Limited Run of Sebenzas with Super Steel Blades

[BBQ BOY]

I do not see CRK making a sprint run with another steel. They are already falling on back orders. Then there is Blade, which makes them even further behind.
They would probably do a unique design with the S35VN, which would be fine with me but I would hate for my Sebbie to have Bladeforums written on it.

 

[cziv]

They would probably do a unique design with the S35VN, which would be fine with me but I would hate for my Sebbie to have Bladeforums written on it.

Why not? They'd look cool with BLADE FORUMS etched down both sides of the blade no?

 

[Huntsman Knife Co. LLC.]

I think the reason why I don't have a seb is because they are still using S30V and running it soft. S35VN may be slightly better but not a big difference in performance for most people. From one of the most renowned makers out there I expect better blade steel. Sebenzas are in my opinion THE most beautiful and timeless knife out there but just because something is successful doesn't mean it doesn't need to be improved. Sebenzas will always sell so from a business standpoint there is no purpose in upgrading the steel and increasing manufacturing costs when your product is selling as is.

What I hate is that while S30V and BG 42 were really high performance steels when they were produced...that was years and years ago. Its 2011 and there is a huge amount of new higher performing steels out there that CRK could be using but won't and never will. S35VN is here to stay and won't be upgraded until it HAS to be.

I think from a business standpoint CRK is doing a great job but customers are always going to want better performance from their blades and while S30V and S35VN are solid steels, they aren't heat treated to optimal hardness and there are many other steels out there that are much better for edge holding.I know others feel different , but personally, for a knife that costs $400, a mediocre steel with a softer heat treat doesn't cut it for me.

CRK sprint runs with super steels are a wonderful idea but I don't think they will ever happen. But here's to hoping we will see Sebs in M390 and S90V:thumbup:

But until then, there's spyderco

 

[marthinus]

I think this is appropriate again here:

"My choice to change our folding knife blade steel to S30V was thoroughly thought through, as was the selection of RC hardness 58-59. I was privileged to be involved in the development of S30V with the metallurgists at Crucible Steel – they asked what attributes I wanted in a steel and they delivered. At RC 58-59, the blade will hold a good edge and will be easy enough to sharpen. One of our tests resulted in S30V cutting 14,000 linear inches of e-flute cardboard before notable edge wear against 12,000 for BG42. I have been completely satisfied with the performance of S30V" (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/730951-Some-words-from-Chris......)

Some people will agree with Chris logic, others will not. Unless one is a metallurgist one can only speculate on his choices IMO and he feels it serves the intended design of the knife correctly. Heck, I still remember when ATS-34 was seen as the ultimate supersteel. Until the day a steel comes out that will never rust, holds an edge no matter what and can be sharpened on a piece of toilet paper some will never be happy.

For whats it worth. An old Spyderco steel chart I have (around 2006) shows they heat treated S30v between 57-59 so Chris cant be off that much with his HT if one goes on HRC numbers alone.

 

[kreole]

I think this is appropriate again here:

"My choice to change our folding knife blade steel to S30V was thoroughly thought through, as was the selection of RC hardness 58-59. I was privileged to be involved in the development of S30V with the metallurgists at Crucible Steel – they asked what attributes I wanted in a steel and they delivered. At RC 58-59, the blade will hold a good edge and will be easy enough to sharpen. One of our tests resulted in S30V cutting 14,000 linear inches of e-flute cardboard before notable edge wear against 12,000 for BG42. I have been completely satisfied with the performance of S30V" (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/730951-Some-words-from-Chris......)

Some people will agree with Chris logic, others will not. Unless one is a metallurgist one can only speculate on his choices IMO and he feels it serves the intended design of the knife correctly. Heck, I still remember when ATS-34 was seen as the ultimate supersteel. Until the day a steel comes out that will never rust, holds an edge no matter what and can be sharpened on a piece of toilet paper some will never be happy.

For whats it worth. An old Spyderco steel chart I have (around 2006) shows they heat treated S30v between 57-59 so Chris cant be off that much with his HT if one goes on HRC numbers alone.

Spyderco treats them harder than that now (59-60), as does Paul Bos (59.5-60). (edit: Bos aims for 58 on 10"+ knives)

RJ Martin posted on here he likes it at 60/61, Jerry Hossom used his at 60, and Phil Wilson has a lot of posts about its edge holding at 60/61.

 

[marthinus]

Spyderco treats them harder than that now (59-60), as does Paul Bos (59.5-60). (edit: Bos aims for 58 on 10"+ knives)

RJ Martin posted on here he likes it at 60/61, Jerry Hossom used his at 60, and Phil Wilson has a lot of posts about its edge holding at 60/61.

True, I forgot about them. I am no expert in these matters, so I trust the knife maker to give me a good product and so far I cant complain. I am even happy with D2 and that dates back to WWII or such, but I just dont think CRK has the manufacturing capacity to do special steel runs.

 

[Mike V]

Until the day a steel comes out that will never rust, holds an edge no matter what and can be sharpened on a piece of toilet paper some will never be happy.

You make it sound like constantly striving to make things the best they can be is a bad thing?

If I was in the States I'd get a cheaper knife, like a Spyderco or whatever, that I know fairly well and send it away to be heat treated to see for myself that a harder blade would be better for what I want it for.

Unfortunately living down here in Australia makes that close to impossible.

 

[marthinus]

You make it sound like constantly striving to make things the best they can be is a bad thing?

Ha ha, no its not, my point I wanted to make is some are happy with what is available already, one can just not keep everyone happy when it comes to knives.

IMO many knife buyers will never come to the forums and if they make out the bulk of ones sales and they are happy I dont think there will be a high enough demand to do a limited run.

 

[Edw00d]

Why not? They'd look cool with BLADE FORUMS etched down both sides of the blade no?

I think just the steel name stamped/etched on the blade nice and subtle to help distiguish it visually from others would suffice.