Flash in the pan steels

I don't mind S 30 v......Most companies that used \ have used it got the heat treatment down pat for a good bit now......Ive.never purchased a knife because it was so and so steel.....Ever........Ive not purchased knives because they were alphabet soup steel but that's as snobby about it. I get!😜
 
I find myself buying knives for the steel used. The last couple of years we have been pretty lucky with all the choices.
 
Today I'm going to pick on Maxamet since I went home yesterday and dug out my PM2 in that particular flavor. I confess I bought it after all the hype talk about it being the king of edge holding. I'm not sure when that steel became available or when (or how quickly) it's crown was toppled. From my perspective the internet was all abuzz with Maxamet and then suddenly it was gone.
 
Some "flash in the pan steels" really should make a comeback and were the victim of slander and false advertising. One steel I would like to see more of (and just might start using myself) is S60V (formerly CPM 440V), or an equivalent. I recall it taking an outstanding edge, holding that edge for a long time and being relatively easy to sharpen. I use quite a bit of S90V, and love it.
 
Sometimes the hype is caused by the limited availability of certain steels. Maxamet is in regular production by Spyderco (and only Spyderco AFAIK) so there is little FOMO. 440V (S60V) was before its time. Many people had not upgraded to diamond sharpeners, so it probably was difficult to sharpen on the stones they had on hand.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Vanadis 4 is one i didn't see much of outside of a couple knives, even though I like it.

I think S45VN is the next dodo. It seemed to be used in placed of S35VN by some manufacturers because I guess a bigger number looks better 🤔:P. However I am seeing most of those brands just jump to Magnacut.
Click to expand...
I've had MUCH better experiences with S45VN than with S35VN. It is noticeably more wear resistant without losing out much on toughness. It's also significantly more corrosion resistant.
 
I remember that back in the 1980s, 154CM was THE up and coming steel for custom knife makers.

Another way to look at it is that today, materials science and metalrgy have given us a plethora of good to great steels to chose from when designing a cutting tool. Many excel at one or another leg of the knife steel's triad of Corrosion Resistance Toughness and Ede Retention. A knife maker can choose the balance he feels is best for the cutting tool he is creating.

It is my understanding that Magnicut is pretty good at all of them, but that a few other formulations exceed it in one or another of those legs.
 
VorpelSword said:
I remember that back in the 1980s, 154CM was THE up and coming steel for custom knife makers.

Another way to look at it is that today, materials science and metalrgy have given us a plethora of good to great steels to chose from when designing a cutting tool. Many excel at one or another leg of the knife steel's triad of Corrosion Resistance Toughness and Ede Retention. A knife maker can choose the balance he feels is best for the cutting tool he is creating.

It is my understanding that Magnicut is pretty good at all of them, but that a few other formulations exceed it in one or another of those legs.
Click to expand...
I don't see how this is an answer to the OP's query.
 
I'm assuming he means how 154CM went from being the at the time newest super steel that was the top shelf choice to the only brand I saw use it for a while was BM and even they've dropped it. It did seem like a steel that back then I wouldn't even consider the high cost being something I would think of looking at to be replaced. Did VG-10 sweep it away? I'm not sure what else popped up as the newest hotness.

Popped in my head as I was about to post this, but I miss the hollow grind 154CM Mini Grip. I lusted for the M4 version but the one I had was expensive enough back in the days of more time than money.
 
I make knives from two "simple alloy steels", AEB-L, and 15N20, and two "high alloy steels", 3V and MagnaCut. It's enough for me. Although due to an AEB-L shortage at my supplier (i.e. no .125" AEB-L), I will be using Nitro-V for the first time this year (requiring a new stencil). And with what's going on with Crucible, I may need a new stencil for whatever 3V analog may eventually replace it in my future offerings.
 
The True North said:
154CM is probably in the top 5 for LEAST flash in the pan steels of all time.
Click to expand...

Speaking of least flash in the pan, let's not forget the king and queen of (once) new steels that just won't disappear, D2 and 440C.

Fun bit of trivia: the first knife I ever sold on Bladeforums was D2.

David Mary

Thread 'SOLD - Slim D2/Micarta Recurve'

This knife in razor sharp D2 steel is best for medium to small hands (I have largish hands with about average width and long fingers). It is optimized for hammer grip in either forward or reverse (edge out), but due to the birds beak handle, is not the most capable at smooth and fast grip transitions. It's hollow ground and has a 10° per side primary edge for ease of maintenance and sharpening.

I had the blank made (a bit fatter, originally as a camp recurve) in the USA (the maker understood I would sell it, and did not ask to be credited, though I will disclose who it was in PM if...
  • Like
 
sodak said:
Sadly for me, it seems like CTS XHP has lost favor. A steel that I REALLY like, but it's not around too much anymore, at least from what I can tell.
Click to expand...

I had a bunch of Recon 1s in XHP a few years ago, and I, too, loved the steel, but in the end, it wasn't doing anything I couldn't do with just about every other steel. Sharpen, use, repeat. Which is part of why my official position now is that I love all steels.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top