Materials or Design and Function?

[Wowbagger]

I didn’t say the steel doesn’t matter. I said the edge geometry is more important.

I know.

In most cases I would have to agree with you.
I however I live in a hellish alternate universe of edge destroying hard rubber products and dirty rubber coated cloth. It's not so bad . . . once one gets used to it . . . without my M4 though . . . well we won't go there. That's just too bleak to contemplate.

 

[sliceofaloha]

I've had good experience with 440C, don't mind it in a nice ergonomic design. One of the few Benchmades that I'm keeping is an old school Presidio Ultra in 440C. It has a nice hollow grind - I think you'd appreciate that one, Kevin. I also have subscribed to your channel, like your vids. Got rid of most of my Benchmades, gave some away, sold some. The only other design I'm keeping is the 810 Contego - all bought before "the revelation".

 

[Wowbagger]

For what little it is worth :

Ruike, SanRenMu, Ganz

I have none and cannot comment.

Kershaw . . . models in 8cr13mov.

I now have three, all bought in the last six months or so : Kershaw Emerson CQC 4KXL, a Chill and a Strobe.
All three came with flawless sharp enough edges (no dings or rolls or dull spots). The fit and finish was head and shoulders above most / many knives I have including a $170.00 HAP-40 special addition that I bought during that same time period. The only tweak I had to do to them to make them perfect performers mechanically was to breath on the frame lock of the Strobe because it was a touch too hard to flip and barely adjust the pivots for free swing. No grittiness, no rebuilding to get the blade to center or pivot right etc.

I'm picky and they are all satisfying knives. Considering the price they blew me away. I can only hope the workers are treated well; I fear they are not.

At least some of the money stays in the USA because at least two of the designers are from here. The Chill I forget who designed it . . . my pea brain is saying Canadian but I don't dare trust that voice oh no.

So, for light work and days off I say don't fear the Kershaw. My USA made knives far out number any slight dalliances I might indulge in from time to time.

 

[Wowbagger]

Why get something dodgy when for the price there will be better performers.

For me at least some of the designs are so much better it can make the limited folders with super steel look like blithering, cross eyed badger spit.
I have harped about questionable handle, blade and construction problems here for so long even I can't stand to listen to it any more.
Mod, mod, mod seems like all I do when I get a knife . . . but ever so often . . . if I dare to look over that forbidden wall or pluck that forbidden star, to ignore that less than stellar steel . . . oh the satisfaction of it all.
But never again. I promise. No more shopping and considering.
I can be true. If I have to. I guess.

 

[Velitrius]

Eh, guess I don't put a lot of thought into my choices sometimes.

I have a Zing SS, a Volt II and a Oso Sweet here... they are all in 8CR.

The Zing and Volt were designed by R.J. Martin and the Oso Sweet by Ken Onion. I thought they were neat little designs when I picked them up, and really didn't care about the materials when I was walking them to the cash register.

Two things did play a major part, however.

One, they were made by Kershaw, which meant that the company will stand behind them if they end up being crap.

And two, they were all on sale when I bought them, so each one was solidly under a $20 bill at the time.

Would I pay more for these knives if they were in better materials? Hadn't thought about it, but maybe I would.

 

[Lapedog]

If I like the knife and can afford it I buy it. 8cr13mov isn’t a bad steel. I just know the steel’s properties and use it accordingly.

 

[jceckrosh]

I have never not bought a knife I liked or was interested in based on blade steel. There are knives I have decided to not buy because of materials on other areas of the knife, aesthetics, or function.

More simply, if I like the size, aesthetics, style, materials, and deployment method, the steel is usually not a big concern. I just don't use most of my knives hard enough to worry about edge retention, although lately I have become more discerning regarding grinds and edge geometry.

 

[Bob6794]

I won’t touch mystery steel or one of questionable heat treat and otherwise poorly done.

But I will take a good 440a or 8ce13mov knife any day of the week. I love Rough Riders 440a and Spyderco’s serrated 8cr13mov hits well above its weight and reminds me of d2 more than any 8cr13mov I’ve dealt with.

 

[BladeScout]

For me at least some of the designs are so much better it can make the limited folders with super steel look like blithering, cross eyed badger spit.
I have harped about questionable handle, blade and construction problems here for so long even I can't stand to listen to it any more.
Mod, mod, mod seems like all I do when I get a knife . . . but ever so often . . . if I dare to look over that forbidden wall or pluck that forbidden star, to ignore that less than stellar steel . . . oh the satisfaction of it all.
But never again. I promise. No more shopping and considering.
I can be true. If I have to. I guess.

You have mentioned several times, that you mod, mod, mod knives and that you tinker with knives 'for a living.' Are you a professional kife customizer?