Is Elmax the new INFI 2.0?

resinguy

resinguy

Joined
Feb 19, 2006
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We have been reading great things about the Elmax Steak Knives. We love INFI for the toughness it brings in big knives, while many users find that other steels work better for them in small blades. Jerry has teased us with talk about testing of INFI 2.0, which apparently is INFI taken to a higher hardness for improved edge holding. But instead of showing us a knife in INFI 2.0, he now is about (2 weeks!) to offer us an Elmax blade with the Busse logo.

Does that make Elmax the new INFI? At least for small blades?

That is not a bad thing, and this is by no means a complaint. We know that Jerry is able to wring the best properties from a given steel due to his own take on the heat treat. So if we can now get skinny small blades with amazing edge retention, that's a good thing.

Let's just lose the choil, OK? ;)
 
I think they need to make a Thin Nick 2.0 with Elemax.


I'm one who thinks that INFI is just fantastic for large blades, but likes the higher hardness BAD, etc.
 
I want to try the new Steak Knives. I bet they are pretty nice. But for anything larger than those, I want the durability of INFI.
 
Bigfattyt said:
I think they need to make a Thin Nick 2.0 with Elemax.


I'm one who thinks that INFI is just fantastic for large blades, but likes the higher hardness BAD, etc.
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I would love this too. Some tough Busse kitchen cutlery in Elmax would be great.

Chris.
 
Could be. Putting a Busse logo on anything other than INFI was huge. Once Jerry has finished tweaking, I'm wondering if we'll get a new steel designation to partner with INFI. I'm thinking "B" as in Busse "10" as in a perfect score on a 10-pt scale and "S" as in Stainless, giving us B10S, which easily translates to BIOS--the ultimate steel for dissembling all things organic.

Under 6 inches and kitchen designs -- BIOS
Over 6 inches and outdoor designs -- INFI
(With overlaps for special projects, naturally)

Yeah--I'm in. :)
 
I have my doubts that it would be referred to as INFI 2.0, so if he called it that I would guess it is something else they are working on.

Elmax is a patented steel produced by Uddeholm, so I don't think that Jerry would be allowed to use it and call it something else.
 
Skrapmetal said:
I have my doubts that it would be referred to as INFI 2.0, so if he called it that I would guess it is something else they are working on.

Elmax is a patented steel produced by Uddeholm, so I don't think that Jerry would be allowed to use it and call it something else.
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I don't think resinguy was suggesting it be called that--just using INFI 2.0 as a descriptor for discussion sake, as Jerry has indicated in the past he was considering a higher hardness INFI for use in some applications. And Elmax is of course a protected name, but only in its specific elemental form. If Jerry decides to tweak the alloy mix as he's done in the past on steels like SR101 and SR77, that protection would not apply.
 
Will York said:
Could be. Putting a Busse logo on anything other than INFI was huge. Once Jerry has finished tweaking, I'm wondering if we'll get a new steel designation to partner with INFI. I'm thinking "B" as in Busse "10" as in a perfect score on a 10-pt scale and "S" as in Stainless, giving us B10S, which easily translates to BIOS--the ultimate steel for dissembling all things organic.

Under 6 inches and kitchen designs -- BIOS
Over 6 inches and outdoor designs -- INFI
(With overlaps for special projects, naturally)

Yeah--I'm in. :)
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Genius, Will. You should get the first knife just for that. You could add a seventh knife to that pinwheel of yours.

AFAIK, Busse has not altered the composition of the 52100 or S7 that they use. It was my understanding that renaming these steels as SR101 or SR77 reflects the unique HT that Busse uses, and that is what distuinguishes the steel from other makers blades.

So if Jerry wants to use Elmax and call it B10S, he could.
 
resinguy said:
Genius, Will. You should get the first knife just for that. You could add a seventh knife to that pinwheel of yours.

AFAIK, Busse has not altered the composition of the 52100 or S7 that they use. It was my understanding that renaming these steels as SR101 or SR77 reflects the unique HT that Busse uses, and that is what distuinguishes the steel from other makers blades.

So if Jerry wants to use Elmax and call it B10S, he could.
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52100 and S7 are general AISI steel designations that no one manufacturer owns, aren't they? Where one manufacturer makes and owns the rights to Elmax.

I'm honestly not sure of how it would work, but it seems like it would be an issue. I could certainly be wrong.
 
Thanks for the endorsement, Guy! :thumbup: :D

You make some good points, Kane. This thread is all in good fun, FWIW. :)
 
Skrapmetal said:
52100 and S7 are general AISI steel designations that no one manufacturer owns, aren't they? Where one manufacturer makes and owns the rights to Elmax.

I'm honestly not sure of how it would work, but it seems like it would be an issue. I could certainly be wrong.
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it's been done before: Sharon steel had a recipe that was sold as Case C-V, CarbonV, and 1095 Cro-Van
 
I keep thinking about a Busse Combat & Rick Hinderer collaboration folder. Hinderer does the frame lock, Busse does the blade with their Elmax recipe. Would make an amazing folder.

Gotta keep the dream alive.....
 
I keep thinking about a Busse Combat & Rick Hinderer collaboration folder. Hinderer does the frame lock, Busse does the blade with their Elmax recipe. Would make an amazing folder.
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Funny you should mention that...I was thinking today that this would be the perfect steel for a folder..and makes me appreciate Jerry's patience even more for not jumping on the S-30v bandwagon a few years back..whatever he & the team have done with the recipe, make it the unrivalled king for cutting (I mean, as far as my uses and experience have been, and after reading on many other consumer experiences with Elmax from other makers)..didn't think about the Hinderer colab...nice ;)

Concerning the OP..interesting question, mate.
Time will tell :). That being said, I personally don't see why he would go to the trouble of printing Elmax on the blades right now only to change it later. Considering he has some kind of special Cryo on them already, would that have been enough potential ground to already stamp a "2.0" or whatever to dispel the questions, if that was what he was going for in the long run? Idk..

I'm thinking (and that is exactly why I'm probably wrong :rolleyes:) that Infi 2.0 will be a continued evolution for the famed "hard use" line in much the same way, if not exactly the same way that INFI is today, and the Elmax, providing he continues using it, will remain segregated so as to help limit confusion for desired applications, and give folks a little pause when they think.."I'm bored; I think I'll chop a door off a car..oh wait...glad I saw Elmax on the blade before I did the deed..better sheath the Elmax and grab some INFI."
 
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lsheldon said:
I keep thinking about a Busse Combat & Rick Hinderer collaboration folder. Hinderer does the frame lock, Busse does the blade with their Elmax recipe. Would make an amazing folder.

Gotta keep the dream alive.....
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Not taking a single thing away from Jerry Busse but Rick Hinderer does an amazing job of getting the most out of the steels he chooses to use.

I would like to see Busse run the Elmax harder than they do most of all in knives like the steak knives. With them being such thin stock I would love to see Busse turn the hardness up to 62-63 on these being as they are not designed to be hard use knives.
 
I think Barrabas' point about S30V is a good one, and a reminder that Jerry has tried other steels on for size over the years that never became mainstream, including S30V in the Swamprat folder and some other steels whose heyday came and went and which even still show up from time-to-time, like ATS34 and D2. But just because he makes a few runs with a new steel doesn't mean it's to become a long-term, mainstream offering.
 
I would like to see Busse run the Elmax harder than they do most of all in knives like the steak knives. With them being such thin stock I would love to see Busse turn the hardness up to 62-63 on these being as they are not designed to be hard use knives.
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I hear ya' Pat.

Personally, and not trying to be argumentative, I would be perfectly pleased if they did nothing differently than what they have already done to the Elmax formula..it holds an edge better than ANYTHING I have ever used.....ever..................................ever.
Being from the Busse line..somebody, (probably me) is going to baton this thing, use it outside the scope of design..and for that, I'm glad it is not a higher hardness ;).
 
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