Recommendation? Dream knife has 8Cr13MoV blade. Alternatives?

8Cr13Mov is fine for an EDC or regular knife, it also hones up easily with a few strokes on ceramic rods and strops. Easy to reprofile as well and the edge will last plenty for regular use. Stop worrying about online charts and Edge retention tests on YouTube etc. I also take part in those edge retention tests myself, but let me tell you 8Cr13Mov, O1, 1095 etc are fine steels for knives. They rank at the bottom of many charts, but unless you are going to need to cut 400 feet of cardboard, or 2000 lengths of mooring rope in a single session you don't need the steels that top those charts.
I own lots of high end steels, and knives with fancy names, and yesterday I had to recycle and break down about 25 large cardboard boxes to put in recycling, and cut a bunch of strapping. I didn't reach for my K390, or my Elmax or S35VN knives, I grabbed my Spyderco Resiliance, not because it has the best steel (it's 8Cr13Mov) but because it has a nice long blade and a full flat grind.
I cut up and broke down all of those huge boxes, removed a ton of strapping, and the blade could still cleanly slice printer paper afterwards (I checked after I cleaned the gunk off)
I ran that blade twice on a cheap lansky ceramic rod turnbox, and it was back to hair shaving sharp with only 2 passes on each edge.
Buy a knife because you like it and it's well made, not because of the steel, 90% of people who "want maxamet and nothing less" don't even need maxamet, they could get by with 440c.
 
FabledAutomatic said:
So I've been looking around and reading up lately on knives/steels and I came across the CRKT LCK+ and the CRKT LCK+ Large. These knives check all the boxes for me. I love the style, looks, size, blade, everything, but I've read a lot of disparaging things about 8Cr13MoV steel so I'm reluctant to pull the trigger on buying one. Unfortunately CRKT doesn't make this model with an upgraded blade like they do the CEO, for example. And with me being in Canada, these are harder to come by and start at $50 plus shipping.

Can anyone here recommend a higher quality alternative that's similarly styled to this model? I'm looking for a spring assisted or flipper EDC, in that "gentleman's" kind of look. Budget is $120 Canadian or less.
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My man, I have excellent and abysmal news for you, and for your budget.

You're looking for the QuietCarry iQ, which is sweet, has a nearly identical reverse tanto blade profile to the LCK, and they only make it in nice steels. Also the action on mine is outstanding. I don't know if they're a member here so I guess I shouldn't link their site, but I think that's exactly what you're looking for if you can save a little longer or stretch the budget for one.

They're also a little hard to track down so it might be a non-issue.
 
FabledAutomatic said:
Budget is $120 Canadian or less.

I'll take a look at those you mentioned. Thank you.

Edit: I really like the looks of the Bestech Spike, and am reading good things about the blade. I think that one has take the number one spot. Thanks!
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I've got the very similar Thorn from them, and while it's far from my most upscale knife it's a really well made and good knife, the grind is especially nice for the price point too
 
Silent H said:
If you're hesitant about 8Cr13MoV, definitely don't get ganzo. They print whatever steel name they want on the blades. You'll never know what steel it actually is, but it's guaranteed to be worse than 8Cr.

Kizer makes good knives, and the Begleiter is a great option from them.
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With that company you are lucky to get 3Cr or 5Cr, you are also not halfway unlikely to get steel more along the lines of what you would see in flatware, 18-8 etc.
 
FabledAutomatic said:
These knives check all the boxes for me. I love the style, looks, size, blade, everything, but I've read a lot of disparaging things about 8Cr13MoV steel
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If this knife truly checks all the boxes for you DO NOT let what someone else on the internet said about 8Cr dissuade you from getting it.
If you are still in the looking and kicking tires phase, continue on.
 
3fifty7 said:
If this knife truly checks all the boxes for you DO NOT let what someone else on the internet said about 8Cr dissuade you from getting it.
If you are still in the looking and kicking tires phase, continue on.
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I appreciate your input. I am still in the looking phase, getting to know about the various steels, makers, etc. I'm very new to this.

I've determined the style I like and at this point I'm looking for something that will be the best value and quality in my budget.
 
FabledAutomatic said:
I appreciate your input. I am still in the looking phase, getting to know about the various steels, makers, etc. I'm very new to this.

I've determined the style I like and at this point I'm looking for something that will be the best value and quality in my budget.
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The steel snobbery game is 99% garbage. Most people are not going to use their knife enough to appreciate the difference. Which is why unscrupulous companies simply lie and mark their knives with whatever steel looks to be popular. Don’t get suckered by this old game. Over the years we have seen any number of steels labeled 440-C, Carbon 5, INFI, etc. Design, geometry and heat treatment have more to do with performance than chemical composition. It is just one of the factors in making a knife and the tool is either well designed to perform or it isn’t.

I doubt that I will ever run across a knife user/maker who is skilled enough to identify a blade’s precise chemical composition by simply using a knife. If there were such a person there wouldn’t be a need for lab analysis in metallurgy. I would suggest ignoring anyone who seems hyper focused on just the blade steel. Most are collectors who have 15 copies of the same make and design In their safe and are excited to have score one in a low production steel type.

The truth is that all knives require sharpening and maintenance, and they can be made to cut in whatever steel, and differences in performance come down to mostly issues of quality. But, steel specifications sure help Knife makers persuade people to buy multiple copies of the same exact knife.

n2s
 
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If it checks all the boxes for you I'd say get it. 8Cr13MoV is a fine budget steel. I worked in construction for 9 years and steel fabrication for 2 or 3, and during that entire time I had only ONE EDC knife - a Kershaw Chill in 8Cr13MoV. I carried it across the continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Canadian pine forests to palm beaches in the Caribbean, and I never had any problems with steel performance.

Obviously my tastes and steel knowledge has expanded greatly since then, and I'll admit I'm more of a steel and edge snob now, but the fact remains that it served me quite well for EDC.
 
Fixall said:
I think there are lots of knives in that style that would fit the bill for you (not that there is anything wrong with 8cr at all for the price).

Here are a few to check out imo:

Real Steel Metamorph
Kizer Vanguard Splinter
Bestech Kendo
Boker Plus Urban Trapper
Boker Plus Kwaiken
Civivi Chronic
Civivi Exarch

I'm sure there are a plethora of others.
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Right now I'm really enjoying the looks of the Boker stuff. Specifically the two you mentioned, plus the kwaiken air, which hasn't been released yet.
 
FabledAutomatic said:
Right now I'm really enjoying the looks of the Boker stuff. Specifically the two you mentioned, plus the kwaiken air, which hasn't been released yet.
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Both Boker’s are very popular models and I’m sure the Kwaiken Air will be too. Any of those would be a fine choice imo.
 
If you are set on something assisted, Like often is the case, the best option is to find a way to stretch you budget bigger, and find yourself a Buck Paradigm in s35v.

Next up would be a Kershaw/Al-Mar AM-3 or 4?

Not a steel upgrade, as it is Still 8cr, but very similar design, but Kershaw speed safe assisted, as well as their overall chinese heat treat quality reputations, are both better then CRKT's, plus it can be found cheaper... so maybe a better option on those notes.

Or, not near the same style other then size, but the Buck Momentum comes in s30v and is about in your price range?
 
S-3 ranch said:
They clone popular knives, then use slightly different/ cheaper materials, people get twisted that they are 100% Chinese made
Where many manufacturers have China make 100% of the components , then have USA owned companies assemble them or label their brand, their D2 has gotten very solid @ 62 hrc
My favorite knives are benchmade and spyderco, very good quality on USA and Japanese made, but both have Chinese made model lines
And use 8Cr13MoV and 440c, D2 made by same Chinese steel company as ganzo/fire byrde
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Benchmade has no Chinese made knives. They stopped the red class line many years ago.
 
S-3 ranch said:
They clone popular knives, then use slightly different/ cheaper materials, people get twisted that they are 100% Chinese made
Where many manufacturers have China make 100% of the components , then have USA owned companies assemble them or label their brand, their D2 has gotten very solid @ 62 hrc
My favorite knives are benchmade and spyderco, very good quality on USA and Japanese made, but both have Chinese made model lines
And use 8Cr13MoV and 440c, D2 made by same Chinese steel company as ganzo/fire byrde
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There’s a lot wrong here.

Our problem with Ganzo is not Point of Origin. Our problem is that they steal designs and IP. Our problem is the materials they build with are almost always less than advertised. I have no problem with 100% Chinese knives. I advocate for Reate, WE, Kizer, CJRB and CIVIVI on a regular basis. All are 100% ORIGINAL knives made as advertised.

Benchmade hasn’t had a knife made in China for some time. Byrds are not made in the same place that they make Ganzo.

Please try to not spread bad information.

Thanks.
 
I would say what others say...just get it. They're great light carry pieces and theres really nothing quite like them, especially given the price. Honesly, I think the most similar on-hand feel might be the Civivi Chronic, or the Micarta-morph.

Here are they next to some of the mentioned, like I said I dont think they're similar at all:
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That being said, if steel is really that big of an issue, pray for an exclusive (not a bad chance it might come!) Or buy a Lerch custom...I see one on sale at Farizona Bustom Knives:
Screenshot_20210411-182102_Chrome.jpg
I mean, you did say money is no concern lol.
EDIT: Oops sorry just reread your OP and saw the budget haha sorry. I'll look for some more alternatives tomorrow, but I would stick with my first recommendations.
Good luck!
 
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