INFI, SR77, and SR101

Pygmalion

Pygmalion

Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
988
Can someone tell me the main functional differences in these three steels (INFI, SR77, and SR101). If My understanding is correct it is basically a difference in the heat treating process. Are the three steels close in functionality and durability? Isn't INFI Busse's brainchild, and the SR's are Swamp Rat's?
Last question... Of SR77 and SR101, which is "better"?
 
INFI = INFI + Busse heat treat


SR77 = S7 + SY heat treat

SR101 = 52100 + SR heat treat.


"Better" is determined by your application, each has it's strong and weak points.


Someone not at work can finish :o
 
More of a question than a statement. I thought I had read that SR101 and SR77 each had Nitrogen and Cobalt added making them slightly different than 52100 and S7. I have read that SR77 takes and holds an edge better than normal S7.
Ron Athay
 
jimmyjones said:
INFI = INFI + Busse heat treat


SR77 = S7 + SY heat treat

SR101 = 52100 + SR heat treat.


"Better" is determined by your application, each has it's strong and weak points.


Someone not at work can finish :o
Click to expand...

OK, that helps! Probably 3 excellent steels. Where can I learn more about the strong and weak points of them?
 
Ron Athay said:
More of a question than a statement. I thought I had read that SR101 and SR77 each had Nitrogen and Cobalt added making them slightly different than 52100 and S7. I have read that SR77 takes and holds an edge better than normal S7.
Ron Athay
Click to expand...


No, sr101 and sr77 had extra chromium and carbon added. It's INFI that has nitrogen and cobalt.
 
It depends on your application.

One thing that should be understood right away is that all three of them are heat treated at a level that is not accepted in the main stream of knife manufacturing.

I understand that SR101 is a little better suited for masonry work, and INFI has been tested on rope until there was no more rope available. I don't know what SR7 is known for, but whatever your intended use is you can be confident that the knife is going to take it.

I think that in the end it come down to.

INFI will drain your wallet faster.
 
Well, if you believe some of the guys over in Wilderness, the three steels just have varying degrees of magic dust. :p
 
Here's a parallel question:

I know INFI is through-tempered and SR101 is differentially-tempered (zone-tempered). What is the story with SR77?

Rick
 
rbmcmjr said:
Here's a parallel question:

I know INFI is through-tempered and SR101 is differentially-tempered (zone-tempered). What is the story with SR77?

Rick
Click to expand...


sr77 is thru tempered. S7 has no need to be differentially tempered to improve toughness, just like INFI, it is extrremely tough all it's own.
 
Guyon said:
Well, if you believe some of the guys over in Wilderness, the three steels just have varying degrees of magic dust. :p
Click to expand...

Ha, ha...you funny man, Guyon!!! Just don't let Magic Chef (or whatever his name is (insert banned smilie here) ) find out. You never know when your Busse might leave you stranded and he'll happen along with some unbelievably inexpensive equivalent (sans all the hype, that is) and save the day. :rolleyes:
 
on_the_edge said:
Ha, ha...you funny man, Guyon!!! Just don't let Magic Chef (or whatever his name is (insert banned smilie here) ) find out. You never know when your Busse might leave you stranded and he'll happen along with some unbelievably inexpensive equivalent (sans all the hype, that is) and save the day. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...


ROTFLMAO...that about says it all....:thumbup::D
 
rbmcmjr said:
Here's a parallel question:

I know INFI is through-tempered and SR101 is differentially-tempered (zone-tempered). What is the story with SR77?

Rick
Click to expand...

Not all SR-101 blades are differentially tempered. The Mini Mojos are through tempered.
 
IIRC, the ScrapYard site states that S7 is jack hammer (bit) steel. Quite tough on its own, as Cobalt has already noted. Pete
 
I've looked into SR77 a little bit. As previously stated it's S7 tool steel with a proprietary heat treatment, or at least that's my understanding.

The "S" in S7 denotes Shock Resistant tool steel. The S steels are supposedly the toughest of the tool steels, with industrial applications mostly in impact tools, such as punches, shear blades, and jackhammer bits.

Thus, it's an extremely tough steel that makes a phenomenally tough blade, as was exhibited in noss4's destruction test of the Scrapyard Scrapper 6, which you can view at www.knifetests.com

I regard it as an excellent chopping and prying steel. I haven't had much chance to form an opinion on sharpenability and edge holding.
 
Cobalt said:
No, sr101 and sr77 had extra chromium and carbon added. It's INFI that has nitrogen and cobalt.
Click to expand...

is this true?????????

I've always heard that sr101 and sr77 were the original steels with an in house heat treatment, rather then a technically different steel (or at least, different % then their originating steel mixtures. if it is true that each steel, as it is found in scrap yard and swamp rat, has more carbon and chromium added, then that makes both companies a little more desirable since their steels are not common.

and am I also incorrect in beleiving that each companies heat treatment would pass through jerry's hands before being finalized? I know that they are technically considered competition, but since at least swamp rat is in the same facility and a "sister" company within the busse family, it seems like technical help would not be out of the question.

basically, I had always thought that swamp rats heat treatment of sr101 was essentially how jerry would heat treat it if he was using it for his own companies knives.
 
Personal experience, blurbs, threads and arguments has led me to this conslusion:

INFI = Tough, wear resistant and stain resistant. Not the wonder steel some claim and certainly not impervious to damage and staining, but better than most and a good allrounder.
SR101 = 52100 with "special heat treat", though most makers claim to have a better heat treat than others. Renaming it is just silly IMO. It's about the same as a well treated high carbon steel. Takes a good edge and holds it well but rusts easily.
SR77 = S7, again with the silly renaming. Good for hammers and axes intended for hard objects. Takes a decent edge but doesn't hold it well. Rusts easily.
 
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