Case CPM20CV traditional

Will Power Will Power I too would like to see them use new steels in all of their offerings, but I guess they have to start somewhere.

I don't know if anyone here is familiar with the Cedric & Ada YouTube channel - it's a nerdy Aussie who likes to test/compare edge retention across hundreds of knives. In one of his videos he said something that stuck with me, loosely paraphrased as:

In a small blade, it makes sense to have a harder steel with higher edge retention. You only have a small edge to work with, requiring you to use most, if not all, of the edge for each cut. Therefore you're better off with a harder steel that requires sharpening less often, even if it is more difficult to sharpen. Whereas, in a larger blade you have a larger edge and can get away with less edge retention because you can cut with different parts of the edge as other areas become dull.

I think there is a fair bit of truth to that sentiment and am therefore glad that Case is exploring better steels. However I'm not sure most people would agree since most people aren't BF members who have the understanding and patience to maintain harder, wear resistant steels.

I wonder if a high hardness AEB-L would be the better choice: stainless, good stability with thinner stock, good edge retention, and easy to sharpen with nearly any method. Sort of like a stainless steel that behaves like a good carbon steel.
 
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I agree with AEB-L as a good choice. I've always considered it to be a stainless 1095 (as in like properties, not alloy composition).
 
Gary W. Graley Gary W. Graley I followed your example and filed down the kick on the sheepfoot blade. It's still pinchable and much more comfortable to hold in use. Plus, it seems to have somehow tightened up the spring on the sheepfoot blade so it's not quite as sloppy as it was originally.

20230403_100327.jpg

So far I'm really liking this little bugger and am enjoying the cutouts instead of nail nicks.
 
Will Power said:
The 18 is one of my favourite CASE Stockman, I agree it's good to see CASE branching out to a new steel but I rather wonder if it might be better suited to a large single blade pattern? Large Sodbuster or Tribal Spear could manage the 'Scagel' look with these blade holes. Plus a bigger knife might be used for more demanding cutting hence the upgrade in steel, of course CASE may start extending this steel to these patterns.

I would not be happy with that lame Sheepfoot on oldmanwilly oldmanwilly version, the 18s I have all have loud convincing snap so that's disappointing, so too the look of the rather uneven backsprings. Ah well, it is a Pilot Test Run after all. But credit to him persevering and testing it out :thumbsup: The hardness of this steel is important, smaller blades in harder steel can be more demanding/tricky to sharpen.
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Tribal Lock or large Copperlock would be great choices for this.
 
I asked Case for their Rc target, and this is their reply:

Hello John,

Thank you for your recent e-mail inquiry. CPM 20CV is heat treated to 61.0-63.0 RC. After tempering the final hardness is 60.0 - 61.0 RC.
We trust this information is helpful. Thank you for your interest in Case knives. Have a wonderful day!

Kind regards,
Alicia | Zippo Manufacturing Company and WR Case & Sons Cutlery Company | Consumer Relations, Zippo, Ronson and Case brands | 33 Barbour Street, Bradford, Pennsylvania 16701| p: 888-442-1932 | e: cr@zippo.com or cr@caseknives.com
 
That’s going in a good direction, while I have mine up for sale, it’s only because I have a mini trapper in S35v coming in and hopefully it will have a similar hardness too. The mini trapper is just a little smaller and narrower with just two blades
G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
That’s going in a good direction, while I have mine up for sale, it’s only because I have a mini trapper in S35v coming in and hopefully it will have a similar hardness too. The mini trapper is just a little smaller and narrower with just two blades
G2
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Let us know how the centering is if you don’t mind!
 
Came in today, the wharncliff side is nicely centered while the clip blade leans inward towards the divider but I don't see any rubbing happening, walk and talk of both blades are nice, BOTH needed to be sharpened up and they took a keen edge. All around a nice pocket knife, thicker than I expected but that due to the center dividing wall but it does make it easier to hold in use.

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/2orTsBL

G2
 
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Gary W. Graley said:
Came in today, the wharncliff side is nicely centered while the clip blade leans inward towards the divider but I don't see any rubbing happening, walk and talk of both blades are nice, BOTH needed to be sharpened up and they took a keen edge. All around a nice pocket knife, thicker than I expected but that due to the center dividing wall but it does make it easier to hold in use.

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2
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Do you mind showing the wharncliffe? Thanks!
 
Gary W. Graley said:
Came in today, the wharncliff side is nicely centered while the clip blade leans inward towards the divider but I don't see any rubbing happening, walk and talk of both blades are nice, BOTH needed to be sharpened up and they took a keen edge. All around a nice pocket knife, thicker than I expected but that due to the center dividing wall but it does make it easier to hold in use.

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2
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I ordered one from a well known vendor that will inspect your order prior to shipping. They had none that were well centered and many that had blade rub so I canceled my order. Bummed because I really like the knife and it would be my first Case with half stops.
 
SoansoMcMasters said:
I ordered one from a well known vendor that will inspect your order prior to shipping. They had none that were well centered and many that had blade rub so I canceled my order. Bummed because I really like the knife and it would be my first Case with half stops.
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Unfortunately, my experience as well. Handled a couple at a local shop and picked the one with the most centered blades, but both were off center. Still really cool knives. I really like the wharnecliffe blade on the small trapper frame. The Buffalo scales are very nice, and I like S35vn a lot.
 
It’s only here in answer to an earlier question
Similar family traits
G2
 
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Mine is a good example. Good fit and finish, snap is just right on all blades, only nitpick is that there are some slight liner gaps. Overall they did a really good job on this.

Here's hoping they do a 6347 with 20CV blades. Or even S90V.
 
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