Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
First of all, I assume that you want high wear resistance to give good edge holding. If this is the case then consider that there are many more factors in edge holding than simply wear resistance such as : toughness, ductility, compression resistance and cutting ability. For anything besides low stress slicing, wear resistance is not the dominant factor because the edge will either fracture, roll or dent long before it will wear away. If this is the case by using a high wear resistant steel you have just made your life much harder because it will take much more work to sharpen the edge and it lasted no longer, in fact not as long.
Specifically, CPM-3V is far tougher at 62 RC than 10V is at 60 RC, and probably still at 58 RC. This means that it will resist denting far greater (higher RC), as well as fracture (higher toughness). It should wear down smoothly wheas the 10V will chip out. As well even though 10V has a greater potential for wear resistance comparing it to 3V with a 4 RC difference tilts the scales a little back towards 3V.
Now your approach of simply making the blade really thick solves one problem (the edge chipping) but just introduces another. As Dave pointed out, you can easily alter the geomtery to greatly increase the cutting ability. You however can't do this with 10V as it doesn't have the materials base for it, you would end up with a knife that is too fragile. You will be able to make a much better cutting blade from a tougher steel.
Consider the Magnum Camp from Becker. Now the wear resistance of the steel they are using will be far less than 10V even at 58 RC. However will the blade you are making outcut the Magnum Camp, no. It is much thicker in profile and designed for prying and heavy chopping in hard and thick woods. So basically for all light work it will be readily out cut. I would assume based on the specs I have heard, by easily a factor of more than 2. Now consider for any long term use fatigue can easily enhance this allowing the blade that cuts better to greatly jump ahead in performance. With a decent amount of work that factor of 2 can easily be a factor of 4. And consider as well now, even if the 10V blade stays sharper, wouldn't you rather cut the work down to 25% and strop the Magnum Camp a little at lunchtime.
-Cliff
Specifically, CPM-3V is far tougher at 62 RC than 10V is at 60 RC, and probably still at 58 RC. This means that it will resist denting far greater (higher RC), as well as fracture (higher toughness). It should wear down smoothly wheas the 10V will chip out. As well even though 10V has a greater potential for wear resistance comparing it to 3V with a 4 RC difference tilts the scales a little back towards 3V.
Now your approach of simply making the blade really thick solves one problem (the edge chipping) but just introduces another. As Dave pointed out, you can easily alter the geomtery to greatly increase the cutting ability. You however can't do this with 10V as it doesn't have the materials base for it, you would end up with a knife that is too fragile. You will be able to make a much better cutting blade from a tougher steel.
Consider the Magnum Camp from Becker. Now the wear resistance of the steel they are using will be far less than 10V even at 58 RC. However will the blade you are making outcut the Magnum Camp, no. It is much thicker in profile and designed for prying and heavy chopping in hard and thick woods. So basically for all light work it will be readily out cut. I would assume based on the specs I have heard, by easily a factor of more than 2. Now consider for any long term use fatigue can easily enhance this allowing the blade that cuts better to greatly jump ahead in performance. With a decent amount of work that factor of 2 can easily be a factor of 4. And consider as well now, even if the 10V blade stays sharper, wouldn't you rather cut the work down to 25% and strop the Magnum Camp a little at lunchtime.
-Cliff
