not to mention testing it myself. Wonder if someone might have a blade they'd like to see abused in the worst way? I hear there's a guy in Georgia who makes big, strong knives out of the best steels on the planet--maybe he'd send me one.

-w

 

[Arthur Washburn]

Guess I'll have to go for the Devin Thomas Damascus

 

[Jerry Hossom]

Sorry Will, it's on it's way to that master of knife abuse, Gaucho.

I did some testing today, and at this point I'm not sure. It isn't 3V.

 

[Will York]

Originally posted by Jerry Hossom
Sorry Will, it's on it's way to that master of knife abuse, Gaucho

 

[ExamonLyf]

Ever since I got one of Jerry's knives with CPM 3V.., I'm sold

I also like 52100..for all the obvious reasons.., but I sincerely didn't realize the heat treat for CPM 3V made so much difference (I'm not a knife maker) <~~ duhhhhh.

My knife from Jerry is a vicious cutter...spectucular edge dynamics!!


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"

 

[wolfmann601]

When the term "01" steel is used, what exactly is it?...Thanks......wolf

 

[flava]

Hey, am I the only one who likes Wootz arround here?

 

[Jerry Hossom]

Originally posted by flava
Hey, am I the only one who likes Wootz arround here?

It's hard not to like Wootz, but most of us have never seen it. A number of bladesmiths are getting Wootz-like effects in their forged blades with careful temperature cycling. Neat stuff.

 

[Will York]

Flava-

How about some testing and review on your wootz blades, comparing wootz performance to some standard steels?

Thanks,
Will

 

[Greg Covington]

Originally posted by wolfmann601
When the term "01" steel is used, what exactly is it?...Thanks......wolf

Don't quote me here, but the "O" stands for Oil hardening, and the "1" relates the the pecentage of carbon on the steel, which is actually under 1% in O1 toolsteel.

It is a super fine steel for knives and I have never had a complaint from any user. I gets and stays extremely keen in the edge.

It is though, considerably more expensive than straight carbob steels like 1084 and 1095....and not that much better if at all.

 

[flava]

Originally posted by WILL YORK
Flava-

How about some testing and review on your wootz blades, comparing wootz performance to some standard steels?

Will, I don't have wootz blades yet. I have played with wootz blades at the Paris show but I didn't try any destructive tests on them right there . I have a wootz blade on order though, and as soon as I get it I'll share the info here on the forums.
If you are interested in performance test results, my friend Achim Wirtz told me he performed some testing on one of his wootz blades. You might ask him about it since he's a fellow forumite.

 

[Will York]

Originally posted by flava
...my friend Achim Wirtz told me he performed some testing on one of his wootz blades. You might ask him about it since he's a fellow forumite.

Thanks, Flava. I'm sure a post from anyone who has performance info on wootz steel would be very welcome here. Please consider this an open invitation to share it.

-Will