Elmax,m390 abuse

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Gradyw

Joined
Jan 23, 2017
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how much punishment can these steels take without chipping. I'm interested in a 4 inch fixed blade with one of these steels but have always been worried about chipping. I know they're suppose to be tough for stainless steels but I'm interested in hearing some of your experiences with them good or bad.
 
6. 6 punishments. Maybe 7.

I like my 4" m390 and Elmax blades (lionsteel, brkt) but I don't do anything that could be characterized as abuse. No throwing. Not much prying, just some twists in wood to split it.

I have found that the thickness of the edge has been more of a predictor to how well they hold up. One Brkt is very thin and can't do much twisting, one is thicker and can do much more.
 
As Dangerously said, geometry will play a role. So will hardness and other aspects of the heat treat, such as grain size, which you not going to know.

Elmax will take more punishment than M390, all else equal. Elmax is generally considered the toughest (resistant to chips and breaking) of the powder stainless steels.
 
Dangerously said:
6. 6 punishments. Maybe 7.

I like my 4" m390 and Elmax blades (lionsteel, brkt) but I don't do anything that could be characterized as abuse. No throwing. Not much prying, just some twists in wood to split it.

I have found that the thickness of the edge has been more of a predictor to how well they hold up. One Brkt is very thin and can't do much twisting, one is thicker and can do much more.
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I've been looking at a lionsteel m4 or a gunny in elmax.. I had one but got rid of it before I used it unfortunately
 
I find these steels as durable as I need for run of the mill bushcraft tasks like fire starting, carving notches, and tent pegs. I haven't noticed any significant difference between ELMAX and M390. As already mentioned, geometry usually plays a more significant role. The blades I used are SYCKO 311 (elmax) and SK 4.1 (m390). They have very different geometries and I didn't encounter any damage that couldn't be repaired in one sharpening session. For me, this would be too close to call. I would just get the knife I liked best first, then get the other knife (in the other steel) later.
 
unklfranco said:
I find these steels as durable as I need for run of the mill bushcraft tasks like fire starting, carving notches, and tent pegs. I haven't noticed any significant difference between ELMAX and M390. As already mentioned, geometry usually plays a more significant role. The blades I used are SYCKO 311 (elmax) and SK 4.1 (m390). They have very different geometries and I didn't encounter any damage that couldn't be repaired in one sharpening session. For me, this would be too close to call. I would just get the knife I liked best first, then get the other knife (in the other steel) later.
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Yea I know the two steels are very similar and I was kind enough set on getting one until I read an old thread where a bf member name cobalt (dk if he is still active) said they really weren't that tough as ppl made them out to be. Im trying to talk myself out of as many knives as possible but I feel like I just have to try them all
 
i should probably clear this up. Im not trying to decide between the two steels I'm just trying to decide if these steels are worth it to me.. i mentioned both because they are similar. Sorry if I confused anyone
 
Gradyw said:
i should probably clear this up. Im not trying to decide between the two steels I'm just trying to decide if these steels are worth it to me.. i mentioned both because they are similar. Sorry if I confused anyone
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This is beginning to sound like your thread before you bought that gunny. Nothing will tell you if any given knife, of any given steel, of any given geometry will work for whatever use you plan to put it to. Except buying it, and trying it!

These steels are excellent beyond anything mankind has made for knives for hundreds of thousands of years. I'm sure they'll do great. Find the knife you like the most and try it!
 
Id put angle of sharpening into consideration as well. Elmax should be tougher.
 
Dangerously said:
This is beginning to sound like your thread before you bought that gunny. Nothing will tell you if any given knife, of any given steel, of any given geometry will work for whatever use you plan to put it to. Except buying it, and trying it!

These steels are excellent beyond anything mankind has made for knives for hundreds of thousands of years. I'm sure they'll do great. Find the knife you like the most and try it!
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Haha yea I knew I thought your name was familiar! They seem like the perfect steel if they are as tough as I've heard. The only thing that got me questioning that is the thread I read last night! Everyone trusted the guys opinion so it made me second guess these steels and think that maybe they weren't as tough as I've read.
 
Too many variables involved to even give one guy's opinion any credence.
The guy might be a mental patient!!
You like the knife?? Buy it and try it!
 
palonej said:
Too many variables involved to even give one guy's opinion any credence.
The guy might be a mental patient!!
You like the knife?? Buy it and try it!
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I agree but this guy seemed to be pretty popular on bf at the time of the post. Everyone was surprised by his testings but respected his opinion
 
I watched some Dutch Bushcraft Knives YouTube vids the other day. They put the lionsteel through its paces and liked it. Super steel at a budget price.

And their favourite knife in a recent top5 video? A (scandivex) gunny in 3V.

Binge some of their vids. They're hilarious and they really do beat on the knives.

You should buy both and see which you like better.
 
Yea I watch their vids too I've actually talked to them and they seem to think you have to be careful with the elmax that your better off going with 3v. Brk wise at least.. you definitely can't tell it in their videos cause they beat the shit out their knives. Like you've said before I'll have to buy them and try them myself.. there are so many knives I want right now it's ridiculous. I'm trying to talk myself out of as many as possible
 
I don't put a lot of consideration into steel choices. Just about any modern tool steel will hold up to any reasonable, practical demand.

Chances are if you find a task that damages Elmax it'll also damage M390, M4, 3V, etc. The specific damage may vary slightly, but all will need maintenance afterward.

Find a knife you like and buy it. There's plenty of products on the market to help maintain the edge, or folks like myself to do it for you.
 
Elmax may be one of my favorite stainless steels. It sharpens up pretty easily, holds its edge a good long while, and is tougher than a large majority of the other stainless steels.

M390 is definitely one of my favorite steels out there. Edge retention is top notch, easy as pie to sharpen(easier than S30V to me), and while it's not the toughest out there I'd still expect it to handle a lot of abuse.

In my opinion if you haven't tried either one you should eventually. Both are similar, but also quite unique in their own way. Elmax is better suited for a large(ish) fixed blade you'd expect to put through it's paces, but'll still resist oxidation like the best of em'. I haven't chipped any of my Elmax blades.

M390 is perfect for EDC folders/fixed blades that you'd use for "normal" cutting duties. I haven't truly beat on it, but I haven't caused any chipping either.

That's the way I see them. Definitely similar, but without a doubt, different from one another.
 
palonej said:
Too many variables involved to even give one guy's opinion any credence.
The guy might be a mental patient!!
You like the knife?? Buy it and try it!
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A mental patient patient. !! Haven t heard that one in a while.
Good one :thumbsup:
 
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