cpm3v VS cobalt special steel (lam. cos)

cpm3v VS cobalt special steel (lam. cos)

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3v and don't look back. Go 3v from a more reputable company than bark river though so you can trust it's actually 3v.
 
I used a Fallkniven in Cobalt Special and I doubt I could have distinguished it from VG-10. I wasn't impressed.
 
I’ve been eyeing the Bradford 4.5 in 3v, looks like a great belt knife.
 
Check Noss destruction videos on the Fallkniven A1 (
) and notice the crazy amount of abuse this knife took before break. Noss website is long gone (unfortunately), but he rated Fallkniven A1 with 5 stars (5 swords). Only three Knives scored better: Scrapyard scrapper(????) 6 stars, Busse FFFBM 7 stars and Keffeler monster (in cpm3v, but 1/2”+ thick and designed to survive those tests) 7 stars. Seems to me that Fallkniven A1 pro series will be even tougher, so it’s a safe bet, as is any cpm3v knife made by someone knowledgeable and with a good heat treatment.
 
I own and use many Fällkniven and Bark River made knives.
Both the CoS and 3V steel are improvements over more conventional steels like VG10 or A2.
For CPM 3V a hardness around HRC 60 gives a good mix of toughness and resistance to wear.
The CoS from FK is also around HRC 60 and it's the same thing here, a good mix of toughness and wear-resitance.
It's of more importance what edgegeometry You give the knife when sharpening, than what steel You choose.
If the heat-treatment regime and geometry are spot on for the steeltype, You will get the necessary performance also from basic steels like 1095.

When I choose a knife, I look more to functional design aspects, rather than what steel it's made of.
If an overall design has some minor details that I don't like, I'm not afraid to modify the knife to work as I want it to do.
One detail that has become more important as I grow older is full exposed tangs.
I live in a cold and often wet northerly climatezone and exposed tangs chill my hand in an uncomfortable way.
So I prefer hidden tang models.

Here are my choices for this year of summervacation:
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Left is a Fällkniven F2 fishing knife in VG10 with custom handle in stag and nickelsilver.
The big knife is a Bark River 7" in A2 and 1/4" thick and it chops way over the size.
The folder is a GEC #78 in 1095.
All 3 have a convex edge.

Here are a Fällkniven F1 pro in CoS and a Bark River Scandi in 3V:
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IMGP6026.JPG
The F1 Pro is a more complete set, but the BRK Scandi has more "feel" to it.

Regards
Mikael
 
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Is the Fallkniven Laminate cos, Not good enough? I meen it’s a nice Tag Heuer Watch... Not a Walmart Casio. Do you really need a Rolex or Omega????
 
Ohk- Hands down it’s better. Is it so much better to say Lam Cos is not sufficient. That’s what I’m asking. Vg10 was considered to be a very good laminate steel knife blade. Cobalt is better than that, By a good deal.
What I’m wondering is...... For the price to pay, Do you really get a return that’s obviously “Hands down Much better” ? I spent a good amount on vg10 and lam cos knives. I don’t mind spending more for 3v, if it’s a “Great amount better”. No sarcasm here, Just asking opinions for a question from the forum about finer sharper details. Thank you.
 
3V is still going to be a lot tougher, while having better edge retention.

Laminated cobalt has the edge when it comes corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening.

3V is still almost stainless from my experience.
 
Appreciate the information- corrosion resistance is important, field sharpening as well... where I am Located.
As I previously stated with a analogy of a Watch. I don’t need a Rolex, not wanting a Casio.... so I got a good quality Tag Heuer. It’s not difficult to say, there are other better edge retaining qualities of different knives. Yet at some “point and time” it is a diminutive return on investment. Like many things, It cost more for better products yet at the top end as you pay more and more- the difference is less and less.
 
I've never felt the need for pricey laminated cobalt knives; seems to me more a marketing tool. There are so many other excellent powdered steels and tool steels that perform the same or better without the added complexity and higher price. Falkniven makes excellent knives but my F1 in VG-10, non-laminated, performs just fine.
 
I was sceptical of the laminated cobalt - my vg 10 was always good in my opinion and never let me down enough to doubt it. Yet when your looking to purchase another, the next best thing is obviously always a option... and that was the route I took. Now again, I am contemplating the very same thing w/ 3v. I am just contemplating if it’s worth it? I’m sure you smell what I’m stepping in.
 
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