Help me design a knife! Part II

Quiet Storm

Quiet Storm

Joined
May 17, 2002
Messages
5,757
This is the sequel to my Help me design a knife! thread.

The following design was agreed on in that poll:

picture.php


Jürgen Schanz is going to build the knife for me.

But before he can do that, it's time to pick a steel type and decide on the finish!

Here are the options:

Steel

  • SB1 (innovative stuff, as explained below)
  • 440 C
  • RWL-34 (essentially powder-metallurgical ATS-34, comparable to CPM154)

Finish

  • satin
  • bead-blast
  • Guncoat (baked-on black coating)

So what's that SB1 stuff?

0.8% C
12.7% Cr
1.1% Mo
0.9% V
0.7% Nb

Nb stands for Niobium, and that's what makes this steel interesting. It supposedly makes for very a tough knife even at hardness ratings as high as 60 HRC.

Not too long ago, Jürgen decided to find a steel rarely used in knives but well-suited for that application. An acquaintance of his steered him into the direction of a steel with the German DIN designation 1.4153.03. The two of them thoroughly tested it and were impressed with their findings - so Jürgen decided to start using this steel and adopted the less cumbersome SB1 designation.
In case you're wondering: it's not being touted as the "latest and greatest" steel, just as an alternative to other high-end steels and worth checking out.

Please choose both a steel and a finish and post it! The poll will end next Friday.

Feedback appreciated!
 
Last edited:
My vote would be for Satin finish or gunkote. Maybe gunkote the handle and then grind the coating off the blade. Or only leave coating inside the holes and on the spine.

I would go with SB1 just to try it out if it was my choice.
 
Shall I put that one in the satin or Guncoat column, Rat? :D

I actually like the two-tone finish idea, but since I think that this poll needs few, clear-cut options (without discussing what part of the knife should be coated etc.), it's just not feasible here.
 
Satin or stone washed SB1.

And in case you are asking this next: flat grind, G10 or canvas micarta scales and a leather pocket sheath.

What is the line between blade and handle? Grind line or scales?
 
I vote for SB1

As for the grind, I'm kinda torn. I like the way the bead blast or the gun cote would look with the blade ground satin. I also like all satin. Sorry, for not helping too much in this regard.

I'd love to see the end result.
 
SB1, would be a good chance for you try this steel, and bead blast leaves a very dull finish, but doesn't show scratches as well, right?

SB1 and Bead Blast is my opinion.
 
I'd go for SB1 and bead-blast finish. And Jürgen is going to do an awesome job..as always!;)
Lookin forward to the results!!
 
No preference for steel type. Maybe SB-1 just for novelty sake?

Given the size and design of the knife so far, I must vote for mirror-polished finish. :)
 
I say RWL-34 with satin coat, and by the way something tells me its going to be a great looking knife.
 
Bob W said:
Given the size and design of the knife so far, I must vote for mirror-polished finish. :)
Click to expand...
Beadblast is probably the least corrosion resistant finish there. Mirror polished would be best, if it were an option. Besides, on such a compact knife, a mirror finish would show it off best. Does SB1 polish well?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top