How much of your knife is "in your mind?"

I don't think that I have become a steel snob quite yet. While S30V is one of my favorite steels right now, I would not hesitate to buy an AUS-8 knife. AUS-6 is my general limit when it comes to steel. I might be tempted to try 420HC since Buck and Camillus are using it.

I'm perfectly content with simple carbon steels. In fact, I'm thinking about having my next custom made from 1095 or A2.
 
I think very highly of steels in the 10XX series and have no problem with properly heat treated 420HC. When a new super steel comes along, I do not feel the need to rush out and get a knife with a blade made from that steel. As long as I can sharpen it and it holds up to what I put it through, the type of steel is not high on my list of determining factors when making a knife purchase.
 
And then there's the U2 with SGPS that only needs sharpening when you decide you SHOULD be doing SOMETHING to it.

:D
 
Psychopomp said:
Of course various steels will do different things at different blade lenght/thickness, so these wonderful katanas made from 420j2 won't be of much use no matter how well they're heat treated (who ever heard of heat treated 420j2 though?)
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Cliff Stamp just gave a 420j2 CRKT a test, and its performance was surprisingly half acceptable. But they say their 420j2 has more Carbon than normally quoted.
 
Bobwhite said:
I'll take 1095 everytime.
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It's hard to beat a good 1095 blade IMO, but my Spyderco Delica (very well made VG10 blade) is one of the few stainless steel blades I really really like.
 
Allen, I had a vapor II that seemed to dissapear down a blackhole or something, and I also have a Tactical Blur.
 
According to Kershaw's website your Vapor II had AUS-6A blade-steel and the Tactical Blur has 440A.

That's probably why they are so soft and dull so quickly.

Try a Benchmade 551 Griptilian with 440C and I think you will notice the difference.

Cheers,
Allen.
 
Carl64 said:
Cliff Stamp just gave a 420j2 CRKT a test, and its performance was surprisingly half acceptable. But they say their 420j2 has more Carbon than normally quoted.
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Interesting. The only 420j2 blade I know of that I own is a Master Cutlery that I bought just to see how bad it really was (and it's always fun destroying a $5 knife). I can flex the blade with my bare hands, and could probably bend or break it if I wasn't scared of a shard embedding itself in my eye.
 
Doesn't Victorinox use 12C27, not 420? What steel is in my saks, I'm perfectly satisfied with it.

Collecter
 
Psychopomp said:
Interesting. The only 420j2 blade I know of that I own is a Master Cutlery that I bought just to see how bad it really was (and it's always fun destroying a $5 knife). I can flex the blade with my bare hands, and could probably bend or break it if I wasn't scared of a shard embedding itself in my eye.
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If hardened at all, it is at least usable if not great. Here is the thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=339782

It is first said to be AUS6, but this unit should actually be a newer one using 420j2.
 
I have an unusual theory about this. :)

I think that besides people going gaga over the latest, greatest, tirelessly promoted high-tech steel, like S30V, part of what draws people to a new or different steel is the name of the steel!

S30V has a nice ring to it, much more so than let's say 420J, ATS-34, D2 etc., when I hear CPM S30V, it sends shivers down my spine...well, not really, but it does sound appealing, and I want some. :) If S30V had been named instead, L30P, or Q50M would it be as popular?

Also, this theory of mine extends very nicely to the non-ferrous metals like Talonite and Stellite, don't they just sound so freaking cool and high-tech??? :) People go nuts for knives made with these 2 cobalt based alloys, and yes, in part because they are high-tech, and essentially rust proof, but suppose Talonite were called something different, like, oh, I don't know, "Bunny-ite". :) Would people still want it as much?
 
I like D2. Something about just saying, "Dee Two" is interesting. I also like high carbon steels, and surprisingly I'm a fan of 440C on a low end "working pocket knife", for those times when you know you're going to pound on a folder and need it to still resemble sharp.

I must admit to being a bit of a steel snob. 440C/AUS-8 are my minimum working steels, 420 anything and Aus-6 turn me off to what might otherwise be a good design. To put it into perspective, I'd rather use a bronze or flint knife than use anything made out of a 420! ;) I do draw the line at higher end steels though, once you get above something like S30V, are we really going to get a percieved improvement in steel? Like I said, I'm a big D2 fan, I find it to be a good compromising steel, hard, good edge holding, sharp, excellent price value.

-RM
 
I was grinding a blade about 3 weeks ago and got careless. It got away from me and ended up bouncing all over the freaking place - finally smacking me in the temple. It did minimal damage since it wasn't sharp yet, but that's about as close as I have gotten to having any amount of a knife in my mind ;)

WYK
 
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