Japanese exotic steels

Jason B. said:
I believe HAP40 is a solid contender, my Delica and Stretch are excellent performers and have great sharpening qualities. Maybe a production run in the Delica and Endura?

I have always been impressed with the SLD/SKD11 steels, said to be like D2 but I didn't get that impression. My customers that own them don't need them sharpened often any you rarely see one chipped.

I think Shirogami #1 @ 62+ Laminated in stainless would be sweet. A tough steel even at high hardness and takes a wildly sharp edge with ease. Personally, I would buy lots of these.
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I don't own anything in white steel, would definitely be into giving it a go.
 
Riz! said:
...Thanks! And mad respect for actively seeking custmer feedback!

Riz
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Not that I didn't agree with the other part of your post, but the portion I left I could not agree more with. :thumbup:
 
Hi Sal and thank you for asking.
At this time, I am happy with the H1. But, could you or Eric please design a Spyderco kwaiken folder, which would go well with a Japaneses steel.
rolf
 
Sal,

Thank you for asking. My light duty use doesn't have much demand and usually I use PE. In this format, I'm still getting acquainted with ZDP & HAP40. I like them so far and hope both can remain/be made as regular. Haven't tried much H1, perhaps one day as SE.
I like VG10 as well, some people claiming it's not run as hard as it can be, so perhaps you can consider further tweak? If FFG is not tough enough, as in Endura format, is it possible to do convex from existing Sabre Grind design? Slightly thicker but still aggressive slicer.

From my limited experience, the trio Endura, Stretch & Delica will be most beneficial to get the 'upgrade' for the actual people needing good tools.

Again, thanks for asking.
 
If I can't have a Delica in s30v, s35vn, CTS-XHP or M390 then I would LOVE one in Takefu's SG2
 
Alright guys time to bust out your Zknives app!

If you don't know what that is its like the "poke'dex" of steel


Posted this in another thread but I thought I'd post it here to help people make a more educated selection for the next Sprint run

Also, none of these steels match the raw wear resistance of the CPM high vanadium steels.

That's not why we love the Japanese steels

The advantages to Japanese Steels is ease of Sharpening to extremely high sharpness with decent edge holding

A pure joy to use and sharpen.

four different categories to help break these steels down.

Carbon steel-low alloy, will sharpen the best and will rust the fastest
Insane sharpeness is a breeze, deburrs like a dream

Tool steel- toughness and wear resistance are increased over carbon due to high alloying also has slower rusting but all this at cost of some sharpening ease relative to carbon.
Still takes a killer edge! Also deburrs like butter

Stainless steel, longest wear resistance and best corrison resistance at cost of toughness and erase of Sharpening relative to carbon and tool steel.
Also takes an awesome edge. Burr can be stubborn depends on steel.

Powered steel highest wear resistance due to larger volume of content. Can be tool steel or stainless. Burr type depends on steel.

CARBON steel

This is my favorite steel to sharpen

White #1 takes a killer edge



STAINLESS steel

Cobalt Special

Basically Super VG 10, everything you love about vg10 with the volume turnt up :P

My current favorite stainless


TOOL Steel

A Japanese version A2?!

This is one of the easiest steels to sharpen, the burr seems to fall off on its own

TOOL steel
Rockstead has some impressive videos displaying the toughness at very high hardness with this steel. Sharp stuff too.

Powdered STAINLESS steel
SG2 fell through, maybe R2 is the answer! (Same steel different companies)
It's like S30v that takes a better edge at higher hardness.


In the last thread, Sal brought up this steel





It seems to be a suped up version of AUS 8

I bet it takes a great egde.

Someone also mentioned SLD Magic

That's a cool name

Might just have to be that one just because XD
 
How about a run of Jester/Delica/Stretch/Endura in Cobalt Special with cobalt blue handles.
Cobalt Special is a good steel and has that buzzworthyness that inherently will attract interest.
And with cobalt handles would be a winner
And all in G-10 would be freaking epic!
 
Wow, some really great steels listed here. I'd be down to try just about any of these!
 
Hello Sal!


You mentioned not long ago a up coming G10 Endura & Delica in the works, but Had yet to settle on the steel choice.

Me, I'd like one of the premium stainless. I don't know if the upgraded VG-10 ''special cobalt'' qualifies for it. I don't care all that much, as long as it has decent toughness at a 60and+ RH and fine grained! = MAJOR WIN
 
Wowbagger said:
er . . . ummmmm . . .



My source for the bellow statement.

Shirogami/White-series
• Shirogami/White-1 Hardest among the Hitachi steels,but lacks of toughness.
• Shirogami/White-2 Tougher than S/W-1 but as not much Carbon content, thus slightly less hard.

I would like to be reassured that it would be tough enough for Sal to go ahead with . . . the Wiki text questions this . . .

Say it isn't so. (the wiki I mean).
I would probably be fine with it :thumbup: but not sure it is for everyone. Not the best for those who might be hacking dry branches in the yard etc. :confused::eek::confused:
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In my experience with Japanese knives the White Paper steel is noticably more resilient than Blue Paper steel. I see way more chipping and general edge damage on Blue steel than White steel. I was also told that white steel is generally tougher than blue steel and thus being the reason it's used more in Deba's and Yanagi's, better edge stability on thin single bevels.

White #2 is tougher, that is correct, but I think either #1 or #2 would be fine. Personally, I thought the SB Endura I had was too brittle for EDC.
 
Oh man loving these suggestions. Special Cobalt or SG2 gets my vote now. I for one like stainless steels (of course nothing is completely stainless) as I use the Delica for whatever is required to be cut during the day. I also just clean it by running it under the faucet with a little dishsoap and then its back in the pocket!
 
Sal,

Thank you for asking!

I'd love a Lum Tanto folder made with a full super blue or white steel blade (not clad). I think that kind of Japanese steel is a perfect compliment for Mr. Lum's Tanto design.

Also, a waved endura in zdp-189 would be awesome.
 
levs18 said:
Sal,

Thank you for asking!

I'd love a Lum Tanto folder made with a full super blue or white steel blade (not clad). I think that kind of Japanese steel is a perfect compliment for Mr. Lum's Tanto design.

Also, a waved endura in zdp-189 would be awesome.
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The patina would be awesome but don't forget that your pivot area and lock up will rust away, destroying the knife. Or causing too much maintance work to make it a usable folding knife.
It would take an awesome high performance knife and regulate it to a collector piece only.

Also patina doesn't prevent rust, it just helps reduce the reactivity of the steel.

That's why I'm a huge fan of stainless cladding.

The advantages, especially in a folder, are huge.

And you still get a patina, plus a stronger knife ;)
 
I'd be cool with cladding if it was still strong. I remember that the super blue enduras could be bent pretty easily.
 
Not a specialist on Japanese steels but am still a big fan of my Superblue Spydies, also really like the stainless cladding for a folder, might give some extra scratches when in use but makes for a much better allround user. Unfortunately didn't manage to get any of the HAP40 yet and have my sights on some ZDP189 now to try again with 5 more years of different steel experience since I last owned a blade in that steel.
Would be keen to see more carbon/tool steels in general, would like more 52100 & M4 as well but would be very interested in more Japanese carbon steels too.
 
I would love to see a compression lock knife in Super blue. I think that if I had a Paramilitary 2 in SuperBlue I wouldn't carry anything else. Also ... more 52100 please
 
That MRS-30 sounds intriguing. :)

Also, YXR7, although I have no experience with it. Just have always admired the Rocksteads.



I have a feeling this will sway toward Shirogami 1. As long as I can recall this being discussed since SG2 fell through, it seems there is even more interest in the carbon steels as "exotics" and I see the white paper 1 mentioned often!
 
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