I think you're getting into the realm of pretty specialized tools once you're outside the INFI spectrum, and that's a consideration in terms of practicality. For example, what good is a super refined edge if it rots off the blade before you can use it?
Accumulating Busses over the years, it's always struck me as unfortunate that Jerry doesn't venture further into more acute grind geometries. I think INFI would work very well for small, fine utility slicers... just as well as it does at the BM scale.
For the task specific purpose of extreme abuse (being able to be completely chip resistant and able to take heavy lateral stress and shock stresses, while maintaing as many good steel attributes as possible), infi is by far the best all around steel there is.
If you want higher wear resistance, you may have to give up lateral strength at the same cross section or corrosion resistance
If you want higher corrosion resistence, you may have to give up chip resistance and/or lateral strength at the same cross section, impact resistance or any number of other attributes
If you want higher chip resistance, you may have to give up wear resistence, hardness, and lateral strength *specifically the amount of pounds of force required to bend or break the blade at the same cross section)
If you want higher lateral strength resistance... well.... I'm not sure about that one. I've heard/ read very little in regards to the technical specs regarding how much psi is required to bend or break infi at any given cross section, or seen any data to wich I could compare it to in the first place... Infi will bend and take a set before it breaks, and it will break at a pretty heavy bend - but it takes a LOT of force to get it to that point in the first place. you may be able to spring temper or differencially harden an edge to the point where it literally has to be torn or cut in half to break (otherwise it will bend like putty), but it will also take much less force to bend it then it would to bend infi at 59rc.
But, there are certain instances where you would want those attributes. If all you do all day long is gut fish, you dont necessarily need the high stiffness or lateral strength. if all you do is use your knife in acid baths all day you may not be able to afford any corrosion at all. If all you do is cut fruit all day, you may not need the extra thickness, and may want a lot of corrosion resistence.
If you only want one or two attributes, there are other steels that can get them for you (s7, m2, titanium), you just cant want to many attributes at once, or else infi will start creeping in as the better overall steel. If you want everything, its by far the best overall acheiver.
lol, and I base this on 0 actual education or real experience, just what I've read and the very, very limited scope of work I've done with various knife steels.
. I'm hooked for life not because of tests, hearsay, or advertising but because of my first hand experience. I've always been a sceptic of EVERYTHING but I've found all the great things I've heard/seen with Busse co. and INFI to be true.
