I didn't realize my Case was so bad...

Not that those new wondersteels are bad, but I'd bet most of the guys carrying on about them are not really using them all that hard. How many times do you see a thread where guys are afraid to use their knife because it might get a little beat up looking. Lots of safe queens or pocket princesses out there. I mean guys out there look down on Douk Douks and Opinels and Frost's Moras. Those knives have been proven countless times, worldwide, as reliable hard users. They work. I take all the hoopla about the latest and greatest not just with a grain of salt but the whole salt shaker.
 
It's not always about snobbery. I actually take some pleasure in trying a range of different steels and comparing/contrasting their performances. That said, I'll never look down on another man's carbon blade or his 420HC. Let's see, I have knives in:

0170-6 (50100-B or Carbon V)
1095
420HC
425M
440A
440C
A2
ATS-34 (154CM)
ATS-55
AUS-6
AUS-8
BG-42
CPM 440V
D2
INFI
S30V
VG-10

There are probably more I've forgotten and left off. Anyway, they're all good. I have no major complaints regarding steel performance in any of the knives I own.
 
Was remodelling and had to "cut" some ventalation duct.

Used my LM Wave blade...

No chips. No dings. <2 minutes on ceramic and back to shaving sharp.

What IS that wonder steel?
 
I quit arguing steel some time ago. I have decided that for the average guy and that is what most of us are, the steel provided will do just fine. I have a lot of custom stuff and it is the other side. But, Joe Average, will be happy forever and defend his Acme or whatever.
 
Well I have noticed that something like ATS-34 will take an edge and hold it a bit longer......I don't have to re-visit the bench stone as frequently. I like that. Although I'm not butchering all day long so it's not all that crucial....but there is a lot to be said for a blade that will hold a nice sharp edge for a spell. I think the more the merrier..I'm like Guyon, and get a kick out of trying lots of different blade steels. I guess when you come right down to it : match the steel to the task, buy and use what you like, and mess around tryin' different ones....that's the part I enjoy...'cause I get to buy more knives !

As far as passing judgment on another's knife and the blade they choose to carry.....well...that's just silly. Folks usually get over concerning themselves with things like that when they get on in life and get a sense of what's really important.

My insignificant 2 cents.

-Best to all !
 
Gramps said:
I do find that 440C sharpens up right quick too...anyone else find that's true for them ?
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I've found 440C and 440A to take a fine edge, hold it reasonably, and to sharpen up quickly on good old Arkansas stones. My Kershaw Ken Onion Blackout is 440A and it takes and holds a very sharp edge. When it needs touched up, a few times across the fine stone and it's ready again. Ths has pretty much been my experience on all my 440A & 440C knives.

As Jackknife mentioned, a fair number of the nubes seem to think carbon will rust away at a breath. I was concerned with packing CV and 1095 blades around San Antonio over the summer and had thought of changing to stainless for that reason. I did some vinegar treatment on a few CVs, and used different knives peeling fruit and veggies, plus carried pleanty of carbon blades over the summer in sweaty pockets. AND, while I'd wipe dry after using, I didn't really keep them oiled that much. They have developed a patina, but that's about it. When I now have too many to keep checking daily, so I don't. I check them every once in a while and wipe them down if they look like they need it, but that's about it.

I pretty much carry what knife I feel like. Some are carbon/CV some are stainless to include Tru-sharp. I've recently carried the CSC in D2. They are all sharp and all work just fine. On my Case SS trapper with the hand engraved bolsters, the NS bolster closest to my skin has tarnished some from carrying it in sweaty pockets, but that's okay. It's a working knife that also doubles as pocket jewelry.
 
Great thread! There are a lot of good posts here. :thumbup:

I got my first Case with stainless steel blades (a medium stockman) a couple of weeks ago. So far, it's working out fine. The blades are easy to sharpen and get very sharp. The toughest things I cut with it are probably cardboard and sisal twine, and the edges have held up well.

The day before yesterday, I bought my first Buck 110. I can't comment much on its 420HC blade because I have so little experience with it, but I will say that it's easily one of the sharpest knives out-of-the-box that I've owned. It will be interesting to see how it stands up after some use.

Steel fashion is a weird phenomena. I remember in the mid '90s (when I first got into tactical knives), and up until a few years ago, ATS-34 was the big, popular blade steel. All the tactical companies and custom makers used ATS-34 in their top-of-the-line models. The magazines did a lot of articles about how fantastic the steel was. Plus, all of the ads made sure to mention that the knives they were selling used ATS-34. Basically, if your knife didn't have an ATS-34 blade, then it sucked. :p

Flash forward to a month ago. I saw a post that a guy made in the Blade Discussion forum where he asked if you would even consider buying a knife with an ATS-34 blade. Many companies have since switched to other steels, so now ATS-34 is seen by some as a crappy, outmoded blade steel. In the space of about five years, it went from being the ultimate cutlery steel to where people now question if it's even adequate. :confused:

There are some steels that I like more than others, and I'm sure some steels objectively perform better on certain tests than others, but following the fashion trends doesn't make much sense. Even though you have stuff like CPM steels and ZDP-189 now, ATS-34 is still very good, IMO. Low alloy carbon steels, which are even less fashionable, have always worked well for me too.
 
To add, it's not just the steel. A lot has to do with the heat treat, and that's where certain makers shine. cerulean, hang out over in the Buck forum, you'll hear about how Buck gets an awful lot out of its 420HC because of its heat treat. I don't even know how many Buck 110s I have now. Last time they went on sale for around $20, I bought a bunch and stashed them in rucksacks, backpacks, tackle boxes, and the like. :D I think you'll be pleased with the performance of the Buck knife in 420HC.
 
cerulean said:
Steel fashion is a weird phenomena. I remember in the mid '90s (when I first got into tactical knives), and up until a few years ago, ATS-34 was the big, popular blade steel. All the tactical companies and custom makers used ATS-34 in their top-of-the-line models. The magazines did a lot of articles about how fantastic the steel was. Plus, all of the ads made sure to mention that the knives they were selling used ATS-34. Basically, if your knife didn't have an ATS-34 blade, then it sucked. :p

Flash forward to a month ago. I saw a post that a guy made in the Blade Discussion forum where he asked if you would even consider buying a knife with an ATS-34 blade. Many companies have since switched to other steels, so now ATS-34 is seen by some as a crappy, outmoded blade steel. In the space of about five years, it went from being the ultimate cutlery steel to where people now question if it's even adequate. :confused:
Click to expand...

I've noticed the same thing. It is really funny how ATS-34 is now looked down upon. Has ATS-34 suddenly changed? Will it no longer cut as well as it used to? It's still a great steel and it will always be a great steel. By the same token, I agree with the previous statement about how pretty much any steel being used today is more than adequate for general use. I use my knives all of the time, and I rarely have to sharpen any of them. I've carried a Benchmade 710 for years that I've used pretty heavily and I've never sharpened it. It's still plenty sharp enough to cut anything it needs to. Same thing goes for my Leatherman Wave, and my Victorinox camper.
 
For me, steel choice is not an either-or. I love the "old" carbon steels, and I love trying all the new steels. I don't look down upon anyone's choice. To each their own. I sometimes wonder if the chase is more enjoyable than the catch.... No, wait a minute, are we talking about women or knives? :D

I only have one traditional knife that I won't use, that's my old Schrade Old Timer stockman, it's not made any more! Here is a 1095 safe queen! I use all my Queen D2's (I consider D2 exotic), Cold Steels, Case CV's, Buck 420HC's, but won't touch the Schrade any more. How's that for strange?
 
I tossed my Case Bone Stag Russlock in my pocket today. Had carried it faily regular for a little while. Tru-Sharp, modern mix (420HC I believe) and all. That knife came razor sharp out of the box and it still cuts like crazy, even the manilla rope I keep on hand just for cutting. I haven't sharpened it yet. I've had my ups and down with some 420HC mixes, but the very recent Cases and end of day Schrades in Schrade+ give some first class performances.

Maybe nobody told these knives they were supposed to be inferior so they don't act like it. If that's the case, don't anybody tell them either. They are doing a fine job as they are.
 
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