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Cru-ware vs Rex-45 experiences.
- Thread starter Megawatt308
- Start date
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- Oct 2, 1998
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- 45,042
Very different steels with very different purposes
both are great... the one that will be greater will depend on what you use your knife for
Very different purposes? That seems a bit of a stretch in a pocket knife of the same pattern.
I agree that the steels have some different properties and characteristics, but in the end, it's a pocketknife. One may have the edge last a little longer, one may oxidize less, one may be a bit tougher...imho, of course.
I'm willing to be convinced otherwise, however...
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2013
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the way I see it, cutlery steels have 3 main characteristics: hardness, toughness and stain resistance.
No steel can outperform at the 3 of them, So at the end it will be a question of balance.
Cruwear is great because it offers very good toughness/hardness ratio while keep some stain resistance
Rex 45 is very good because it maximise hardness but perform less in toughness and stain resistance
On small knife I prefer hardness over toughness and if their is no food prep in don’t care much of stain resistance...
My para 3 Maxamet fits that requirement very week, as do the Rex 45.
mid for any reason you need to have more toughness in your use and some more stain resistance, Cruwear or even s35vn seems to be better options...
IMO all the hype around steels is overrated, most of us will not really push a knife to the limit of its steel.
I have very much abuse a PM2 during construction works and s30v was fine.
Now I test a GB2 with M4 for more than 1 year and while it keep an edge a little bit more than the s30v of my PM2, both do the job.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 1998
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- 45,042
You see? We agree much more than we differ. I agree that no one steel encompasses all the desired traits, and I very much enjoy all the steels you mention.
CPM Cru-Wear is very balanced, which makes it a good all around steel.
In stainless steels, my good friend and knife maker Jerry Halfrich favors CPM-154 for its balance. I rarely, if ever, find a reason to disagree with Jerry.
CPM Cru-Wear is very balanced, which makes it a good all around steel.
In stainless steels, my good friend and knife maker Jerry Halfrich favors CPM-154 for its balance. I rarely, if ever, find a reason to disagree with Jerry.
JJ_Colt45
Platinum Member
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- Sep 11, 2014
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I really like Cruwear I've had for some time and recently picked up a Native 5 and a Manix 2 in Rex 45. First impressions Rex 45 holds a fine edge s bit longer ... both sharpen up fairly easily and take very nice edges and aren't real difficult to sharpen.
Cruwear is a bit tougher but I assume that may be because of the higher hardness of the Rex 45 ... I haven't pushed the Rex 45 in the toughness area too far yet but it's not brittle. I am very happy with both of these steels for my uses.
My Rex 45 has taken a small bit of patina were my Cruwear has not shown much patina at all.
Cruwear is a bit tougher but I assume that may be because of the higher hardness of the Rex 45 ... I haven't pushed the Rex 45 in the toughness area too far yet but it's not brittle. I am very happy with both of these steels for my uses.
My Rex 45 has taken a small bit of patina were my Cruwear has not shown much patina at all.
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I agree that different kinds of steels have very different kinds of usages, even when the knife platform between them is identical.
While both will take a sharp edge, and both will cut, they'll hold the edge differently, or favor one type of edge over another, or have varying degrees of corrosion resistance.
Obviously both will cut what's in front of you, but when a choice between them can be made, its easier how a person would favor one versus the other for different types of usage.
For a volume of cutting work in between sharpenings, REX-45 would be the better choice because it'll have more wear resistance due to very high hardness.
Where brute strength is necessary, Cruwear would obviously be better.
Cruwear takes an edge that's truly next level but so does REX-45 in it's own way. For a knife sharpener, Cruwear takes such a good edge, it's almost cheating.
While both will take a sharp edge, and both will cut, they'll hold the edge differently, or favor one type of edge over another, or have varying degrees of corrosion resistance.
Obviously both will cut what's in front of you, but when a choice between them can be made, its easier how a person would favor one versus the other for different types of usage.
For a volume of cutting work in between sharpenings, REX-45 would be the better choice because it'll have more wear resistance due to very high hardness.
Where brute strength is necessary, Cruwear would obviously be better.
Cruwear takes an edge that's truly next level but so does REX-45 in it's own way. For a knife sharpener, Cruwear takes such a good edge, it's almost cheating.
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Your inability to hold a conversation on such things without making it personal or making back handed remarks frankly makes it not possible to have a constructive conversation with you.
Just because things dont make sense to you does not mean that things dont make sense.
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It's not that they don't make sense...it's that you are a dilettante posing as an expert. And most of what you provide via the expertise you claim is regurgitated from other sources posting the information previously.
You seem to be the one person that I just can't seem to forgive this in. Perhaps some day. I admit I probably shouldn't care.
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No where have I positioned myself as an expert of anything knife related. You simply refuse to accept my opinion and perspective on everything, in any thread where we interact.
I have lost all respect for you.
I request, and furthermore suggest, that we stop conversing with each other entirely going forward.
Just agree to disagree and move along.
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- 45,042
You've cut me to the quick. That said, I'm fine with us not having any further conversation(s).
However, I reserve the right to call out b.s. where I see it. (I do this as a fellow member of the forum...not as a moderator, since you are welcome to post your comments within the rules and terms of service of the site.)
Finis.
However, I reserve the right to call out b.s. where I see it. (I do this as a fellow member of the forum...not as a moderator, since you are welcome to post your comments within the rules and terms of service of the site.)
Finis.
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All over a a steel ffs grow up boys
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The issue was over with hours ago... leave it alone.
Well they're both steel, both hard, both will rust, both have the same stiffness, both can be sharpened. In terms of specifications there is a lot of difference. In terms of use we know from the various cutting tests that people have done, the Rex may cut twice as much as the cru before dulling. Material properties would say that cruware should be harder to break but will that help in real use? I am pretty cautious with my folders because I know that I can reach a point where the blade can break without warning. I don't know where that point is so I stay pretty far from it. So for all I know either one has the strength that I need. I would like to have Rex45 for use in my workshop but haven't found one I can afford yet. I currently use M4 which I think is very close. Or I might just use Cruware instead.
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I am on the same boat.
I usually favor hardness over toughness too
I think for most of us a longer edge retention makes more sense
Unless you want to abuse your knife you will not really need more toughness or a steel easier to sharpen
For standard EDC I think a harder steel is a better choice.
but to each is own...
I am not really on the Cruwear wagon, maybe a nice option for the shaman, but for smaller blades like the para 3 for exemple, I am not sure...
I mostly agree and for most of my use it is hard to want anything more than S110V provides. My EDC rotation is mostly M4 and a few S110V. I have one old Manix 2 in M4 that I use as a work knife in my workshop and I would like to supplement it with the Rex45 version. It is hard for me to determine if I would be better off with M4/Rex45 or Cruwear though because I will use it to for carving and cutting things that I normally wouldn't, and it might get sideways loads on it that I would not put on any of my PM2. I'm going to get one in Rex45 if I can, otherwise I'll keep using M4. And I also agree that the qualities of the esoteric steels are somewhat lost on the tiny knives like the Para3 and smaller.
Above the mention of the 3 criteria and how you really can’t have all 3, that’s true.
For the best overall balance, I feel like CPM154, XHP and S35VN do pretty well.
The 8% chromium tool steels (3V and Cruwear) are probably second best, they aren’t stainless but are fairly stain resistant. D2 probably rates up there as well.
For the best overall balance, I feel like CPM154, XHP and S35VN do pretty well.
The 8% chromium tool steels (3V and Cruwear) are probably second best, they aren’t stainless but are fairly stain resistant. D2 probably rates up there as well.
what did you end up finding in regards to fine edge holding and edge stability between cruwear and Rex 45?
thanks for sharing If you decide to
- Joined
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what did you end up finding in regards to fine edge holding and edge stability between cruwear and Rex 45?
thanks for sharing If you decide to
Unfortunately I've not been able to do much of anything with the various new knives that I have, and definitely no testing.
Something in my life is commanding all of my attention right now.