Canal Street Gunstock

mckgreg

mckgreg

Joined
Nov 18, 2001
Messages
3,758
I wanted to see for myself what this new line of knives was like. Got this fella in the mail today.
Greg

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Very knice! I've been thinking about Canal Street, but the ones I look at with interest are all 420HC. But, man they do make some fine looking knives.
 
I really like the bolsters and the extended nail pull on that model.

Canal Street keeps turning out great looking knives.
 
gbaker said:
Are you sure they are 420HC? They always say 420 NOT 420HC.
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I can't imagine them making them in any other kind of 420 (shudder) that would be like putting precious ivory on a Rough Rider. However, I can't guarantee it is 420HC. I would sure be ticked if I got a nice CSC and found out it was something like 420J2.

I have found a trapper or two that has D2. I'm in the process of trying to aquire one.
 
I spoke with the Canal Street representative at the Blade Show in Atlanta last spring about their steel. He did say that it was 420. I didn't ask which. He did go on to say that heat treating makes all the difference in how a steel behaves ( we should all know that by now ) and that they go the extra step to make sure that it is done properly. That's why I bought this one. To see how the edge holds up. It is obvious with their low production runs and each knife numbered, they are mainly targeting the collectors. Which makes sense to me for a new name. It's up to the buyer to decide whether the knives are worth the money or not. If they catch on as a "hot collectible", that's great, everybody wins. I am going to use this guy for a while and see how it cuts and holds an edge. That's my only interest in it. I see no reason to go into what my thoughts as far as fit and finish are because everyone has a different version as to what that is. My only opinion about this knife at the moment is that "It's Cool" !!
Greg
 
My-oh-my that is a looker Greg ! Congratulations......it's obvious why you couldn't resist buying that beauty !

-Regards
 
That one was my introduction to the brand, too. Love it! The pinched & threaded bolsters are what sold me. And that nail nick.

I now own two other patterns, and will be picking up another soon. Great stuff.

-- Sam
 
The Canal Street knives are beautiful and exceptionally well finished, but I am seriously wondering about the steel. AG Russells website lists ALL of the 420 steel CSC knives as Rockwell 52-54. If that is NOT a mistake, then they are about two points SOFTER than Case and others harden their 420HC, (the stuff people grumble and groan about not holding an edge) and a vast amount lower than Bucks 58. If these knives are actually as low as 52 Rockwell hardness, then they are all show and no go. I'd like to know which it actually is. :confused:
 
Phil in Alabama said:
AG Russells website lists ALL of the 420 steel CSC knives as Rockwell 52-54. If that is NOT a mistake, then they are about two points SOFTER than Case and others harden their 420HC, (the stuff people grumble and groan about not holding an edge) and a vast amount lower than Bucks 58. If these knives are actually as low as 52 Rockwell hardness, then they are all show and no go. I'd like to know which it actually is. :confused:
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Wow, I'd not heard about that. Very interesting, but not very comforting.

Why the heck would they harden their steel only to RC 52-54?
 
I've purchased one Canal Street knife. It's a three blade whittler in stag. The knife is really nicely made and came very sharp. I've used it lightly and it still holds its edge.

I was concerned about the 420 blade steel and I still am. It will likely keep me from buying another. In general I might not buy a knife specifically to use it, but if it's not a capable of being a good user I don't want it. By good I mean well constructed and capable of holding an edge.
 
WOW that is pretty soft if true. I hope it isn't. If they are just making lookers I don't think they will be around for long.
 
Fellas. I started out just cutting paper into small strips with this knife. Factory edge is really pretty good. Cut paper clean and swift. Even holding a piece of printer paper in the middle the knife could take the end corner off easily. I then cut up a small shipping box made of corrugated cardboard going across the grain. Probably 25 cuts. No problem. Still had a good edge. Next i whittled a point or "V" shape onto the end of a 1x4 of Douglas Fir pretty easy. Went back to cutting cardboard some more but the edge was obviously getting dull from the 1x4. Still. it cut the cardboard but not as easy. Then I went back to the printer paper and it still cuts pretty good. Not great but just a low "OK". The edge has diminished but an edge is still there. You could still cut yourself with it. A stellar performance by no means but quite satisfactory so far. Better than I had expected to tell you the truth. Normally at this point I would sharpen it but I am going to carry it a while just to see how long the amount of edge left will last.
Greg
 
Reckon who could be contacted to find out the actual blade hardness on these CSC knives?? I doubt that AG Russell would make that kind of mistake, he's usually very very reliable regarding knife information.
 
Blade hardness is one thing. Edge geometry is another. Most steels that are hardened beyond what their properties will allow will just break. A harder steel that isn't hardened properly won't hold an edge. There is common ground for any steel but it will only perform as best as that particular steel is able to regardless what you do to it. You can't get blood out of a turnip and Rockwell hardness isn't the only answer.
 
Personally, the blades on these seem perfectly capable for the tasks I normally expect a slipjoint pocket knife to perform. I'm not trying to break a camp site with it, nor saw through cans and expect it to still cut paper.

But for those who are more concerned about their steels than I, I just saw a Canal Street Trapper in D2 go by on eBay for a good price. So they're out there, or coming soon.

-- Sam
 
Sam,

If it's this one: (image from the listing)
csctrapper.jpg


I got it. It will be my first Canal Street knife.

Greg, thanks a bunch for the test info so far.

I might have mentioned on my post showing the Queen #31, I think I've reached full blown addiction stage.
 
you only won that because i forgot about it-lol
had my eye on that ,but went for a strider pt instead today-

i am keeping a eye open for other d-2 canal street stuff
 
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