Looking for a custom maker who works in CPMS90V, Elmax and CPM M4

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I am looking for a custom maker who works with all three steels.(read a lot from Ankerson and Phil Wilson) I am relying on your experience on HT and grinds for my only custom blade. I have identified a few makers who work with one of the steels, but not all three. I assume this is based on the minimal differences between the three, but am unsure. I chose these three based on overall toughness, easy of sharpening and ability to hold an edge. I feel one of these three will meet all my needs and someone experienced with each steel will have a more informed opinion. If you work with all three it would help. If you had to forge it, grind, or HT it you would know much more than I would. My criteria are below and I am looking for a single maker that works with all three steels.

1. ability to hold an edge- clean at least 2 deer without needed a touch up and defintely not a major resharpening - I am rough on an edge and have no issue dragging it on bone during processing
2. easy of sharpening- If it takes a little longer on my worksharp - np,as long as it is not like my D2 blade that I have to take to have sharpened. So far I can get 95% of my blades, (1095, INFI, AUS8, S30V and
O1) sharp enough to shave arm hair.
3. Decent ability to be put in a bind- toughness- I don't plan on battoning anytime soon, but I don't want it to chip out or the spine have a twist if I am forced to used it as a screwdriver or seperate a pelvic bone - grind will probably have as much to do with as any. Again, your experience makes my decision easier.


Blade will be 9.25" total - 5" handle - 4.25" blade with no ricasso - Big slabs- KFU's Fatty model is awesome and I owe him a write up on it, but I fried the camera and am still working to recover the pics. about 5/32 thick

MODS- if this needs to be moved - please do so - not 100% sure where to ask for a custom maker
 
All three steels make a fantastic blade. Most of us tend to work with one or the other simply because we like it or we like our supplier.

For the sharpening; I always recommend professional sharpening unless you buy a high-end home sharpening set up. I would go ahead and take out the M4, because like D2 it isn't stainless and from what I'm reading, you are wanting stainless qualities.

but a quick run down of why I prefer Elmax:
1: S90V is a NIGHTMARE to grind. I've worked with lots of D2 and I'm not particularly fond of how hard it is in its annealed state because it runs through my ceramic belts so fast. S90V is way worse in this category, so your end cost will be more because the maker is using more consumables to make it. I've worked S90V one time, and never again - just not worth it IMO.

2: S90V requires a higher temp to austenitize. Though my kiln will hit the 2150 with no problems, it is just extra wear on the heating element which shortens its life.

3: Probably the only one you will care about is the end result for hardness and toughness. Elmax blades at 61 and even 62 hrc will still maintain the toughness to maintain a good usable edge, especially if cryo treated. the target hardness of the 90V is 56-59hrc. I know a couple points do not sound like much, but the scale is not simple linear. It's kind of like decibals; the next step up is several times the previous level.

This is, of course, just the way I feel about these metals. Some folks will swear by all different metals, but all in all; I make knives from elmax because after all the blades I've ground, carried, and torture tested, elmax has impressed me the most - and it is what I carry.

choices choices :)

Matt
 
I have worked with 90V and M4. I have had interest in Elmax but have yet to find the correct size for the type of knife I want to make. I have not used Elmax. For edge retention, you really can't beat 90V. It is the best of both worlds with being stainless and great edge retention at a reasonable hardness. It is slightly more difficult to work with but nowhere near as difficult as 10V which I have been working with a lot lately. If you want to talk more about this project, message me or email me.
 
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