INFI blades!

I am curious about this whole INFI steel as well.* I think it is just a tweaked version of another grade, and some really good heat treat. I work at Steel Dynamics, Caster Operator. Owned by Keith Busse hmmmm interesting.
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What did Monty Python sketches say? Something like " Nudge, nudge, wink, wink", "Say, no more" . :)
 
The Mastiff said:
I agree with you on that Gator. A8 ( mod) is a different steel.

C .50
CR 8
mn .45
Si .95
mo 1.30
V .45

Which is closer to what I'd guess is used as a starting point for infi. Infi has added nitrogen, for one thing.

Gator, when you did your research you never found a steel in any foundry called infi did you. Most others have analogs that the industries standardize on. Do you really think Busse had the funding and resources to invent a new class of steel just for knives?

My guess is he took an existing steel and modified it to fit his needs. The closest fit is A8 Mod. Easy to do when you order an entire heat.

We all recall when a well known maker stated on another forum that he was aware that infi was A8 modified, and stated a rep from a company that Busse Sourced it from told him. Jerry got online and denied it, and asked the knifemaker for a PM to talk. I agree, It's not A8 mod, as the listings don't show it having nitrogen. Other than that it's real close. Put A8 (Mod) in your system and you will see closer, but obviously not exact similarities.

I do believe that Busse just has the steel tuned to his specs. It's nice stuff too. I just sort of react to the chanting mantras about 40 hour heat treats like it's something mysterious or unusual, and the use of made up names the same way I did when Lynn Thompson called a perfectly good steel Carbon V just as a marketing tool. The knives are great, just overpriced IMO.
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Mastiff,
Were you refering to Jerry Hossom?

Several years ago Hossom stated that Crucible had analyzed the metal in a Busse INFI knife. Their metalurgists determined that INFI was indeed, A8 Mod. According to Hossom, Crucible also told him that they no longer produced A8 Mod. They imported their stock from China.
 
If I had a piece to spark on our Spectro Machine I could tell you what it is exactly, the piece would be ruined though.

We also have 2 enormous heat treat furnaces, been itchin to get over there to learn the whole process.
 
elkins45 said:
Do you mean made FOR Camillus? Surely they didn't make their own steel?
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Good point. After reading carefully that post by Phil Gibbs, I see that it sounds more like Camillus and Cold Steel were going in together to have the steel made elsewhere. Then, I suppose it was heat treated in-house at Camillus for both parties, and of course, Camillus was making certain knives for Cold Steel. Thanks for the correction.
 
Mastiff,
Were you refering to Jerry Hossom?
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Yep, that's the one bearcut. It seems like I remember Jerry stating that he spoke to a rep from a foundry, whom he didn't name, that told him they sold a batch to Busse. This was after Jerry first stated A8, then corrected himself about it having been A8 mod., and not A8.

Mr. Busse posted a sort of irritated denial and I believe they spoke off forum after that.

It's been a while since I read it, and I most definitely am not blessed with the best memory in the world, but that was about the gist of it.

I believe Mr. Busse when he states it isn't A8 Mod. I do think it was a standardised steel that has been modified and the formula is unique to Busse. If it was A8 mod, it would now be A8 mod/modified, or something like that.

I do believe it is an alloy steel in the air hardening category, and have given my guesses as to what it was "tweaked " from as our steel foundry employee poster calls it. Once again I stress that it is just an opinion, and no better than anyone elses. I'm not claiming to be that well informed, or even smart.

I'll also state it's a great steel whatever the heck it is. I prefer thinner, smaller knives for cutting, and axes and mauls for splitting stuff, as I have done wood by the cord for heating and selling purposes in the past. Even in a backpacking situation I'd have a knife and an axe, not a large knife for both cutting and chopping. Heck, I even keep "pioneer tools" ( axe, shovel and pick)in each vehicle I own, a habit left over from my army days. Even the smaller camp style Busse's aren't really the kind of slicers/lasers I like. I do think the steel would make a nice one though, with good edge stability and strength.

The large choppers don't fit my lifestyle, but I acknowledge their quality and excellence without hesitation though.

Anyway, here was one discussion. I don't recall if this is the one Mr. Busse replyed to. http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/413813/
 
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Brules1 said:
I've read for years that its a steel made "just" for Busse. I use to work for a small aerospace firm and I can tell you, we used lots of different steels/alloys and it appears it would be cost prohibitive to make up a special steel for a small knife company.
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with respect to you I wouldn't call Busse a small knife company - have you ever been to Blade. From what I've heard it gets pretty crazy.

Check out the sales forum dedicated just to Busse and Busse family, they were all sold originally by Busse.

I'd be interested to know how many knives they sell a day - on average !!
 
Guyon said:
Good point. After reading carefully that post by Phil Gibbs, I see that it sounds more like Camillus and Cold Steel were going in together to have the steel made elsewhere. Then, I suppose it was heat treated in-house at Camillus for both parties, and of course, Camillus was making certain knives for Cold Steel. Thanks for the correction.
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Guyon, it was intended as a question and not as a correction: I was just curious if Camillus actually had that kind of capability. Are there ANY production knife makers that actually turn out their own alloys in plants they own/control?

While I'm asking questions, here's another one. Was it well known that Camillus made the Carbon V knives for Cold Steel at the time they were being sold, or is that something that was learned only after Camillus folded? I didn't really follow CS, so it's all news to me.
 
Originally Posted by Jerry Busse
Busse has been doing cryo since the early 1980's. Back then it was a very primitive process involving an old cooler, dry ice and about a gallon of acetone. Process: pack the blades in dry ice, pour the acetone over the ice to speed the evaporation process, and hit somewhere around the -190 degree mark. Do a normalizing temper (approx. 350 - 450) and voila! Prehistoric Cryo!

Either a typo or bad info here, dry ice only gets to -109 F
 
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Went to Googles patent search. The only patent I see that belongs to Jerry Busse is FOR A FOLDING BLADE LOCK!
 
steve4570 said:
Went to Googles patent search. The only patent I see that belongs to Jerry Busse is FOR A FOLDING BLADE LOCK!
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:confused: Are you excited that he has a patent for a folding blade lock or are you excited that you didn't find a patent on INFI or its heat treat protocol?

The folfing blade lock is old news. :)

I'm not sure that INFI or its heat treat protocol holds a patent. Again, It is described as "a proprietary steel and heat-treat protocol developed by Busse Combat Knife Co.", which means that Busse holds exclusive rights to it. I'm faily certain that Busse Combat owns exclusive legal rights to it, or by now others would be using it also.
 
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They're expensive knives, but you get a pretty good knife for your money. And if you don't like it, most people can recover most, if not more, of their investment selling it on the exchange.

 
Jaxx said:

I'm not sure that INFI or its heat treat protocol holds a patent. Again, It is described as "a proprietary steel and heat-treat protocol developed by Busse Combat Knife Co.", which means that Busse holds exclusive rights to it. I'm faily certain that Busse Combat owns exclusive legal rights to it, or by now others would be using it also.
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I think proprietary means "it's a secret".

Patents are public.
 
Patent this, home boy! :p :D

BusseFolder.jpg
 
I just might have to get a INFI knife and see what all the fuss is about.
:D
 
cybrok said:
I think proprietary means "it's a secret".

Patents are public.
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Yup. If he patented it, anybody could find out what the secrets are, and then the patent would eventually expire and anybody could duplicate it if they wanted to. But that won't happen as long as it remains secret.
 
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