How blade steel affects your buying

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Swp321 said:
I purposely purchased a Giantmouse ace grand in orange g10 with Elmax steel because I wanted the Elmax steel. Used it once to cut some taped cardboard boxes (no staples or metal etc) and from the tip of the blade back about in inch it chipped in several places. I have only had the knife a month. I have contacted Giantmouse and they want me to mail it back. We will see what happens.
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It's important to remember that factory edges almost never give you a true indication of a given steel or even the heat treatment a particular company gave it. Factory grinding can generate significant heat and that leads to fatigued steel. That fatigue can run deep enough to take several times on the stones before you hit fresh steel. It can lead to chipping, rolling, or just otherwise poor edge retention in the meantime.

Of course, the heat treatment could still be off. You'd have to sharpen it a bunch to see. Whether bad steel or just an extra heavy hand at the grinder, swapping it out isn't a bad idea.

BTW, I'm convinced that factory edge issues are a widespread cause of people not liking particular steels.
 
Chronovore said:
It's important to remember that factory edges almost never give you a true indication of a given steel or even the heat treatment a particular company gave it. Factory grinding can generate significant heat and that leads to fatigued steel. That fatigue can run deep enough to take several times on the stones before you hit fresh steel. It can lead to chipping, rolling, or just otherwise poor edge retention in the meantime.

Of course, the heat treatment could still be off. You'd have to sharpen it a bunch to see. Whether bad steel or just an extra heavy hand at the grinder, swapping it out isn't a bad idea.

BTW, I'm convinced that factory edge issues are a widespread cause of people not liking particular steels.
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I was very happy with the Elmax when it arrived. Hair popping sharp and the high saber grind is awesome. As long as it gets corrected and I still have the knife with Elmax I’ll be happy.
 
I bought almost all of the knives in my collection based mainly on the make/model/style of the knife and NOT based on the type of steel it was made with because I don't actually use any of the knives in my collection.

Whatever steel the knife was made with was the steel that I got. This has resulted in a collection that includes knives made with most major steel types used in the past 40-50 years that I won't bother listing here.

There is only one type of steel that will affect my buying decision and that is M390 but not because I think it's better than any other steel.

I just started buying variants of certain knives (mainly made by ZT) that included M390 w/CF scales that I liked and, so, when I see such a variant that I don't already have offered for the right price, I'll buy it.

M390 steel may also tip my decision to buy a particular knife, if I am undecided between one knife or another but it still is not the primary factor in making the decision. The look/feel/size/style/wt/etc. of the knife are all more important factors.

Otherwise, the type of steel is irrelevant to me.
 
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it doesn't, at all..the hype is more for collectibility rather than performance, the mfgs know this, hence all the variations, etc. to increase sales.
 
Thus far, my favorite is CTS-XHP. Holds its edge well, not to difficult to touch up. I don't ever let my knives get dull, thus have no real experience with heavy sharpening except D2.
 
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At this point I have folders in something like 28 different steels, so i am familiar with s few. Most of the time the steel is not critical if I like the knife. Today I had to make a choice on a knife that was offered in either RWL-34 or M390, I chose the M390. For my use I think it is the right choice, others might have gone the with RWL-34.
 
Can the cheaper steels cut bolts in half using a hammer on the spine? My CPK knives in D3V steel can. I care nothing about collecting a knife that can't get the job done, just because it's pretty. I learned a long time ago not to trust something, or someone, just because it's pretty. If others don't care, then that's fine - it's their money. As for me, I'll stick to steel that can get the tough jobs done with zero edge damage and still be pretty.
 
Dat's me boss and I was 'super' careful !!! I didn't try cutting while looking through the phone! that would have been very bad
G2
 
Now that I know that: glad you survived it unscathed!
But you've got to admit: an "Oh CRAP!" video of that would be funny...
(If it's not you!)
 
Cutting bolts isn't the subject... It's the fact that the steel CAN do it if that was ever needed. Of course, none of us want to ever be in a situation where we would need a knife to do that. But it's nice to know that the steel could do it.
 
I've purchased a few knives just to try out like this Stretch in super blue steel.
jz470bU.jpg
 
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