Is N690CO a super steel.

I have one knife in N690. A Benchmade Monochrome. I measured the blade hardness at 59HRC.
The review is here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/541546-Review-Benchmade-Monochrome-and-N690-steel

A comparison of its edge retention in comparison to other melt alloys is here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...tainless-alloys-using-a-visual-inspection-tec

I probably would not call it a "superalloy". These days, I would probably reserve that superlative for one of the PM alloys. But it has very good properties and if I found a knife I liked with that blade steel, I would happily buy it.


Hope that helps.
 
I have one knife in this steel - a custom. I am very happy. SO I conclude that it is possible for a good knife to be made from N690CO.

Would every knife in that steel by every maker be as good?
 
While N690 is good steel, there are numerous steel that beat it in almost every category such as CTS-XHP, CPM154, CTS-B75P etc. So I wouldn't consider N690 as superior steel.
 
On paper it looks a lot like 440c with a cobalt enhancement, and a sprinkle of vanadium.

Or vg10 with more chromium.

So I would guess it would perform like a more corrosion resistant vg10, or a stronger (though necessarily tougher) 440c... I haven't any experience with it yet, but it is high on my list, most notably because Arno Bernard uses it almost exclusively and I really like some of his knife designs, so hope to one day in the near(ish) future save up enough to own some from him.
 
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I've only had N680 to compare so I'll give a hefty +1 for the bohler nitrogen steels, but there is no such thing as a super steel.
 
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Boris,

I gave you my experience with said steel, and so did others. If you're going to complain about the quality of our posts and throw a hissy fit anytime someone says something you don't like, I think you're best off not having a computer.
 
Blues Bender said:
Boris,

I gave you my experience with said steel, and so did others. If you're going to complain about the quality of our posts and throw a hissy fit anytime someone says something you don't like, I think you're best off not having a computer.
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Hear! Hear!:thumbup:
 
i have n680 knives and from what ive heard the n690 is pretty darn good bit harder then n680 but still good for no rust
 
Boris74 said:
Go lick an electric fence, you'll be more conductive.
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Fixed it for ya.


I'd say N690 is pretty super in all respects. I've used it in both a production as well as a custom knife. I was quite happy with it's performance.
 
Blues Bender said:
Boris,

I gave you my experience with said steel, and so did others. If you're going to complain about the quality of our posts and throw a hissy fit anytime someone says something you don't like, I think you're best off not having a computer.
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I'm trying to figure out why the need for this, other than to get the last word and reignite a dying flame.
Or after several warnings, you somehow feel like you're exempt. For whatever reason.

At any rate, Arno Bernard uses this steel exclusively. I have several of his knives, but only one that I use.
I can tell you that I did a side by side comparison in a rope cutting test and pitted the bernard knife against a Solingen Boker 440C knife.
The N690 edge far out lasted the 440c blade. Not sure exactly why because everything I've read claims that N690 is comparable to 440C.
As far as super steels go : How much time do you want to spend in putting an edge back on said knife?
Personally I'd rather carry a knife in the field that I can put an edge on with a pocket stone and strop it on my boot, rather than carry a belt grinder.
N690 fits the bill in that scenario. So does 440C. So does 01 tool steel, only without the anti corrosive properties. As do a number of other steels.

The so called super steels, in my opinion, are subject to scrutiny under survival situations. In other words, Id rather spend hours looking for food than sharpening a dull knife.
For this very reason, I carry a Bernard knife utilizing n690. I also coat strips on the insides of both my wolverine boots with 800 grit aluminum oxide and a bit honing oil to rub it into the leather, and then let it dry out. Some might say oh that can't possibly work.
They would be wrong.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is, I'm not so sure there's any such thing as a super steel, considering the trade offs. You don't know how many people that I know that went out and bought the latest greatest SV30, for example, and then had to listen to the complaints about putting an edge back on it, or even worse , reprofiling. Then so, it may be wise to re-evaluate the term "super steel."

Disclaimer: I'm no knife expert. I'm just a guy who needs a sharp knife on me at all times.
 
knarfeng said:
I have one knife in N690. A Benchmade Monochrome. I measured the blade hardness at 59HRC.
The review is here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/541546-Review-Benchmade-Monochrome-and-N690-steel

A comparison of its edge retention in comparison to other melt alloys is here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...tainless-alloys-using-a-visual-inspection-tec

I probably would not call it a "superalloy". These days, I would probably reserve that superlative for one of the PM alloys. But it has very good properties and if I found a knife I liked with that blade steel, I would happily buy it.


Hope that helps.
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I went back looking to see what HRC Benchmade/Lonewolf used for their N680, but couldn't find much other than 57-59, probably similar to your experiences. I do enjoy that they list M390 as a "super-performance blade steel", can't argue with that terminology. :D
 
I own an older Benchmade in N690 and its a decent all around steel that I would rank in the same range as VG10 or 440C.
 
IXLR8 said:
I guess what I'm trying to say here is, I'm not so sure there's any such thing as a super steel, considering the trade offs. You don't know how many people that I know that went out and bought the latest greatest SV30, for example, and then had to listen to the complaints about putting an edge back on it, or even worse , reprofiling. Then so, it may be wise to re-evaluate the term "super steel."

Disclaimer: I'm no knife expert. I'm just a guy who needs a sharp knife on me at all times.
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The funny thing is that 40 years ago 440C was considered a "super steel" and people complained about it being to hard to sharpen:D
 
Blues Bender said:
It seems like N690 needs to be understood by the maker, or it will be a very poor knife steel. This has been my experience, and others may not feel the same way. Take it for what it is...
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It seems like custom makers who do better heat treats and spend more attention to detail seem to get the best out of most steels while most production knives are like a box of chocolates.
 
Morrow said:
You know full well where the lines are here but this is close to earning you another trolling infraction. It still might depending on how I feel later. Keep the nonsense where it belongs.
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Thank you.
 
155440 said:
It seems like custom makers who do better heat treats and spend more attention to detail seem to get the best out of most steels while most production knives are like a box of chocolates.
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Ain't that the truth.
 
Boris74 said:
What's anyone's experience with N690CO steel. Seen a blade I like in it but never used it. Comparisons to regular steels, even opinions.
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Boris, maybe you can say what kind of work you want the knife to perform and what about the blade you think can handle the work you want to do. I think guys want to help you but you gotta give more info if you want someone to tell you if N690 would be a super steel for your duties. I'd think VG10 and 154CM would be pretty close so if those would be super for what you need, then sure, it's a super steel. No question it's tougher, cleaner, and with better wear and stain resistance than 8CR13MOV, but I doubt there'd be a hugely noticeable difference unless someone took it to a level not seen in production knives or if you needed to take one aspect of the steel to the extreme and then compare it to another.

And also, what's a regular steel? Pure iron and carbon? Iron, carbon, and chromium? Iron, carbon, chromium, and vanadium? Carbon at .65% and higher? That's a really vague term man.
 
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Boris, not sure if I'd consider that steel a super-steel (as others have said, it's a somewhat arbitrary term these days), but the experience I had with N690Co was generally positive. I briefly had a Spyderco Roadie which features this steel. It was really sharp, and it seemed to stay sharp despite all of the paper and cardboard cutting I did with it. I ended up gifting it to a coworker. I can't say that I had what you would consider hard use, but the edge DID hold up to things which generally start to dull an 8cr13mov or even a CPM-154 blade.
 
fsatsil said:
The funny thing is that 40 years ago 440C was considered a "super steel" and people complained about it being to hard to sharpen:D
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I was going to mention this, and I'm glad you did. While I wasn't around for the release, I hear about how 440c was one of the "original" super steels. Now its considered more or less middle of the road.

I've got one blade in 440c that I find more than adequate, so I think personally id be ok with n690 (take that as you will). At least as a non-high impact steel (ie, not a chopper or batoning knife).

Good luck on the choice :).
 
This whole topic would depend on your definition "super steel".

My opinion is no. But I have no experience so feel free to disregard.
 
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