Finally, an up-steeled Rukus 610

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Twindog

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2v2JSUmZ3xAWtWs.jpg

Rukus 610 with Vanax blade

The Rukus 610 has long been my EDC. It fits my backwoods life perfectly. It's beefy with good ergos and a blade that snaps open like it's on bearings (it isn't). But I've never especially liked the steel, a First Production Run of S30V that tends to microchip. I've waited years for Benchmade to up-steel the 610, but it was never to be.

So when Josh at REK started his reblading service, I jumped at the chance. I chose the new Vanax SuperClean steel from B/U, heat treated by Peters to 60 Rc with cryo. The edge width at the shoulders runs right around 0.016 inches, which is more acute than the factory edge, at least at this angle. The edge is sharpened to 15 dps.

Vanax is a high-nitrogen, super stainless steel, so you don't have to worry about corrosion or oxidation dulling the apex of the edge while just sitting around. You don't even have to worry about dropping it in the ocean, at least as far as corrosion is concerned. It's tougher than Elmax, which has been the toughest powder stainless to date. On B/U's ductility tests, a measure of toughness, or resistance to chipping and breaking, it scored 30J, compared to Elmax at 23J and 440C at 10J. On these tests, both Vanax and Elmax were run at 59 Rc, while the 440C was a bit softer at 58 Rc.

Vanax holds a fantastic edge. Plus, it's super fine grained, with no inclusions, so it takes and holds a keen edge, and it's easy to sharpen. It's all good.

There is very little carbon in this steel -- 0.36 percent. Rather than carbon, it relies on a big snort of nitrogen -- 1.55 percent. There is a goodly amount of vanadium -- 3.5 percent. And a lot of chromium -- 18.2 percent.

Now this is the steel that does the Rukus proud.
 
Nice! Although I have no complaints about my Mini-Rukus in S30V (my first knife in that steel), #160 from the first production run. No problems with chipping. The bigger Rukus was just too large for my use.
 
Twindog said:
Now this is the steel that does the Rukus proud.
Click to expand...
Yeah !
Sounds like it.
Glad to hear about your Grail success !
I didn't know about REK's reblading business. I need to forget about it right quick . . . this could get overly exciting (expensive).
 
Alberta Ed said:
Nice! Although I have no complaints about my Mini-Rukus in S30V (my first knife in that steel), #160 from the first production run. No problems with chipping. The bigger Rukus was just too large for my use.
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My sense is that the full-sized Rukus is too large for most people, which is why Benchmade stopped making it. The mini-Rukus is still a big knife. But the leverage of the larger blade is really useful in the woods.

I see microchipping when I chop branches that are closing off my trails. S30V is a good steel, but Vanax is touted as being as good or better in every category. Hard to pass that up.
 
Wowbagger said:
Yeah !
Sounds like it.
Glad to hear about your Grail success !
I didn't know about REK's reblading business. I need to forget about it right quick . . . this could get overly exciting (expensive).
Click to expand...

You're right about the cost. Making one blade at a time from expensive steel is hard on the budget. But Josh does amazing work, and I really wanted a Rukus with better steel, especially when this knife has been my long-time EDC.
 
Well Done Josey, keep us updated on what your thoughts are on Vanax. I mad a blade from it but have been wanting to explore other HT protocols before I make my conclusion
 
DeadboxHero said:
Well Done Josey, keep us updated on what your thoughts are on Vanax. I mad a blade from it but have been wanting to explore other HT protocols before I make my conclusion
Click to expand...

I saw your Vanax knife, Shawn, but I think you're right about the heat treat being an unknown variable at this point. This steel is so new that the proper heat treat is still a work in progress. I didn't really know what to ask for in a heat treat, but 60 Rc with cryo seemed to be the sweet spot. I let Josh and Peters fill in the blanks.

Luong is running it harder, but he's a genius. I think CharlieMike tried Vanax at this hardness, but I didn't hear what he found.

Tomorrow, I'm going to use the new blade to chop back the branches of encroaching alder, elder and thimble berry. It comes on hard in the rainforest this time of year. The chopping is hard on small blades, so I'll see how it goes.
 
Twindog said:
2v2JSUmZ3xAWtWs.jpg

Rukus 610 with Vanax blade

The Rukus 610 has long been my EDC. It fits my backwoods life perfectly. It's beefy with good ergos and a blade that snaps open like it's on bearings (it isn't). But I've never especially liked the steel, a First Production Run of S30V that tends to microchip. I've waited years for Benchmade to up-steel the 610, but it was never to be.

So when Josh at REK started his reblading service, I jumped at the chance. I chose the new Vanax SuperClean steel from B/U, heat treated by Peters to 60 Rc with cryo. The edge width at the shoulders runs right around 0.016 inches, which is more acute than the factory edge, at least at this angle. The edge is sharpened to 15 dps.

Vanax is a high-nitrogen, super stainless steel, so you don't have to worry about corrosion or oxidation dulling the apex of the edge while just sitting around. You don't even have to worry about dropping it in the ocean, at least as far as corrosion is concerned. It's tougher than Elmax, which has been the toughest powder stainless to date. On B/U's ductility tests, a measure of toughness, or resistance to chipping and breaking, it scored 30J, compared to Elmax at 23J and 440C at 10J. On these tests, both Vanax and Elmax were run at 59 Rc, while the 440C was a bit softer at 58 Rc.

Vanax holds a fantastic edge. Plus, it's super fine grained, with no inclusions, so it takes and holds a keen edge, and it's easy to sharpen. It's all good.

There is very little carbon in this steel -- 0.36 percent. Rather than carbon, it relies on a big snort of nitrogen -- 1.55 percent. There is a goodly amount of vanadium -- 3.5 percent. And a lot of chromium -- 18.2 percent.

Now this is the steel that does the Rukus proud.
Click to expand...
REALLY cool project, man.
 
Twindog said:
I saw your Vanax knife, Shawn, but I think you're right about the heat treat being an unknown variable at this point. This steel is so new that the proper heat treat is still a work in progress. I didn't really know what to ask for in a heat treat, but 60 Rc with cryo seemed to be the sweet spot. I let Josh and Peters fill in the blanks.

Luong is running it harder, but he's a genius. I think CharlieMike tried Vanax at this hardness, but I didn't hear what he found.

Tomorrow, I'm going to use the new blade to chop back the branches of encroaching alder, elder and thimble berry. It comes on hard in the rainforest this time of year. The chopping is hard on small blades, so I'll see how it goes.
Click to expand...

Yea 60hrc is the sweet spot, although I haven't tried the higher temper that precipitates more carbides out and bumps the hardness to 62hrc at the cost of the super stainless property.
From taking to my friend Chad it wasn't worth it.

But I'm curious about bumping Austenizing temp and a longer cryo and low temper to see what happens.

The cost of the material is outrageous so I haven't been too excited to play with it. Especially since so far it didn't take the kind of edge I like. But it's easy to sharpen and very tough.

I've also grabbed a piece of nitrobe77 to play with. Very curious
 
GundaManiac said:
Wow, that is a beauty. I always thought it was a shame the mini Rukus was discontinued.
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Although non-scientific in any way, basically everyone I've ever talked to that knows the knife has said the same thing. Obviously they must not have been selling or Benchmade would still be making them, but I can't help wondering if Benchmade were to update the steel, add bearings or add new handle colors or something if the knife would not sell again. I've been carrying mine for something around a decade I guess and although I keep trying other knives in the end it's just the best production folder that I've found. The ergonomics are amazing the action is good the lock is solid and since I'm not cutting trails with my mini-rukus I've never had a problem with the steel. :)
 
That reminds me how many handle options did they have? Mine seems to be black and brown G10 the one pictured above looks like it is G10 and carbon fiber. Was there others?
 
Triton,

As far as I know those that were the only handles available directly from Benchmade
 
556hunter said:
Can someone point me to who does the re-blading? I’m not familiar with REK
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556Hunter.....

Razors Edge is highly regarded when it comes to modifications... you may pay less elsewhere but will always be satisfied with REK
 
Triton said:
That reminds me how many handle options did they have? Mine seems to be black and brown G10 the one pictured above looks like it is G10 and carbon fiber. Was there others?
Click to expand...


For the big Rukus, Benchmade put out the standard black and green/brown scales. As upgrades, they also had ivory (the knife above), black (all black), carbon fiber and winewood.

The mini-Rukus had other scale options.
 
After an hour of cutting trail -- mostly small branches less than a quarter of an inch in diameter, but some hard wood up to a half inch -- the Vanaxed Rukus is still sharp enough to slice thin, curly strips off light notebook paper. No edge damage. No catching while slicing the paper.

Darn good steel.

2v2JSQtQ2xAWtWs.jpg
 
I went for a longer cryo and low temper. Iirc, I got almost 62RC. As for performance, dunno. Only made one and it was a custom order.
 
I almost bought a rukus on the trading forum once, now I am kind of wishing I had!
 
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