Kershaw Composite Blade Leek

Regarding the CPM D2, the only reason I declined to get the Mili in CPM D2 is because Spyderco tends to underharden these new super steels, for example the Caly Jr ZDP @ HrC 61-62. I did not find out what hardness the Mili D2 was but expected that it will be on the same hardness as regular D2.

The reason that I got them kershaws is because i am a cheapskate and they do come cheaper from Kershaw and Kershaw is willing to run these new steels harder which is the whole point of the CPM D2. I must confess that there has not been much chatter about these Composite bladed Kershaws as at.
 
kevtan said:
Regarding the CPM D2, the only reason I declined to get the Mili in CPM D2 is because Spyderco tends to underharden these new super steels, for example the Caly Jr ZDP @ HrC 61-62. I did not find out what hardness the Mili D2 was but expected that it will be on the same hardness as regular D2.
Kershaw is willing to run these new steels harder which is the whole point of the CPM D2.
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I do not know what hardness Kershaw takes their CPM-D2.

However I was very surprised how easy I was able to hone the CPM-D2 while re-profiling for a convexed edge.

Also I saw some fold-over which I did not expect from a hard(er) steel like CPM-D2 - which is supposed to be crisper and resists fold-overs.

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Vincent
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Yup, encountered the same fold overs. My take on this is that because the steel particles a so fine, they resisted being torn out from the edge matrics. Althought almost all the steels be they carbon or stainless or them new fangled CPM super steels produces foldover. I have sharpened a M2HS machanical hacksaw blade @ 64HrC running it down to 13deg total and it made a heck of a long foldover. The only way to get rid of the foldover while not destroying the edge is by stropping. That produced an edge that will slit hair.
 
UnknownVT said:
The blade now cuts through better having much less resistance at the bevel transition to the face.
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Here's an informal ad-hoc test showing the improvement -
I compared cutting corrugated cardboard between this now convexed Composite Blade Leek verses the 13C26 Leek and the RAM (see Review - Kershaw RAM) both of which I had praised for having much thinner hollow grinds without too much widening/thickening toward the edge.

My previous comparison of the Composite Blade Leek with the factory edge was easily out-cut by the 13C26 Leek - see Post #5 above

cbLeekCdbdCut.jpg


This time the convexed CB Leek out cut the 13C26 Leek - and I used the 13C26 Leek twice to make sure the first cut wasn't somehow sub-par. The convexed CB Leek also just out cut the RAM.

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Vincent
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Great review :)

I have been carrying my CB leek for while now and am loving it.
2613648805_389fde2cba.jpg


The CPM-D2 takes a great edge, but takes a bit longer to get that edge than S30V or 154CM or 13C26. However, once you get that edge, it lasts longer in my experience.
 
Regarding the CPM D2, the only reason I declined to get the Mili in CPM D2 is because Spyderco tends to underharden these new super steels, for example the Caly Jr ZDP @ HrC 61-62.
Click to expand...

Where did you get this information from? Joe
 
I cant really remember, but i think the 61-63 HrC was discussed when the 1st ZDP laminated blade of the Caly Burgundy was done. I think it was discussed in the Spyderco Forums. Or it may have been the BF Spydie forum. But it was at least 2 to 3 years ago. So take my opinion for what its worth. I remembered that I was a bit dissapointed that the William Henry laminated ZDP was advertised as 64-65 HrC but Spyderco only runs theirs 2 points lower. Stil I bought 2 of the Caly Burg.!!
 
Kevtan, I recall two forumites getting their ZDP tested. One was RC64.5 , the other was 65.5 IIRC. Spyderco ran their BG42 at RC62, and their 52100 the same. It wouldn't make a bit of sense to run ZDP at RC 61 to 63. Joe
 
The Mastiff said:
Kevtan, I recall two forumites getting their ZDP tested. One was RC64.5 , the other was 65.5 IIRC. Spyderco ran their BG42 at RC62, and their 52100 the same. It wouldn't make a bit of sense to run ZDP at RC 61 to 63. Joe
Click to expand...

Thank you, 'Big Dog' its good to know. Do you recall if they did the test on the Laminated ZDP or the solid ZDP of the Endura?

Actually, I am a bit surprised that Spyderco ran the ZDP so high, because the Caly Burg blade resharpens just like S30V, not quite as easily as VG10 but still easier than my handmade machanical hacksaw blade of M2 @ 64HrC. The ZDP core took a wire edge but stropped out to be hair splitting sharp, which in my opinion just a tad is easier when compared to S30V.

Ooops, sorry for the off topic.

Now back on topic, I wonder what the CPM D2 costs say compared to S30V or SG2 of the JYD II Ti SG2? Is it really necessary to skimp on the cost of a full CPM D2 blade as compared to soldering the CPM D2 edge on?

How about laminating the CPM D2 just like laminated ZDP? How many would sell if Kershaw made such a blade???????
 
kevtan said:
I wonder what the CPM D2 costs say compared to S30V or SG2 of the JYD II Ti SG2? Is it really necessary to skimp on the cost of a full CPM D2 blade as compared to soldering the CPM D2 edge on?
Click to expand...

The composite blades were probably done more for the looks/cosmetic reasons rather than any savings in costs, or for any "strength" reasons.
I would guess the Kershaw process for making these composite blades is probably more costly than making a blade out of solid CPM-D2

I personally really like the looks of the composite blade on this Leek - it reminds me of the hamon or differential tempering on Japanese swords.

--
Vincent
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Vincent, I really like my leek and JYD2 but I also figured that the composite blade would cost more than solid blades as there are more time spent and more processing done, depending on the cost of raw CPM D2 steel. I am in agreement that the solder line really look cool. And the way Kershaw darken the D2 to contrast the blade was really the piece de resistance.

But 1 thing I noticed is that the CPM D2 thickness is less than half the thickness of the blade. Makes me wonder if buying the D2 in thin strips or rolls saves cost as to make it viable for Kershaw to offset the composite construction.

Of course, being that Kershaw is the only production company in the world currently making blades this way for general public comsumption. It really makes Kershaw shines out from the rest.

Way to go Kershaw!!!! I salute you. You have made to get more folder than i know what to do with them!!!????
 
kevtan said:
I also figured that the composite blade would cost more than solid blades as there are more time spent and more processing done, depending on the cost of raw CPM D2 steel.
But 1 thing I noticed is that the CPM D2 thickness is less than half the thickness of the blade. Makes me wonder if buying the D2 in thin strips or rolls saves cost as to make it viable for Kershaw to offset the composite construction.
Click to expand...

I don't think that at the composite "assembly" stage the CPM-D2 stock is any thinner than the other steel - if it were then the subsequent grinding would probably be hindered if not very difficult.

This crop from the Kershaw 2008 catalog for the Tyrade shows the "jigsaw" components for the composite blade -
and the 2 parts seem to be about the same thickness?

TyradeComposite.jpg


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Vincent
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Wow! Thanks for the pics Vincent. Interesting how they designed the cuttings so that non is wasted.Looks like a giant puzzle.
 
UnknownVT said:
what looks like a "ooops" bit of honing that extends a bit more into the face - I think (not too sure though) the blade actually feels thicker there - so the grinding on the flat hone took more away on the thicker (raised) part.
Click to expand...

That almost sounds like a feeble excuse for poor honing control.

But I checked more carefully around that area and found that it wasn't really a raised area - but more like a shallow dip in the face going from that "encroachment" to the tip - and since I was concentrating on getting the tip 's transistion bevel thinner - it ground away the relatively higher part more - it's hard to see even in the flesh - but by varying the angle of lighting somewhat I managed to get a photo that shows this dipped area more -

First a normal photo only slightly enhanced to show the dip -
cbLeekBldDipS.jpg

if one looks carefully the dip can be seen due to the shadow cast - I've pointed the area out with the obvious red arrows.

In case the area does not show that well on any monitor - here's an exaggerated enhancement of the same photo to emphasized that area -
cbLeekBldDipEs.jpg

the contour of the bevel also helps to see the dip, as it follows the varience in flatness.

--
Vincent
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