Klein knives

K

~kev~

Joined
Jul 21, 2009
Messages
5
Can someone give me some information on klein knives? These are made by the the same company that makes klein tools.

I recently bought a model 44003 with a blade made out of AUS8 stainless steel. 2 weeks ago I lost it while on a hiking trip. When my kids and I stopped to eat dinner. I used the knife to open the MREs and sat the knife on the log next to me. When we got up, the log shifted and the knife fell off behind us - I did not know this until later. When we finished eating and were ready to move on, that is when I realized the knife was missing. It was getting late and I did not have the time to look for it.

A week later my daughter and I went back to where I thought I dropped it at. We were lucky enough to find the knife next to the log were I was using it.

Anyway, after being exposed to the weather for a solid week, the blade has some small rust spots on it. Which aint no big deal, I'll just put some oil on it.

What I am wondering, to rust, does the AUS8 stainless steel have a high carbon content? And what kind of quality are these Klein Knives?
 
I had the Klein that looked like the Buck110 & it was a very soild knife. if it's like their hand tools then then they are good knives !
 
The 44003 is plainly stated as having AUS 8 alloy.
http://www.mytoolstore.com/klein/44000.html

flnder, the alloy used in the knives that you and I have is not plainly stated
http://www.mytoolstore.com/klein/44032.html

AUS8 has
~0.75% Carbon
~14% Chromium
+ small amounts of Nickel, Molybdenum, and Vanadium

It is a step above 440A and 420HC in any type of edge retention test. In most test techniques, AUS8 falls below 440C in edge retention. It takes a very keen edge with relatively little effort.

I don't have one of the new model Klein AUS8 knives, the Klein compact line that I have is very well built. I can't imagine any tool sold under the Klein name being less than top notch. Klein has been THE name in electrician's hand tools for years (It's been some 30 years since I bought my set of Klein tools and they had been THE brand for years at that point.)
 
I used to put up steel studs and on that job,the Kleins were referred to by brand name. As were the Weiss cutters. I know my (and yours,Frank) Klein is quality,I just would kinda like to know how much quality. My Klein is almost too nice to use.
 
flnder said:
I just would kinda like to know how much quality.
Click to expand...

Out of all of the knives I have carried over the past 25 - 30 years (I'am 41 years old), the klein is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Some of the brand names I have used - uncle henry / shrade, gerber, swiss army, winchester, buck,,,, to name a few.

The blade seems easy to sharpen. I have only had to sharpen it once since I have owned it. The one time I had to sharpen it, the blade took and edge in just a couple of minutes.

The thing that I like about it, the thumb assist does not stick out but about 1/16 past the handle. The problem I run into, since I carry my knife in my back pocket next to my wallet, the thumb assist will slowly tear a hole in may pants pocket. My gerber tore holes in just about all of my back pants pocket - that is one reason why I stopped carrying it. But I have not had that problem with the Klein.

The knife is very light. The composite handle gives the appearance of light weight and heavy duty.

At one end there is a hole for a lanyard, but I do not use that for everyday use.

The lock seems strong, but I have not put a lot of weight on it either. I did however open the knife and almost beat the back of the blade on a piece of wood to see if the lock would break, and it did not. I was like - bam, bam, bam, beating the back of the blade against the wood and nothing happened - except the wood got a few dents in it.

So far, I would have to rate the klein right next to the uncle henry I had 15 - 20 years ago. Dang I miss that uncle henry - that was a fine knife.
 
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