Carbon steel

smegs

smegs

Joined
Nov 27, 2003
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I have a German Eye brand canoe that I've been totin for about 3 years. My only other slip joints are Queen with D2 blades. How does the German Eye brand carbon steel stack up against Case and GEC?
 
I get the feeling that GEC tempers their steel a tad harder than Case CV.

That is a purely subjective, non-scientific opinion based on sharpening and using both.

I have never had a German Eye Brand...yet.

I'm going to pull the trigger on one of their Sodbusters some of these days.
 
I've no input really, other than to say that my one and only German Eye rather surprised me at the thinness of the blades. Not to say the blades are weaker than other brands, just so much flimsier (without the negative connotations of the word) than I am used to. I haven't used mine enough to really comment on durability but it does give me pause.
 
eye carbon made before 1995 or so is world class steel. the flat ground blades were made for cutting not prying. this steel would equal early henckels carbon [pre 1960] & pumas pumaster steel. i gutted & skinned 3 mule deer with a 2 blade hunter & one blade would still shave hair.contemporary carbon would be gec 1095 at 58r.r.
 
Queen's D2 carbon tool steel is even harder, at around 61 HRC. You really need carborundum (silicon carbide) or diamond stones to sharpen D2 well. It also has a much higher chromium content (nearly stainless) so it doesn't patina as easily as CV or 1095 do.
I agree with coonskinner, the CV is a little softer than GEC's 1095--easier to sharpen, but doesn't hold the edge quite as long. Much of the current German carbon steel is 1075 and is closer to the qualities of CV than to GEC's 1095.
 
Well so far so good with this little canoe. Sharpens up nice, doesn't feel soft and like ddml says, nice and thin. I could live with this steel if that's all there were but you know how we are. :D
 
I can't compare with GEC, but I do have a Eye Canoe that is around twenty years old or so. It is great stuff for sure! CV isn't bad...it's just that Eye steel is much better!
 
smegs said:
I have a German Eye brand canoe that I've been totin for about 3 years. My only other slip joints are Queen with D2 blades. How does the German Eye brand carbon steel stack up against Case and GEC?
Click to expand...

I've read posts that Case CV holds an edge better than the current German Carbon steels, but I have not compared them myself.

I know from my own testing that GEC 1095 holds an edge significantly better than Case CV. GEC 1095 is the best carbon steel I have tried for edge retention. Holds an edge better than Case CV, better than Schrade old timer 1095, better than Carbon V.
 
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