Is talonite dead?

W

Whoever Wherever

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Nov 17, 2006
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After all the hoop lah about Talonite I never hear of it anymore. Was it usurped by newer steels or where there problems with HTing it? Did it just not live up to the hype? I have seen it mentioned in threads for shure, usually with someone saying they liked it. But then it disapeared it seems. Anyone have opinions about it?
 
BJS,
Talonite isn't dead...iis pretty expensive and Alpha Knife Supply is the only provider of the stuff that I am aware of....Rob Simonich used to be, but he is in Heaven now.....
Talonite and Stellit 6K are similar....They arwe fine blade material. You don't heat reat it. grind, shape and finish the stuff.....if you can afford the belts to do so......(smile).

It is a fine material...just alot different that a heat-treatable steel......

Ther is a, somewhat masochistic, fellow in Kokomo, IN who does fileworked multiblade lslipjoints with Talonite blades......and they are beautiful....
but Dog-gone tough to get to a finished product.....

Check out the last few years of BLADE..200X....some good knives.....but still if a maker is willing to use Talonite he/she is a specialist....or masochist....
 
Do you know George, John? What a nice man. Nancy has one of his Stellite paring knives..it's her favorite.

I'm working on a small Talonite blade right now just to try the stuff. It is a PITA to get a nice finish on.
 
I have two knives in talonite. One Camillus talonite folder and a Rekat(defunct) large folder with carbon fiber handles and side lock. Both get rarely used but great cutters! Talonite, stellite, cobalt are in the same family, I think. I have two cobalt fixed blades by Boye being worked on by a maker. I think the only drawback with these blades are the cost and hard to grind.:thumbup:
 
Thanks for the info, I saw it on Alpha and wondered if I should get some to play with. Sounds interesting, I'll have to read up on it a bit more. Does the lack of heat treat mean its precipitation hardened like H-1?
 
Hi BigJim, Talonite was initially Stellite 6BH. The name was changed so as not to confuse it with the popular material Stellite 6K. IMHO it has not lived up to all the hype. I have ground several blades out of the material including a user/test blade for myself. I have ground it thick (convex), I have ground it thin (flat & hollow) and in all cases I would much rather have a good piece of tool steel. It performs well for cutting meat, veggies etc. but as soon as you hit something hard (bone) the edge seems to roll. I made a Blade for a local acquaintance and told him that when & (if)(this was before any personal testing and going from what I had heard & read) it ever gets dull I would touch it up for him. I see him every other week. He can't seem to sharpen it himself, (diamond works fine) but he must be "one of those guys that just can't" :confused: . I wish now I would have never made it for him, he spends quite a bit of time in the bar (after working the woods logging) and it has become a "topic of conversation" and an "example" of my work around here. Not a good move on my part, it has cost me "jobs" around the local area. Not because of the profile or looks but because it won't hold an edge, the most important part of a Blade IMHO. In regards to Alpha ? Great people !! Chuck is an innovative guy not afraid to try new things (i.e.Timascus...AWESOME!!) I can't say enough good things about them and this is in no way a reflection of them. These are my honest opinions, I mean no malice towards anyone here. Just my findings.
 
David, I have had the same problems with 6K. And from what I've picked up from other makers, It doesn't come up to the level of 6k Performance. Killed all interest for me. As to 6K finish. Yes it is difficult. I have read over and over that you can't put a full mirror on it. Yes you can. It just takes a lot of work. Fitzo has ask that I post my technique for Mirror polishing D2 ( A bit off Topic Here). As soon as I get back from the Loveless shop, the end of Feb. I am going to post it. Back to the Talonite, the problem that I have seen in 6k, and have herd a lot about from other makers is that it does a very good job of holding an edge. If all you want to do is cut string, open boxes, or other light chores, It's great. Where the problem comes in, is the low Rockwell hardness. With it being in the 40's, the edge tends to turn easily. I tried it back in the mid 70's, and liked its edge holding ability. But when field dressing game, the lightest brush with bone would turn the edge. There are many steels that make a better field knife. Although, they are not technically a steel at all, but a non ferrous metal. Mike
 
Wow, edge in the 40's!! I think I'll pass on this steel. Thanks alot for the input guys, I dont have the cash to experiment with everything. Thank goodness for BladeForums and its amazing ability to save me money and time (due to all you guys n gals of course).
 
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