Makers/Users/Collectors opinions on a steel article

Richard

Richard

BOUNCED EMAIL: I need to update my email address in my profile!
Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
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Hello, got a few observations here, then a question. I remember several years ago when production companies followed custom makers and began using ats34. At that time many people sang the praises of these companies, and said from first hand knowledge that factory ats34 knives were the best thing since bottled beer. Now, many of those people seem to be alloy addicts, and the only good steel to them is whatever new one comes out on a given day. The very same people that said ats34 would hold an edge for 6 months, they find a new favorite and turn around and say ats34 sucks and never holds an edge. They like to make blanket statements about a type of steel...which leads to the article I want to ask about.

In a back issue of Combat Knives, there is an article by Ross Seyfried on hunting knives. In the article he talks of edge retention...and makes the blanket statement that 440C on a scale of 1 to 10 rates a 5, and calls the steel a dead end. He then goes on to say that damascus wont work either. He further states that in stainless steel that about the only one to be considered is ats34.

Now, I myself have had knives in several steels. I have had good quality aus6/8 knives that show better edge holding than poorly done ats34...and vice-versa.

Is it really fair for people to make those kind of statements...such as 440C is bad and ats34 is the best, without considering the quality of heat treat and workmanship and such? Just curious. Thanks.



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Richard
icq 61363141
Just some knife pictures
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=110070&a=4518795
 
the steel ojnly performs as good as the heat treat. rob simonich heat treats my knives, and my 440c knives hold their edges for an extremely long time. bg-42 is my favorite though, i had trouble putting the cutting edge on becuase the stuff is extremely wear resistant.
 
Richard, your observations are bang on. Lots of things matter besides just the name on the steel. That said, equally well constructed and heat treated knife blades will point to the better steels. ATS-34 might be better than 440C for most uses. Still, there are most certainly some 440C knives that are superior to MANY ATS-34 knives.

My thoughts anyway.

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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
The Tom & Jerry Show
 
OH BOY! I'm gona let my hair down on this one! Here goes......For anyone to make a blanket statement, and most especially a blanket statement about knife steel(s), is to show ones inexperience or even ignorance. I have watched over the years, and the story is always the same. When a "new and improved" steel appears on the cutlery scene, there is always someone, some where, who uses it as means of advancing themselves, or their company............in short, HYPE. Example: I have nothing against Talonite, or the folks who use it, but several years ago, the same material was called Stellite. The performance of that material has not changed, just the name, and today it's a "buzz word" with many people in the knife world.
Basically, what I'm getting at is this, each maker, or company must decide on the materials they will use, the performance levels they will accept, and the type of claims they make about their product(s). It all comes back to the maker/company being straight forward and honest in all they do. Those who do not follow this basic concept, are not around very long.
For an individual to judge a product, based soley on a single example or encounter, is most certainly unfair, at the very least.
In today's world, where we are bombarded every day with media that touts this or that, it is a very difficult thing indeed to sort the wheat from the chaff, and many allow the ramblings of unsubstanciated media ads to sway their opinions and judgements. That's where we, as Makers,Enthusiasts, Customers, and Collectors should be discussing things, and comparing notes. It's a good bet that someone out there knows the truth, it's just a matter of finding it. Ops, I rambled, sorry, but I get a little worked up over things like this.



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Ed Caffrey "The Montana Bladesmith"
ABS Mastersmith
www.caffreyknives.com
 
I would guess that Ross was kissing someones behind for that article.

I wonder how many knife sales articles like that cost good makers.

Jonesy



[This message has been edited by Jonesy (edited 07-02-2000).]
 
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