Cheapskate Heroes

[DangerZone98]

Absolutely! I've had a Range Boss for only 3 days and I'm already sold on it, despite mine being in 4116 steel. Not enough time yet to say how well the edge will hold up, but I'm putting a little blind faith in Cold Steel's ability to sell well-tempered blades. It's one of the few knives I can comfortably carry on my back pocket all day.

I will say this, at less than $13.00 each, these are excellent knives. If CS ever started to offer them in decent steel I think they'd be a serious competitor with the Spyderco Endura. My cheap self wouldn't hesitate to order a couple in 14C28N at whatever cost*, given the chance.






*well, obviously not "whatever" cost. But some reasonable price increase, say $3.50, would be acceptable.

A Cold Steel cheapie I really like is the Mini Leatherneck. Looking at the specs, that knife has no right being that enjoyable. “Only” 8Cr steel, no kydex sheath, stubby handle.

In practice, it’s really fun to carry though. Takes a mean edge even if it doesn’t hold it for long compared to your Maxamets and M390s. The handle is surprisingly comfy even for my med to large hands. Really love that knife.

 

[oldmanwilly]

A Cold Steel cheapie I really like is the Mini Leatherneck. Looking at the specs, that knife has no right being that enjoyable. “Only” 8Cr steel, no kydex sheath, stubby handle.

In practice, it’s really fun to carry though. Takes a mean edge even if it doesn’t hold it for long compared to your Maxamets and M390s. The handle is surprisingly comfy even for my med to large hands. Really love that knife.

Very nice! I've always thought those looked a little awkwardly sized, but I'm glad they're actually good in the hand.

I think 8cr... might actually be an improvement on 4116 as it's roughly equivalent to 440C. I'm taking solace in the fact that 4116 is the default stainless steel used by European manufacturers, including the "INOX" used by Victorinox.

I'm glad mine came in 4116 as I believe the newer Range Bosses come in 4034.

 

[oldmanwilly]

Please note, the thread title has finally been corrected, thanks to the pedantry of one of our very own cheapskates: [you know who you are]

Happy Easter, all! He is Risen!

 

[Deino]

Very nice! I've always thought those looked a little awkwardly sized, but I'm glad they're actually good in the hand.

I think 8cr... might actually be an improvement on 4116 as it's roughly equivalent to 440C. I'm taking solace in the fact that 4116 is the default stainless steel used by European manufacturers, including the "INOX" used by Victorinox.

I'm glad mine came in 4116 as I believe the newer Range Bosses come in 4034.

8Cr18/AUS8 are more along the line of 440A/B than 440C. From my personal observation on European knife brands, usually, inox = 1.4110 (Victorinox), Mova or Molybdenum-Vanadium = 1.4116, and 420H or 420C = 1.4034 (din for 425M/420HC). They are all in the same grade though.

 

[Deino]

Do you mean the Ruike Jaeger? It's been a famous bargain for years now, back to when it was only $60-something before COVID. It is real 14C28N but they don't run it as hard as some people would like. People say the same for that Kizer but they at least keep it above 60. The Jaeger is only supposed to be 58-60 but emphasis on the 58 with some dipping slightly below. Still, great knife and that does enhance the toughness of an already extremely tough stainless steel. It works for the kind of knife it is. The Jaeger also has good ergonomics with attention to detail, like rounding the exposed tang.

My only real complaint about the Jaeger is that the adjustable retention doodad on the sheath eventually wears out. The sheath isn't actually Kydex and has a screw-down piece that slowly wears away when tightened down over time. I've honestly thought about getting custom Kydex for mine.

I wouldn't worry too much about the hardness. The Mora Garberg, being considered a little overpriced, is only at 58HRC, though the blade apparently has differential heat treatment as the stated HRC is nominal, no one can really dispute its build quality and cutting performance compare to the advertised higher hardness from other brands.

 

[Deino]

Btw, to make up for the rambling while staying on the subject of inexpensive - 8Cr/AUS8 - fixed blade, I got this Steel Will Argonaut 800 recently.

I was looking for a CS SRK alike, but in stainless, CS SRK has a stainless version discontinued a long time ago.
This Steel Will is also discounted since 2019-2020 and the company is out of business around 2023. This piece suddenly show up last autumn from a web store, probably a random leftover on the shelves. They was asking for the last know msrp of 100usd (~140Cad). It got on sale last month for 80Cad (~55usd), so I dipped it.

New in box, inspected in 2015, the year the model was initially released.
Slightly thinner and longer than an SRK, but for all intents and purposes, it is a stainless SRK.

 

[Chronovore]

8Cr18/AUS8 are more along the line of 440A/B than 440C. From my personal observation on European knife brands, usually, inox = 1.4110 (Victorinox), Mova or Molybdenum-Vanadium = 1.4116, and 420H or 420C = 1.4034 (din for 425M/420HC). They are all in the same grade though.

Yeah, AUS-8 and the analogous 8Cr13Mov are their own thing but there have been issues of 8Cr13Mov and 440C being substituted on Chinese knives. There was even a case where someone got the wrong one when ordering testing samples! Actual AUS-8 or 8Cr13Mov is tougher but with a bit less corrosion resistance. 440C is definitely capable of better edge retention but as with a lot of this stuff, heat treatment matters.

7Cr17Mov is an analog of 440A. Both used to be popular in more aquatic or "survival" type knives. These have largely receded in popular use. I see more 7Cr17Mov and that's probably just because the cheap knives are being made in China. =P

In this range, 9Cr18Mov is closer to 440C in edge performance. Yes, the carbon level is closer to 440B. 9Cr18Mov also has more chromium than either 440B or 440C. It's actually an analog of X90CrMoV18 or 1.4112, which is closer to the Japanese Actuo 440. With a decent heat treatment, like in the Civivi and Sencut knives, 9Cr18Mov is actually a pretty good EDC steel.

 

[oldmanwilly]

8Cr18/AUS8 are more along the line of 440A/B than 440C. From my personal observation on European knife brands, usually, inox = 1.4110 (Victorinox), Mova or Molybdenum-Vanadium = 1.4116, and 420H or 420C = 1.4034 (din for 425M/420HC). They are all in the same grade though.

Yeah, AUS-8 and the analogous 8Cr13Mov are their own thing but there have been issues of 8Cr13Mov and 440C being substituted on Chinese knives. There was even a case where someone got the wrong one when ordering testing samples! Actual AUS-8 or 8Cr13Mov is tougher but with a bit less corrosion resistance. 440C is definitely capable of better edge retention but as with a lot of this stuff, heat treatment matters.

7Cr17Mov is an analog of 440A. Both used to be popular in more aquatic or "survival" type knives. These have largely receded in popular use. I see more 7Cr17Mov and that's probably just because the cheap knives are being made in China. =P

In this range, 9Cr18Mov is closer to 440C in edge performance. Yes, the carbon level is closer to 440B. 9Cr18Mov also has more chromium than either 440B or 440C. It's actually an analog of X90CrMoV18 or 1.4112, which is closer to the Japanese Actuo 440. With a decent heat treatment, like in the Civivi and Sencut knives, 9Cr18Mov is actually a pretty good EDC steel.

See, that's the beauty of posting online without checking your sources: someone smarter than you will come along to correct you. I knew I was close in my estimation, but obviously not perfect. Thanks for the input!

 

[Zephyr One/Zero]

 

[Deino]

Yeah, AUS-8 and the analogous 8Cr13Mov are their own thing but there have been issues of 8Cr13Mov and 440C being substituted on Chinese knives. There was even a case where someone got the wrong one when ordering testing samples! Actual AUS-8 or 8Cr13Mov is tougher but with a bit less corrosion resistance. 440C is definitely capable of better edge retention but as with a lot of this stuff, heat treatment matters.

7Cr17Mov is an analog of 440A. Both used to be popular in more aquatic or "survival" type knives. These have largely receded in popular use. I see more 7Cr17Mov and that's probably just because the cheap knives are being made in China. =P

In this range, 9Cr18Mov is closer to 440C in edge performance. Yes, the carbon level is closer to 440B. 9Cr18Mov also has more chromium than either 440B or 440C. It's actually an analog of X90CrMoV18 or 1.4112, which is closer to the Japanese Actuo 440. With a decent heat treatment, like in the Civivi and Sencut knives, 9Cr18Mov is actually a pretty good EDC steel.

I watched that Larrin's video. His situation was funny.

My only experience with 9cr18Mov is with a Civivi, but it is in Damascus form, the Civivi Altus. I recall we had some argument about Civivi Damascus, being 9cr+10cr and what not, either ways it would be in the same class as 440C. It works fine, but I'm neither impressed nor disappointed. I don't think I will get another We/Civivi knife.

I have a Russian 95h18 blade, low carbon 440C, but its min carbon is stilll higher than max 440B, one of my best blade. Granted, it is a custom blade at 60-61 hrc.

7Cr17 has always been widely used, the default Chinese 440 steel. It is fine for what it is. Though, i saw some Chinese axe made of this steel, which is not a good idea for me.

 

[Chronovore]

I watched that Larrin's video. His situation was funny.

My only experience with 9cr18Mov is with a Civivi, but it is in Damascus form, the Civivi Altus. I recall we had some argument about Civivi Damascus, being 9cr+10cr and what not, either ways it would be in the same class as 440C. It works fine, but I'm neither impressed nor disappointed. I don't think I will get another We/Civivi knife.

I have a Russian 95h18 blade, low carbon 440C, but its min carbon is stilll higher than max 440B, one of my best blade. Granted, it is a custom blade at 60-61 hrc.

7Cr17 has always been widely used, the default Chinese 440 steel. It is fine for what it is. Though, i saw some Chinese axe made of this steel, which is not a good idea for me.

I don't remember the details of the conversation but the regular Civivi Damascus is made with 9Cr18Mov and 10Cr15CoMoV. The former is significantly more stainless so the etching works. Some of the other Chinese companies doing budget Damascus pair 9Cr18Mov with 8Cr13Mov as the less resistant steel.

I've generally viewed that stuff as made to be pretty but cool that it can be used. I've never put hard use on mine but anecdotally from people who have, edge performance of these composties are somewhere in the general vicinity of their constituents. There may be some interesting microscopic effects at the edge or changes in how heat treatment affects the layers but that might be more academic than practical.

On their own, 9Cr18Mov and 10Cr15CoMov really are decent EDC steels and especially with the kinds of heat treatments they are getting from manufacturers like WE and TwoSun. (If it wasn't mentioned yet, 10Cr15CoMov is the Chinese analog of VG-10.) Coincidentally, TwoSun has been running 9Cr13Mov in some of their SixLeaf and OEM stuff lately. I have zero experience with 9Cr13Mov and don't really see it discussed.