FK2

[PolRoger]

Does anybody have a side by side pic of an FK2 and an FK2 Hard and thin (#Bad idea) variant?

I haven’t been able to find the differences or pics yet (other than it’s thinner and harder). Not sure if the difference would even be obvious in pics anyways?

What are the specs on the Hard and thin? I.E. thickness, BTE, & HRC?

Gusbuster has a nice photo of a FK2 "hard and thin" w/swedge next to a "standard" FK2... See link below post #65.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/pairs-similar-but-different.2013159/post-22870760

 

[Comprehensivist]

I love my FK2. I’ve had a few BFKs and always go back to this one. I really want one thin and hard or whatever they call it. Just because. Don’t really know what the difference is but I assume it is thinner.

I believe it is called “unofficially” the bad idea, but could be wrong…

Yep, plus….there is also a more rare Bad Idea with a swedge too.

There are a few pics floating around. I believe it's the same stock thickness, just that the primary is ground up slightly higher on the BA. You can tell the difference by the proximity of the Carothers logo.

Gotta love the swedged Hard & Thin "Bad Idea."

I believe that trevitrace is correct that both the standard and H&T use the same stock thickness, but the H&T has a higher primary grind that takes it closer to the signature on the top. I recall Nathan stating that the hardness ran about one point higher at 62.5 vs. 61.5 HRc.

Phil

 

[SpyderPhreak]

The #Badidea was also just recently discussed in the “Pairs: Similar but different“ thread. Here’s my post over there with mine:

OK, here you go!

View attachment 2718843

View attachment 2718844

View attachment 2718845

View attachment 2718846

My #Badidea in Burlap scales is a swedged version!

There were a few other pics posted there of the #Badidea after my post.

Yes, the #Badidea is the same stock thickness as the regular FK2, but the primary grind is ground higher (possibly at a different angle?) and therefore, “thinner”. Refer back to the pre-order for hardness, but I do believe it was 62.5 RC.

ETA:

Here’s a quote from Nathan the Machinist :

I've been seeing this question pop up, about the difference between the standard Delta 3V and the harder thinner version of the Field Knife.

Our brand has always been about enhanced edge retention in rough use, addressing the shortcoming of 3V (and most other complex steels) of a tough steel with high wear resistance that goes dull due to a mushy edge.

3V is designed to be a high carbide lath martensite with stabilized retained austenite. great steel, great potential, absolutely awesome in a stamping tool and worked well as a knife. We gave up some properties that are ideal for a stamping tool such as dimensional stability and safe easy heat treat by utilizing a non-standard heat treat making it better for a knife.

There were the early tweaks, there is the Delta protocol, and some of the early field knives had a non-standard Delta protocol variation that was a combination of one of the harder tweaks and the Delta protocol. this was a multi-step heat treat process designed to put extra carbon into solution and resulted in a plate martensite with a nice crisp edge. In my goal of enhanced edge retention, which is what this has always been all about, I found that this nice crisp edge was wonderful until you start clacking it against stuff, then it was merely good not great. Ultimately, the Delta protocol has better overall edge retention than the higher hardness variation, but for some use that crisp edge lasts longer. So if you're not applying a great deal of lateral stress or impact, you like that thin hard edge. For most uses, it's tough to beat the edge retention, edge stability and wear resistance of standard Delta 3V.

To answer the question, the standard Field Knife is .020 edge thickness before sharpening, the thin variation is a little under .015. The standard hardness is 61, the higher hardness is 62. So they're actually very similar.

And the preorder thread: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...rder-the-return-of-the-field-knife-2.1689325/

 

[SweetPete]

I've been wondering how the Bad Idea/Thin & Hard FK2 cuts compared to a DEK1? I know the blade stock on the FK2 is thicker, but I'm curious if the FK2 TH or DEK1 is actually slicier? Also, I haven't seen any pics of any broken DEKs, so can't imagine the "Bad Idea" is really a bad idea- it should be tougher than a DEK1, right?

 

[Cap’n Smudge]

I've been wondering how the Bad Idea/Thin & Hard FK2 cuts compared to a DEK1? I know the blade stock on the FK2 is thicker, but I'm curious if the FK2 TH or DEK1 is actually slicier? Also, I haven't seen any pics of any broken DEKs, so can't imagine the "Bad Idea" is really a bad idea- it should be tougher than a DEK1, right?

The DEK1 would be tougher.
The higher hardness combined with the thinned out blade of the “bad idea” make it less tough and more “chippy”.
Bad Idea.

 

[clinton1]

 

[Retired UPS Driver]

View attachment 2756882

Ghost Red, that’s a rare one!! Beautiful trio