Custom Hunter with ZDP-189

[Larrin]

Maybe Hitachi will start making it more generally available and more people will use it?

We can only hope. After all, ATS-34 is pretty widely available.

While we're at it, will VG-10 ever be widely available in the U.S.? While maybe not any better than CPM154, variety and choice is always good.

 

[Native Justice]

Hi Everyone,

Can I get a referral to a custom knife maker that can make something similar to a Bob Lay Hunter knife (fixed blade at 8-9" OAL) but using ZDP-189 steel (if that's possible.)


Thanks
-Nick

Nick,

You can get something very similar in a production model from Fallkniven in their TK series of blades. I picked up their TK1 a couple of days ago and I'm amazed with the quality of the blade. It's a full tang 4" 3G/VG2 laminate SGPS (Super Gold Powder Steel) steel in a convex grind. It's like having a fixed blade Spyderco Calypso Jr ZDP189 in a fixed blade knife. Just a thought to consider ...

Good luck!

 

[commodorewheeler]

Nick,

You can get something very similar in a production model from Fallkniven in their TK series of blades. I picked up their TK1 a couple of days ago and I'm amazed with the quality of the blade. It's a full tang 4" 3G/VG2 laminate SGPS (Super Gold Powder Steel) steel in a convex grind. It's like having a fixed blade Spyderco Calypso Jr ZDP189 in a fixed blade knife. Just a thought to consider ...

Good luck!

I'm not extremely familiar with 3G steel, but according to Fallkniven's website, the blade of the TK1 is hardened up to RC 62. To my knowledge, no stainless steel hardened up to RC 62 is going to have comparable wear resistance to ZDP-189 at RC 65-67.

That being said, however, Native Justice is definitely onto something with his suggestion of Fallkniven as an alternative to a custom fixed blade. Fallkniven does make one knife, the NL5cx, with a blade containing a core of Cowry X laminated in damascus. Cowry X is highly similar to ZDP-189 (they both contain 3% carbon and 20% chromium and can be hardened up to very high levels while still maintaining functional toughness), and the blade is hardened up to RC 64, so the NL5cx should be very comparable in wear resistance and performance to a custom ZDP-189 fixed blade with a proper heat treat. With an 8 1/4" OAL, the NL5cx is also in length range that Nick is looking for.

I put a picture of the NL5cx below.

 

[nickcarr]

Nick,

You can get something very similar in a production model from Fallkniven in their TK series of blades. I picked up their TK1 a couple of days ago and I'm amazed with the quality of the blade. It's a full tang 4" 3G/VG2 laminate SGPS (Super Gold Powder Steel) steel in a convex grind. It's like having a fixed blade Spyderco Calypso Jr ZDP189 in a fixed blade knife. Just a thought to consider ...

Good luck!

Thanks guys. I'll check out Tom Krein and Fallkniven. I'll definitely look these two up and let you know what happens.

I don't know the so-called "specifics" of ZDP-189 (because it seems like whomever you ask, you get a different story each time) but I'm definitely sold on this steel.

I picked up a ZDP Delica a couple of weeks ago from a forum member, and it's definitely the finest "daily-carry" folder I've ever used. I haven't seen any rust or pitting. I can cut an aluminum pop can up into 10 pieces and then cut a small catalog as if the blade had never been used. It's very hard and durable steel.

Now, I want a fix blade ZDP!

 

[Larrin]

I'm not extremely familiar with 3G steel, but according to Fallkniven's website, the blade of the TK1 is hardened up to RC 62. To my knowledge, no stainless steel hardened up to RC 62 is going to have comparable wear resistance to ZDP-189 at RC 65-67.

S90V does, the only advantage that ZDP-189 has is the higher hardness for strength. For me, it seems like you don't need any more strength than you get out of 62 Rc, but I've been told I'm wrong before.