incoming.. custom, Duane Dwyer SNG in the ultimate of super steels, CMP REX 121!

I noticed how undocumented the steels are with strider. I purchased a starlingear smf that was listed as s30v. When i got it i realized it was stamped with s110v. Sadly it is kind of a safe queen though.
 
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link2derek said:
There's always a "better" steel -- always. And then there's one even better. . . .
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Inconel.

It's not steel, but it may be the ultimate for knife blades.

Strider made several folders with this material. They cost over twice what the Rex folders sold for though.

I'm just glad the OP is going to use the Rex and let us know how it works.
 
Glade to hear it won't be a safe Queen. I'm always intrigued by new steels. Let us know how she holds up.
 
hardheart said:
Not with a knife edge, CPM M4 is many times tougher than Rex 121, 76, T15, etc. if they're at max hardness.
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What??? No way. Look at Crucibles data charts M4 is a good tool steel but not even close to REX121 RC hardness


CPM® REX® 121(HS)*
High hardness high vanadium cobalt high speed steel
CPM REX 121 is a new high vanadium cobalt bearing tool steel designed to offer a combination of the highest wear resistance, attainable hardness, and red hardness available in a high speed steel. Its superior red hardness permits higher cutting speeds compared to other high speed steels. Its superior wear resistance (due to the high vanadium content) helps maintain a sharp cutting edge at increased cutting speeds.
****CPM REX 121 also bridges the performance gap between high alloy tool steels and carbide materials. It may be used in cutting tools, where high cutting speeds demand higher heat resistance, but carbide is too brittle, or in high wear tooling applications (punches and dies) where carbide tools are too fragile.
****Because of the extremely fine and uniform CPM microstructure, sulfur may be added if desired, to improve the machinability. The higher sulfur content benefits the toolmaker by allowing ease of manufacture, and the tool user by allowing easier resharpening. The CPM process ensures that the additional sulfur will not detrimentally affect the tool’s toughness.



CPM® REX® M4HC(HS)*
(AISI M4)
CPM REX M4HC(HS) is a high-vanadium special purpose high speed steel exhibiting better wear resistance and toughness than M2 and M3 in cold work punches, die inserts and cutting applications involving high speed and light cuts. The high carbon (HC) modification to standard M4 is designed to provide optimum hardening response in large cross-section tools or in vacuum or atmosphere heat treating. The high sulfur (HS) modification is standard for large diameter bars providing enhanced machinability and grindabiltiy.
 
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mystro said:
Well, I found my ultimate EDC. Maybe a bucket list knife.
I have been lusting over a Duane Dwyer custom Strider for a while now. After months of reading over steel selections, I found a very rare DDC SnG in the ultimate of Cruicible super steels. CMP REX 121. This steel is ultra exotic and very few knife makers have the equipment to work with it. Edge retention is suppose to be unmatched with a RC 70. Its suppose to not chip or be brittle. It was explained to me that if M4 is a V8 Chevy, then REX 121 is a nitro fueled funny car. :eek: I am pumped. My wife doesnt understand..(Its just another pocket knife to her) so I have to tell this news to my fellow knife enthusiast.
I am planing on doing a review of the knife when I get it in my hands. I will wait for the knife till I take my pics and description. DD custom grind and steel ought to be spectacular. This baby will be no safe queen. This combo of knife/design, and steel needs to be used. The knife will be my EDC and probably field dress deer during hunting season.:cool:

Link to the REX 121 http://www.crucibleservice.com/eselector/prodbyapp/highspeed/cpm121.html

Here is the Cruicble list of super steels in order of performance.
CPM High Speed Steels
M4 CPM Rex M4HC(HS)
M35 CPM Rex M35HCHS
M62 CPM Rex 20(HS)
M3-II + Co CPM Rex 45(HS)
M4HC + Co CPM Rex 54(HS)
T15 CPM Rex T15(HS)
M48 CPM Rex 76(HS)
• CPM Rex 121(HS
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Sounds interesting, good luck sharpening it if it ever gets dull. :D
 
Congrats Mystro. I looked at those knives and thought about buying one but the chisel grind was a deal killer for me. I did pick up a SNG drop point with a V grind though in the rex 20/M62, or "vimcru" steel as some call it.

I read that Dwayne elected to keep the steel down to RC 60 or so, though I don't know for a fact. It was a forum somewhere.

The Rex 121 would be fun to try out though, I have to admit. The SNG custom I got was built really well. None of the break in stuff that usually comes with Striders. It is a bit stiff opening, but that's easy enough to take care of.

I did appreciate the way Dwayne responded to a question I had about it by e-mailing me in about one working day with his cell phone number to call about any questions or problems that might come up. That made me feel better about buying it and carrying it like a regular hundred dollar knife as I feel he will take care of me if needed.

Enjoy your knife and let us know how you like the steel. AS far as the rex 20/M62 the best way I could describe it is sort of like a more carbide version of M2.

The only change I would make is to run it harder, closer to the max for that steel. I don't plan on prying, or abusing a knife made of that high carbide fraction of a steel, so let it run and perform where it's designed to.

I understand why he did what he did though. With a steel as fragile as these can be there will be problems with people who think "oh, super steel!" , and then go about trying to pound it in a locker as a step so they can take a picture not knowing these aren't your regular Striders.

Good luck and enjoy. Joe
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by hardheart View Post
Not with a knife edge, CPM M4 is many times tougher than Rex 121, 76, T15, etc. if they're at max hardness.
What??? No way. Look at Crucibles data charts M4 is a good tool steel but not even close to REX121 RC hardness
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Mystro, look at that graph from crucible again and forget wear resistance, hot"red" hardness wear resistance, and look at the toughness aspect of the steel. It's very brittle stuff to be blunt. I see where hardheart is coming from and the chart agrees with him.

On the other hand those values are probably at , or near max hardness and Dwayne isn't running any of his steels at max hardness so it is going to be a bit tougher at lower hardness, but not that much. very high carbide fraction steels aren't going to be tough steels. They just aren't.

high speed comparagraph here: http://www.crucible.com/PDFs%5CDataSheets2010%5Cds20rev1%202010.pdf
 
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Kinda makes me wish Spyderco made a mule out of it, but I'm guessing that one single Mule would run at about $500:thumbdn:.

I'll just have to settle for good ol' S90V:thumbup:.
 
I read the first post and halfway thru I thought...

''''Nice...a super super steel, awesome DD Custom, costs 1k or so, and never gonna make a cut as with alot of his handiwork''''

Then I saw where you said you're gonna test and review and actually use it!

Good job...will be looking forward to the results and pics.

I respect that. I have a hard time using my spyderco Gayle Bradley...with cheaper ones around its tough for me to do.

:thumbup:
 
NDJeep said:
I read the first post and halfway thru I thought...

''''Nice...a super super steel, awesome DD Custom, costs 1k or so, and never gonna make a cut as with alot of his handiwork''''

Then I saw where you said you're gonna test and review and actually use it!

Good job...will be looking forward to the results and pics.

I respect that. I have a hard time using my spyderco Gayle Bradley...with cheaper ones around its tough for me to do.

:thumbup:
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Say what? :eek:
Today I took my XM-18 Gen 3 that I paid $660 for and promptly shoved it into a thick chunk of cardboard that was blocking the way for my baler wires. Then I trimmed some lettuce, cut up some cardboard boxes for the fun of it, stuck the tip into a wooden pallet(cuz people do that with wooden tables and take pictures of their knife sticking out of it), and dropped a couple of tomatoes and zucchinis on the blade to make sure it was still sharp:thumbup:. Oh, and I opened my mail with it too;).

And when I get that "blinged" up Large Sebenza 21 back from it's spa and upgrades(Star Sapphire Cabochan with an elegant silver contrast) and has probably accumulated a total cost of $575, I plan to carry that thing around as my light EDC:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:.

I have no safe queens:D. A good analogy would be that having a Ferrari and only looking at it every day seems like such a waste when you could be driving it.

I figure so long as I don't use my knife for something it was not designed to do(prybar, chopping down trees, cutting concrete, throwing it at a glass window), the maker will not personally come down to cut my fingers off, and I should feel very satisfied in having spent an obscene amount of money on it, because I actually use it:thumbup:.

I actually feel more disappointment from my cheaper knives like my BM 635 mini-skirmish, my Speedform, my Lionsteel SR-1, and my Cold Steel Talwar because I never use them.
 
I suspect most of the super steels are over kill for general cutting task but I expect a knife maker to use them if I am paying a premium. How the knife maker has them heat treated is up to their discretion so you must believe he knows what he is doing to implement each steel to the best of their ability. Thats what I am paying for and thats why I feel DD wouldnt have gushed over the REX 121 steel for no reason. Part of the cost of a custom is buying his knowledge. Buying a custom knife is much like buying a Ferrari or Lambo. One has 550hp the other has 575hp. At that point, its more of a tech sheet pissing match. If I am using either of them for every day use I will be only using a fraction of its true capabilities. Much like a Ferrari or Lambo, it would be a shame to keep them in the garage and never use them. I am looking forward to using my custom knife and if something happens to it, its guaranteed for the life of the knife so their is really no risk to using it. Should be fun.
 
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Congrats mystro. Spent a little time yesterday afternoon visiting with Duane and his passion is clearly metallurgy. He was most excited about new steels and new blade materials in general. Can't wait to see how pics and hear how it performs.
 
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That is so cool I didn't know anyone used rex121, I thought the combination of lack of toughness, and difficulty of machining (and cost) would have precluded it from our business.
cool stuff!

edit: inconel is no good for knives if your interested the cobalt based alloys like stellite, and tantung are intriuging.
 
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The Mastiff said:
I read that Dwayne elected to keep the steel down to RC 60 or so, though I don't know for a fact. It was a forum somewhere.
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Wonder why he doesn't just use 15V then. For a knife, the cobalt doesn't do a whole lot except push the price up. Of course, I have yet to find a maker that will do a 15V knife for me. I may contact Farid, but he tends to make massively thick blades.
 
Sounds really nice and tough. I like this Duane Dwyer Custom DDC SMF Tanto in Carbon Fiber with CPMS 110V blade. :thumbup: Only $900 :(

knifeart_2137_247163562
 
That is a beauty. I have had a few Emerson tanto blades and although they cut nice, I am a hard core hunter and find a drop point style much easier to field dress and skin deer with. The tanto tends to cut too much inside a deers cavity and makes a mess.:barf:

On another note. I am looking forward to DDC chisel grind. Its ground on a better side for a right hand user than Emerson does.
 
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