Is AEB-L the toughest stainless being used in knives today?

[AVigil]

I have used a lot of it and have been impressed with the toughness, and performance in the field.

What stainless for knives is tougher?

 

[Maineiac1]

12c27?? never used it but heard of it..

 

[madcap_magician]

12c27?? never used it but heard of it..

12C27 is very similar to 13C26 in composition, IIRC, and 13C26 is basically AEB-L.

 

[Horsewright]

Doing post ht grinding on 45 blades today. 36 are AEB-L. I'm sold. Bout the only stainless I use anymore outside of the occasional stainless dammy.

 

[jll346]

Good to know. I have never ever used stainless. I just ordered a bunch of AEB-L so it will be a first. I will be sending out for heat treating.

 

[Horsewright]

I make my own leather knives out of it too. Run em at 63RC and they cut and cut and cut. This is a side (half a dead cow) of Herman Oak 7/8 oz vegetable tanned leather, what I use for sheaths. Its upside down right now cause there are some roughout sheaths in this batch.

The whole side cut out with the roughout ones to do yet.

Cutting out the roughout sheaths with my roundknife from AEB-L.

Live action:

www.instagram.com/p/BjA922hh64Q/?hl=en&taken-by=horsewrightclothing

Different batch but this is what half a dead cow looks like when finished into sheaths.

My roundknives are the one tool never put away, they live on the workbench and are used daily or almost daily. I sharpen them maybe every 3 or 4 months. Last night after dinner and a long day of grinding blades I went back out to the shop and cut out and tooled a rifle scabbard out of 13/15 oz saddle leather. This stuff is twice as thick as normal sheath leather. The knife was ready to go. Stopped and stropped it a couple of times when it started to drag and got er done. Just like this one. Just got to oil it, sew it up and finish the edges.

AEB-L works. It gets some bad press but thats from folks running it too soft. 62-63 RC bout right.

 

[skillgannon]

I make my own leather knives out of it too. Run em at 63RC and they cut and cut and cut. This is a side (half a dead cow) of Herman Oak 7/8 oz vegetable tanned leather, what I use for sheaths. Its upside down right now cause there are some roughout sheaths in this batch.

The whole side cut out with the roughout ones to do yet.

Cutting out the roughout sheaths with my roundknife from AEB-L.

Live action:

www.instagram.com/p/BjA922hh64Q/?hl=en&taken-by=horsewrightclothing

Different batch but this is what half a dead cow looks like when finished into sheaths.

My roundknives are the one tool never put away, they live on the workbench and are used daily or almost daily. I sharpen them maybe every 3 or 4 months. Last night after dinner and a long day of grinding blades I went back out to the shop and cut out and tooled a rifle scabbard out of 13/15 oz saddle leather. This stuff is twice as thick as normal sheath leather. The knife was ready to go. Stopped and stropped it a couple of times when it started to drag and got er done. Just like this one. Just got to oil it, sew it up and finish the edges.

AEB-L works. It gets some bad press but thats from folks running it too soft. 62-63 RC bout right.

Dave with all the stuff you do I gotta ask, is all that cattle stuff you do just a way to get cheaper leather? I thought I was doing good getting a knife done every 2 weeks while working 70hiur weeks. Looking at your stuff makes me feel lazy.

 

[Horsewright]

Heck no ya ever tried skinning a cow? Too much work. Leaving for a show two weeks from today. Those knives will be done, they will be done, they will be done....altogether now...they will be done, they will be done.....

 

[Bigfattyt]

Heck no ya ever tried skinning a cow? Too much work. Leaving for a show two weeks from today. Those knives will be done, they will be done, they will be done....altogether now...they will be done, they will be done.....

I've skinned a cow!!! Lotta work. Butchering a cow on it's own hide!!!

 

[anvilring]

Hermann Oak leather... Now that is a beautiful thing! I use it as well. Noticed your head knife laying there. I'm about to make my own out of curiosity; actually thought I would try it. I'm going to use 1/8 inch L 6.

Edit: those are some great looking Sheaths by the way! What are you doing for stitching? Campbell /Randall machine? Needle and awl?

 

[Horsewright]

My fav anvilring is Wickett and Craig russet saddle leather. However it's only available in 8/10oz unless ya have it split by the tannery, which takes about a month.so I use my second fav in the right weight from Herman Oak. 1/8" stock is way too thick. I use .040 stock for round knives and skivvers. I have a Ferdco 440 R and will be upgrading to a Cobra 4 around Christmas time hopefully for the stitching.

 

[anvilring]

I've heard of, seen those... very popular. Can they use linen thread? or does i have to be nylon?

 

[Horsewright]

That I do not know sir! Call them and ask for Steve (he's the owner of the co). He'll know. They have an absolutely sterling rep for post sale service and it is absolutely true. We have a lighter machine of theirs already a Cobra 18 and love it.

 

[TLR]

My understanding is that Elmax is the toughest? I've been pretty impressed with it to this point. I ground a couple really thin to test for failure. I have not tried AEB-L yet.

 

[Destructabot]

Worth taking a look at this thread as well as this one.