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CTS-BD1 Steel
- Thread starter L2bravo
- Start date
powernoodle
Power Member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2004
- Messages
- 11,979
Per Mr. Sal:
"Carpenter Steel created CTS-BD1 at Spyderco's request. We wanted an ingot steel that had good performance in edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance, but was less to purchase and process than the powdered steels we've been using. Something we would use in our "basic" models to lower mfg cost (and retail price) and use in our kitchen knives. The closest chemistry to what we wanted was a steel produced by Hitachi called Gingami 1 (GIN-1, G2). We had much experience with the steel and have been importing it from Japan. I asked for something equivalent or better. They tweaked the forumla and game up with BD1, which was an even better performer than Gingami and was USA made. Carpenters metallurgists are first rate.
sal"
See also here.
"Carpenter Steel created CTS-BD1 at Spyderco's request. We wanted an ingot steel that had good performance in edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance, but was less to purchase and process than the powdered steels we've been using. Something we would use in our "basic" models to lower mfg cost (and retail price) and use in our kitchen knives. The closest chemistry to what we wanted was a steel produced by Hitachi called Gingami 1 (GIN-1, G2). We had much experience with the steel and have been importing it from Japan. I asked for something equivalent or better. They tweaked the forumla and game up with BD1, which was an even better performer than Gingami and was USA made. Carpenters metallurgists are first rate.
sal"
See also here.
- Joined
- May 28, 1999
- Messages
- 2,606
I have lots of experience with a G2 steel endura, it's tough for a stainless steel, good but not fantastic by any stretch edge holding about like aus-8, edges tend to roll instead of chip, easy to sharpen, takes a clean edge without having to chase a burr too much. Corrosion resistance wise I'd say it's just a bit better than Aus-8, though that might just be because I used to be addicted to polishing my knives with flitz at every opportunity back then. IIRC one of the reasons spyderco liked it was that it was very consistent when heat treated in large batches and had excellent machining properties. When G2/Gin-1 knives were new on the market it was one of the best performing stainless steels on a production factory knife. If I had to describe it in two words they would be predictable and reliable.