The Fallkniven contains a core of VG-10 with 420J2 protective steels that boost strength by an alleged
35 percent. The Rockwell is about 59, from what I understand.
Laminated steels are expensive, and Cold Steel's San Mai III uses a core of VG-1. My own preference
would be an entire blade made from VG-1, as Cold Steel already uses VG-1 in its massive 6-inch folders.
The whole idea is to strengthen a knife's ability to bend and torque by protecting the inner layer, which
is higher carbon and might be more apt to snap or break. Just a few years ago, CS was laminating AUS8
stainless, which already is a rugged stainless without the protection of cheaper steels.
I don't know a lot about VG-10, but I understand it's a good steel and holds an edge quite well. I don't
know how far it will bend if you put it in a vice like Lynn Thompson does with some of his knives, but if
his videos are of any indication, VG-1 can be torqued a lot! Thus it depends on how close the two steels
are to each other.
San Mai III is certainly a gimmick. I don't know about the Thor, but I'd go with it any day over the Cold
Steel, even though I think it's hyped as well. Fallkniven literature states: "A 7 mm (0.28") thick blade in
itself would be strong enough for most tasks — with laminate technology one can expect an additional
35% strength in the form of resistance to bending, as compared to an ordinary VG10 blade." The truth is,
most people can't bend this type of steel far enough to make this an issue. If VG-10 is apt to snap in two
under stress, I'd say a good laminate steel would be great.