Knife Toughness "Measurements"

Where do you draw the line between 'toughness' and cost. The better the steel the higher the price. I guess it boils down to what you want to spend
 
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I'm not worried very much about price, though I wouldn't likely spend more than $1,000 on a knife (maybe once in a lifetime, who knows!).
 
When you count labor hours, the biggest cost of a steel is the heat treat. Mass production HT costs much less than low production or custom HT. So you should consider that into cost.
 
Is INFI tough? I found this steel listed, but no knife makers or companies use it. It seems similar to an A8 steel? Is A8 tough? Does anyone make knives from A8?
 
lovemysteel said:
Is INFI tough? I found this steel listed, but no knife makers or companies use it. It seems similar to an A8 steel? Is A8 tough? Does anyone make knives from A8?
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Im not A Busse expert but I believe they use infini for their blades.
 
lovemysteel said:
Is INFI tough? I found this steel listed, but no knife makers or companies use it. It seems similar to an A8 steel? Is A8 tough? Does anyone make knives from A8?
Click to expand...

INFI is very tough, it's a proprietary steel used by Busse. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to separate myth from reality where INFI is concerned, as Busse has many, many diehard fans who make various claims about its properties, some bordering on the miraculous.
 
INFI is quite tough. Its really not like AUS8 at all.

Most people seem to generally agree that CPM-3V is about the closest thing available to INFI (although its not a perfect comparision).
 
Seems we're veering off topic back into the steel discussion. You're wanting a tough knife that can withstand a little beating yet not be 8 ounces with a .200" thick blade that will actually cut and be pocketable. Correct?

Off the top of my head with knives I actually have experience with, I'd say the Spyderco Military, large or small Sebenza 21, and Benchmade 710. Each of those are thin and slim enough to comfortably carry in pocket but still lightweight and capable of taking a lot of abuse yet capable of being slicers. All made out of good materials.
 
I personally attribute a knife's "toughness" as "it will accomplish the minimum goals I intend to use the knife for." YMMV.
 
ocnLogan said:
INFI is quite tough. Its really not like AUS8 at all.

Most people seem to generally agree that CPM-3V is about the closest thing available to INFI (although its not a perfect comparision).
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Isn't INFI based on VG-10 but with a magic heat treat? ;)
 
Sooooooo.....Infi is absolutely an amazing steel, the best I have yet had the pleasure to use, however.....they don't make folders only fixed blades so far....


This is my deal there are only a few production companies I look too for good folding knives...Benchmade...Spyderco...have not yet pulled the trigger on ZT...for$100-$200 this is where you need to start... Any of these three have Stellar reputations, Amazing designs, and best bang for the buck...I believe most can agree to this...
 
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INFI is paper cutter steel that Busse uses, anyone could use that steel but could not call it INFI. Its a very good, tough steel.
 
So much misinformation on INFI. The closest steel to INFI is Modified A8, a wood chipper steel. But they are still very different. VG10 is not anything like INFI. They are completely different steels. I like VG10, specifically in a folding knife. In a hard use fixed blade INFI is my choice. But honestly, most quality steels will provide adequate toughness if properly HT'd. OP, blade design lends itself to toughness. A hollows ground profile will have less metal behind the edge than flat or convex and thus can sustain more damage much quicker.
 
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