I Tested the Edge Retention of 48 Steels

What a fantastic test! I browsed through your website and I daresay a copy of your book might have to be in my future!
 
I got your book the other day from Amazon. It is a long read but has some pretty interesting stuff. I worked as the plant Engineer for American Shear Knife Company for a few years. They were a different type of knife maker; producing cutoff shear blades and related products for the metal cutting industry. My job was also not in product design, but Plant Operations and Maintenance. Still this book is quite interesting for me. They had some proprietary steel that was capable of pretty amazing feats; basically cutting heavy plates of steel.
 
I have been busy...but I saw the book and I just ordered it! Thanks for writing it Larrin!
I always enjoy your articles so I anticipate reading it with great satisfaction.

Again, thanks!
 
Lodd said:
Is the book available from anywhere that is not Amazon? My principles prevent me from giving them any money.
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BladeHQ is sold out and won’t have more copies for a week or two.
 
Thanks! I don't mind waiting, just hope they can send it to the Netherlands for a reasonable price.
 
Lodd said:
Thanks! I don't mind waiting, just hope they can send it to the Netherlands for a reasonable price.
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I don’t know what their shipping policies are to Europe. If they don’t ship to you then you would be stuck with Amazon.
 
I don't suppose there's any chance of an e-book happening any time soon?

Otherwise I'll just have to get creative. Thanks for the help, though!
 
I don’t have any plans for an ebook right now.
 
Larrin said:
Recently I was able to acquire a used CATRA machine, so I heat treated just about every knife steel I had, made 57 knives with the help of knifemaker Shawn Houston, and tested them all to see which cut the longest. For a few of the steels I did multiple heat treatments to look at a couple variables and to see the effect of hardness. I also compared edge retention and toughness to see which steels have the best balance of properties. https://knifesteelnerds.com/2020/05/01/testing-the-edge-retention-of-48-knife-steels/
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CATRA is the worlds leading authority on the testing of cutlery and knives for manufacturers, retailers and consumers, having made significant contributions to the development of the ISO Standards for manufacturing and testing of those items.
 
Larrin Larrin I know this was a steel you did not test for toughness, but how tough do you think BD1N should be compared to other stainless steels? this one has been of interest to me and seems promising. On a side note, I've ordered your book and look forward to learning some things!
 
jstn said:
Larrin Larrin I know this was a steel you did not test for toughness, but how tough do you think BD1N should be compared to other stainless steels? this one has been of interest to me and seems promising. On a side note, I've ordered your book and look forward to learning some things!
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I did look at the microstructure of BD1N and it had some larger carbides so I’m not sure how good the toughness could be.
 
Larrin Larrin
DeadboxHero DeadboxHero

If you're ever so inclined, I would look forward to a dumbed-down version "Knifes For Dummies", so I can have something to read, too. I'd even buy two copies (in case I want to read it twice)... :eek::p:D

More seriously though, thank you for your efforts. This project must have been expensive in both time and money. As a small token of my support, I have just ordered a copy of your book. :thumbsup:

Thanks again,

-Brett
 
When does the Part II come out with the steels BBB was sharpening on Instagram for Larrin's CATRA machine? I saw VANAX, XHP, M398, etc.
 
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We should try with a more exotic steel :)

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