INFI and bainite

L

luparabianca

Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
12
Hello, I have a very limited understanding of metallurgy but am interested in hearing the difference between bainite and INFI steel. Any answer that can clarify this matter for me would be highly appreciated. The reason I am asking is because I am on the market for an extremely strong and ductile katana and am currently considering the custom sword as described here: http://bugei.com/product_241_detailed.htm

I love INFI steel and have become so spoiled I would feel ashamed to buy anything else without knowing it could perform on a level close to INFI.

Thank you for any assistance any of you can provide!
 
That sword is made of L6 I think. L6 is extremely tough, probably as tough as INFI, and holds an edge fairly well. Corrosion resistance is very poor. If you want it get it, the steel choice in a sword is a good one.
 
I have the DVD of the L6 Bainite from Bugei and it is very impressive. The level of shock resistance of that particular heat treatment of L6 is almost unbelievable. Looks like the edge retention is good also. Right now the L6 in the bainite state and INFI are the steels that have impressed me the most for pure abuse resistance and also provide outstanding performance in cutting. Search for the INFI AK-47 Sword testing and you will see that INFI holds it's own in the swords department also not just smaller blades. I'm planning to place an order for an L6 Bainite blank and have a custom specialist fit it to a modern handle (synthetic) but they cost quite a lot and the lead time is brutal (1-2 years). I'm with you: Why bother with anything else if there are a few knife makers that provide such level of performance.
 
luparabianca said:
Hello, I have a very limited understanding of metallurgy but am interested in hearing the difference between bainite and INFI steel. Any answer that can clarify this matter for me would be highly appreciated. The reason I am asking is because I am on the market for an extremely strong and ductile katana and am currently considering the custom sword as described here: http://bugei.com/product_241_detailed.htm

I love INFI steel and have become so spoiled I would feel ashamed to buy anything else without knowing it could perform on a level close to INFI.

Thank you for any assistance any of you can provide!
Click to expand...

According to that website:

Price US $0.00 :eek:

I'll take 5.
 
Our custom swords take about 16 to 18 months to deliver from time of order!
WOW! Maybe Jerry could get you one faster!
 
dante said:
I have the DVD of the L6 Bainite from Bugei and it is very impressive. The level of shock resistance of that particular heat treatment of L6 is almost unbelievable. Looks like the edge retention is good also. Right now the L6 in the bainite state and INFI are the steels that have impressed me the most for pure abuse resistance and also provide outstanding performance in cutting. Search for the INFI AK-47 Sword testing and you will see that INFI holds it's own in the swords department also not just smaller blades. I'm planning to place an order for an L6 Bainite blank and have a custom specialist fit it to a modern handle (synthetic) but they cost quite a lot and the lead time is brutal (1-2 years). I'm with you: Why bother with anything else if there are a few knife makers that provide such level of performance.
Click to expand...

Maybe I should get a katana blank made from cheap steel and send it to Busse for an INFI replica. Traditional Samurai fittings on an INFI blade.... wow.
 
luparabianca said:
Hello, I have a very limited understanding of metallurgy but am interested in hearing the difference between bainite and INFI steel. Any answer that can clarify this matter for me would be highly appreciated. The reason I am asking is because I am on the market for an extremely strong and ductile katana and am currently considering the custom sword as described here: http://bugei.com/product_241_detailed.htm

I love INFI steel and have become so spoiled I would feel ashamed to buy anything else without knowing it could perform on a level close to INFI.

Thank you for any assistance any of you can provide!
Click to expand...
Bainite is not a type of steel per se like infi, but one of the isothermal decomposition precipitates of austenite formed during thermal treatments when cooling rates are too fast enough not to form pearlite but not fast enough to form martensite. Bainitic steels tend to posess some qualities of both, ideally forming a very ductile, shock-resisting steel with good anti-deformation and abrasion resistant charactaristics (like infi). You might look into Katanas made of 9260 -- miraculously tough blades with edge holding like any good carbon steel... and a lot less expensive than the Bugei ones, like less than $300 (although probably not as nice as Bugei). You might also look into S7 for sheer toughness, and "ease of sharpening" (lousy wear resistance). I have some big blades made of S7 and they are orgasmically tough, but don't get one if you don't enjoy sharpening...often...;)
 
Who sells the 9260? I would like to buy an L6 eventually but I'm a sucker a good bang for the buck product.
 
hara-kiri-yogi said:
Bainite is not a type of steel per se like infi, but one of the isothermal decomposition precipitates of austenite formed during thermal treatments when cooling rates are too fast enough not to form pearlite but not fast enough to form martensite. Bainitic steels tend to posess some qualities of both, ideally forming a very ductile, shock-resisting steel with good anti-deformation and abrasion resistant charactaristics (like infi). You might look into Katanas made of 9260 -- miraculously tough blades with edge holding like any good carbon steel... and a lot less expensive than the Bugei ones, like less than $300 (although probably not as nice as Bugei). You might also look into S7 for sheer toughness, and "ease of sharpening" (lousy wear resistance). I have some big blades made of S7 and they are orgasmically tough, but don't get one if you don't enjoy sharpening...often...;)
Click to expand...
you took the words right out of my mouth! :thumbup: and that my friends is why no pussys are allowed on the center earth expedition, one false step and you could be turned to martensite!

and therefore all participants will be required to carry mole jacks with the special grind and heat resistant coating :cool:
 
idahoskunk said:
you took the words right out of my mouth! :thumbup: and that my friends is why no pussys are allowed on the center earth expedition, one false step and you could be turned to martensite!

and therefore all participants will be required to carry mole jacks with the special grind and heat resistant coating :cool:
Click to expand...

"dolemite? I'm 40% dolemite!"
 
hara-kiri-yogi said:
Bainite is not a type of steel per se like infi, but one of the isothermal decomposition precipitates of austenite formed during thermal treatments when cooling rates are too fast enough not to form pearlite but not fast enough to form martensite. Bainitic steels tend to posess some qualities of both, ideally forming a very ductile, shock-resisting steel with good anti-deformation and abrasion resistant charactaristics (like infi). You might look into Katanas made of 9260 -- miraculously tough blades with edge holding like any good carbon steel... and a lot less expensive than the Bugei ones, like less than $300 (although probably not as nice as Bugei). You might also look into S7 for sheer toughness, and "ease of sharpening" (lousy wear resistance). I have some big blades made of S7 and they are orgasmically tough, but don't get one if you don't enjoy sharpening...often...;)
Click to expand...

Nice info... thank you very much! Tell you guys what, I think I'll stick with what my guts are saying and see what an INFI katana will run me (complete with the Busse Combat logo in kanji, perhaps?). Why not, after all a two week wait is nothin! Hehehe.
 
and therefore all participants will be required to carry mole jacks with the special grind and heat resistant coating
Click to expand...

I'm already half way there, but I don't have a mole jack :(. Maybe I could get sent some of the heat resistant coating and apply it once it gets hotten enough in the hollow earth.
 
Bugei doesn't forge the Bainite L6, they're more like the middle man of sorts.

The very well known(in the sword world)Howard Clark of http://www.mvforge.com/ is the wizard behind bugeis customs.

also if you would like to learn more about the L6 visit Bugei's forum here-http://www.swordforumbugei.com/

The JSA guys really love these swords as training tools, they are beautiful when polished right showing a very subdued Hamon. These are NOT folded, so they will not have the wild crazy patterns in the steel like traditional nihonto.

I've seen them for sale for as much as $7000 with very good polish and medium fancy mount (koshiri..blah, blah) Ted Tenold (head polisher for Bugeis production swords) of Legacy Arts usually has some floating through his website, as does Keith Larman of Summer Child Polishing, both supperb polishers and usually the guys who have the patience to polish L6 in the traditional way. They are defianently the main polishers of Howards work. Anyways, I think they stopped taking on more work because of backlogg.

as far as I know Howard is so back logged that he has quit taking orders..for who knows how long, could be five years.

I have to ask what you intend to do with these swords because if you're into JSA you will HAVE to have something traditional looking So the AK-47 is out, but then again you're not necessarily going to go put your $7000 sword through a cherry tree and then into a cars hood for good measure:D Apples and oranges.
The L6 has about zero corrosion resistance without heavy oil too *but* in a dojo type setting devoid of dirt and icky things it works swell. But hey I'm shure a touch up polish would only cost a paltry $1500::D
 
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