Mod-Infini/Infini

beefangusbeef

beefangusbeef

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Dec 2, 2005
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What is the difference between the Mod-Infini in the basics and the Infini in the regular line. Is the Mod-Infini similar to SR-101? Just curious but has anyone who has ever removed the coating on their knife ever tried and blued it?
 
Modified INFI is very similiar to INFI, both in chemical makeup and performance. If I remember correctly, M-INFI has everything INFI has except the element Cobalt.

Gene
 
Through the years I've seen it referred to as INFINI many times, is there something somewhere that relates back to this? Very curious.
 
beefangusbeef said:
What is the difference between the Mod-Infini in the basics and the Infini in the regular line. Is the Mod-Infini similar to SR-101? Just curious but has anyone who has ever removed the coating on their knife ever tried and blued it?
Click to expand...


No Sr101 is a modified 52100 steel. It has more of one of the main elements.

M-INFI is close to INFI and is lacking in only one ingredient. It was 95% of the performance of INFI at 70% of the cost. In actual use most cannot tell the diference between INFI and M-INFI, they are that close.
 
I just looked through a few of my old posts on this subject.

Copied a few here.

Ok folks,

Modified INFI cannot be readily Told from regular INFI in the field.

Not more sensitive to rust, not more likely to chip.

Not quite the edge holding capacity, I read about the difference in tests, but I do not see a difference when I use them.

Edge holding better than (in soft clean material) any other non-INFI knives known to man so far.

If you like the handle material, and it is comfortable for you these knives(the Basics) Have no non-INFI equals in the world.

SR-101 is more flexable, and better for cutting dirty/gritty material, and better IMHO for chopping mild steel bars and cement blocks. But does not compare in edge retention in soft clean material.

I have and use/abuse abit all four types of knives, Early INFI, Modified-INFI, later INFI and SR-101.

I have a certain fondness for the Basics.

P.S. I know "Secrets" about Modified INFI, get some,,,,,you will like it if you like the handles.
__________________
Andre DuMouchel
INFI/Modified INFI Work in the field close enough to the same That I cannot tell the difference, except for a few early INFI knives that were hardened slightly harder than all later INFI knives.

I am a BIG Fan of Modified INFI maybe down the Road some day Jerry will let me tell you why.

SR-101 is better for some applications than INFI, Cutting Sod for instance, cutting dirty grity materials or hard materials like Cement blocks or mild steel.

Nothing compares well to INFI/Modified INFI when it come to edge retention in a big chopper cutting soft clean things like wood, leather, rope, skin,flesh and Bone, yup thats right bone is for the most part in this context "Soft"

Resharpening is where INFI really shines, it stays malleable and ductile after hardening with the special heat treat and remains flexable like a spring as well.

This means for the most part when you get it dull you need only to straighten or steel the edge as opposed to needing to remove steel to sharpen the knife, Steel and Strop then get back to work.

In rope cutting Edge retention test INFI is first among all big knives Modified INFI is Second, I do not know where SR-101 falls in as I have not seen or read about this test being done with this steel.(And am to LAZY to do it myself)

SR-101 seems to out flex and return to straight better than the other two.

INFI/Modified INFI is more rust resistant.

To much typing, thursty, must drink now, Bottle empty, must search for more
__________________
Andre DuMouchel

Rant on,

Do a bunch of cutting and prying and hammering with the three knife types listed.

The Sr 101 will out flex without taking a set, and will hold an edge better in gritty materials,,,and it will be a better choice for chopping cement blocks or steel because it is not as malleable as the other two.

The INFI/Modified INFI will hold an edge longer used cutting clean soft materials like wood, cloth, rope, meat, hair, and is easier to bring a working edge back(resharpening)

Pry with INFI/Modified INFI you may put a "Set" in the Steel,,,,but you are not likely to ever break it by hand without a cheater bar,,,,

I have done TERRIBLE things to INFI/Modified INFI knives(Made a Basic #3 where you could use it to make bowls, I bent it so much.

Then I just bent it straight again.

In use I have seen almost no difference between INFI and Modified INFI
The differences I found were only in the heat treat.

The early INFI was harder than the rest and would some times chip when you hit hard wire or a hard stone in concrete.

The rest of the INFI and all of the Basics just deform, and you can bend or steel the malleable metal back into place.

In the field I have found no difference I could see in hard use between INFI and Modified INFI, in the "Lab" ? sure,,,in the field nothing else comes close
in a big knife.

I am not a big fan of the Basic 5,,,I only have one,,,my wife has another.

I Love (pet, fondle and Abuse) the Basic 3 and give them as gifts.

If you like the handle, The Basic # 9 may well be the finest knife on the planet for its size.(I have half a dozen or less left) I just seem to keep buying more, but people keep needing them worse than I do.

If you do not like the handle,,,,get a SteelHeart or a Battle Mistress, I did, they will do.( I have a few)

Rant off.
__________________
Andre DuMouchel
 
At least one more worth copying:

In field use you will not see a difference between INFI and Modified INFI.

You will between INFI and SR-101.

The SR-101 will dull faster in soft clean material, be able to flex further with out taking a set and hold a better edge cutting abrasive,grit filled material.
And is better for chopping things like cement blocks or rebar.

INFI and modified INFI got no competitors for Push cutting Soft clean materials like rope,hide,leather, chopping wood,flesh,,,,and is real easy to steel an edge back to usable if you decide to dig a hole in rocky ground.

Early INFI was hardened to a higher rockwell and some times chipped,
Modified INFI and later INFI was a bit softer and deflects rather than chipping. A real improvement for hard use, if you dent the edge it can usually
just be steeled back into place.

There are those who prefer Modified INFI to INFI.

I have some of each steel,,,,,they each have their own use.

Use each and decide for your self the right steel for you.
__________________
Andre DuMouchel
 
Thanks everyone for their posts. That's exactly what I was looking for. Similar steels with just minor differences. Oh and infini was a typo infi was what I meant. Thanks again.
 
The Basic 3, 5, 7 & 9 were done up in M-INFI. All others were either ATS-34, A2 or INFI; with a few exceptions over the years.
 
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