Fixed blade toughness.

gine

gine

Joined
Sep 2, 2007
Messages
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I'm looking for a large fixed blade for camping/outdoor,heavy use.It's more of the steel I have question's about.I am hearing H1 has very good toughness even compared to INFI ,but don't quote me on it.

Pick a steel out of these 5.
H1
N690C0
INFI
3V
1095.

thx gine.
 
infi or 3v. both aren't stainless, but don't rust as much as 1095. i got infi, but yet to try out the 3v. my satin and dcbb infi are pretty easy to maintain (kinda like d2?).

ps- i got 1095, and the uncoated blade needs clean/oiling alot, the coated 1095 is a lot easier to maintain (only edge exposed).
 
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Pick one? INFI. Or Swamp Rats SR101, either one.

INFI is darn near stainless when satin. SR101... not so much. That's the only advantage I have ever noticed.

You left out a lot of other tough steels BTW. 5160 is another good one.

I'm pretty sure Himalayan Imports uses 5160 in their Khukris, those things are tough and hold an edge very well... but will rust within minutes of getting wet.
 
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1095 because most of my big blades are already made of this stuff.
 
No experience with H1 or N690C0, but I like INFI in terms of it providing a good balance of attributes in an all-around large-ish outdoor knife.
 
I like traditional styled blades. So I would probably go for 5160, the 10xx series, O1 or A2. Unless you plan on trying to break your knife you'll do just fine with most basic carbon or tool steels. There are plenty of custom makers here on the forums who could do something for you.

Frank
 
My good ol' Ka-Bar is 1095 steel and I've dragged it around from Ocean to nameless ditches and swamps. Yeah, it gets rusty, but with good maitenance, oiling and such its no big deal, the rust won't stay long, if you keep your blade in good oil. After nearly a decade of hard use, there ain't rust on that blade. Sure 1095 needs more maitenancing and oiling than other steels but its good, tough and gets really sharp, even if you're not best sharpener.
 
thejamppa said:
My good ol' Ka-Bar is 1095 steel and I've dragged it around from Ocean to nameless ditches and swamps. Yeah, it gets rusty, but with good maitenance, oiling and such its no big deal, the rust won't stay long, if you keep your blade in good oil. After nearly a decade of hard use, there ain't rust on that blade. Sure 1095 needs more maitenancing and oiling than other steels but its good, tough and gets really sharp, even if you're not best sharpener.
Click to expand...

I have uncoated ka-bar and I've never had any rust on it. There is little patina and "etched" dirt but that only looks good in my eyes.
 
I got traditional USMC Kabar with black powder coating. Repro from U.S.A. The blade was reprofiled and it has mean cut now but it also takes rust spots, especially when I am living stone throw from Baltic Sea and seawater ain't best thing on your carbon steel blade.
 
INFI or 3V. INFI is generally as tough as you can get, and probably has the best overall characteristics for an outdoors knife.
3V is still very tough, but is much more wear resistant. If you're mostly going to chop, INFI is where its at. If you'll be doing a lot of regular chores/utility cutting with it, 3V might be a little better.
 
It depends really on weather your gonna buy or make it and if tha later, what Ht facilities you have. personally I would recommend CPM M4 because its the best, but your not likely to find a non-custom fixed blade made from it :grumpy: as for the stainless issue its my opinion that if you cant take care of your knives you don't deserve a great steel.
H-1 is the nitrogen steel isn't it? tough maybe but probably not as wear resistant or as hard
 
For heavy "general purpose" knives I stick with 1075 - 1095 steels for the edge holding, the cost, and the ease of resharpeneing when needed.
If you can't sharpen it in the field with simple tools then it's no good for the task you describe.
If you are not going to clean this piece of equipment when done camping.
It being rusty would just match the rest of your stuff. Because that probably gets treated the same:p
A quick squirt of CRC or any spray lube will keep it chopping for many years.
Mike
 
1095 for me.....I like O1 and A2 also, but to tell truth I can't much tell the difference between them and 1095. All the anti-rust folks, well you learn to deal with it. I've seen infi with rust all over the sucker - don't let 'em tell you its immune to corrosion. Why I like 1095 - tough as hell and easy to sharpen. Doesn't hold its edge forever, what does, but easy to get that edge back. Used by a thousand different makers, you can have a knife made completely to your specs for less that $150. If designed right, 1095 will get you out of any ugly situation.
 
most if not all steels rust. get the one you like. you'll trade one trait for another, the steel that has multiple good traits will serve you well. do like i do and clean and oil all your blades regularly=no problems. also get one with a good warranty.

O1, 5160, INFI, 1095, 440B, etc... have done good by me.
 
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