My List of Steels in order for Edge Retention So Far

Ankerson said:
I would do more if I could take videos over 5 mins, but my camera is limited to 5 min video (DSLR).
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I meant do let say three tests for same knife. Test, resharpen and test again and resharpen and test... To see how different results will be for same blade.

This will show how stable test itself is, how vary results would be for everything set same.

Regards, Vassili.
 
I find it puzzling that the tests by Ankerson and Nozh produced such widely varying results. It seems ZDP-189 is the only consistent performer. :confused:
 
Buffalohump said:
I find it puzzling that the tests by Ankerson and Nozh produced such widely varying results. It seems ZDP-189 is the only consistent performer. :confused:
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Nozh is testing edge retention, Jim is testing the ability of the steel to hold a very fine edge.

They are testing different things.
 
Jim,
I saw INFI at the bottom of your list. What are your thoughts on this blade, and how do you recommend sharpening your SAR 3 convex blade to get it razor sharp. I'm currently using 1000 grit sandpaper and a leather strop w/compound on mine, but I can't seem to get it close to razor sharp as my Mountaineer 1 A2 blade.
Thanks.
 
I see alot of very analytical perspectives here. Let's not look so deep. I rather enjoy the tests, the clean slice of cardboard does something therapeudic for me.

@Ankerson-May I ask which of the knives tested on cardboard was your favorite slicer model?
 
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Davor said:
Jim,
I saw INFI at the bottom of your list. What are your thoughts on this blade, and how do you recommend sharpening your SAR 3 convex blade to get it razor sharp. I'm currently using 1000 grit sandpaper and a leather strop w/compound on mine, but I can't seem to get it close to razor sharp as my Mountaineer 1 A2 blade.
Thanks.
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It's a great blade and excellent steel. :thumbup:

Excellent EDC knife. :)
 
GrinderMcgee said:
I see alot of very analytical perspectives here. Let's not look so deep. I rather enjoy the tests, the clean slice of cardboard does something therapeudic for me.

@Ankerson-May I ask which of the knives tested on cardboard was your favorite slicer model?
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I would have to say the Mules slice the best out of all of them. :thumbup:
 
Davor said:
What are the Mules?
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Spyderco has a Mule model that they release. It is the same design (handle, edge, blade shape, profile, etc) but with a different steel. They are sold at extremely low or no profit to allow steel junkies (like us) test out various steels.
 
Josh K said:
Nozh is testing edge retention, Jim is testing the ability of the steel to hold a very fine edge.

They are testing different things.
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I think we test same edge holding but by different method. Difference in results does not confuse me - we need to analyze it. I have different results for same steel from different manufacturers and this is expected. First it will be nice to see what maker and model Jim tested.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Ankerson said:
These are real knives, off the shelf that I use in real world testing. ;)

All edges are reprofiled to 15 Degrees per side and polished to 6,000 grit on my Edge Pro..



Watch my videos.... ;)
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Are they "off the shelf," if you have reprofiled them and polished them?
 
we usually get a lots of queries concerning the little rope & cardboard tests myself, knarfeng, me2, & ankerson perform on ocassion. it would be great to see more members pick up the sword & start cutting some themselves. dennis
 
DennisStrickland said:
we usually get a lots of queries concerning the little rope & cardboard tests myself, knarfeng, me2, & ankerson perform on ocassion. it would be great to see more members pick up the sword & start cutting some themselves. dennis
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To my shame I never heart about your tests.
Do you have your results posted somewhere - I really like to have a look.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Yes, there is the issue of heat treat with different makers. Perhaps re-post the list of steels in the same manner, but next to the steels, list the corresponding knives used in the particular tests where you recorded your data? This would offer further insight, and may give us viewers the chance to see one makers heat treat on a certain steel perform against anothers.

Judging by the videos where said testing is being performed, there may be too many variables. i.e. amount of cardboard,(looks like you test with random boxes of different size) type of cardboard, (1 ply, 2 ply) length of cuts, number of cuts, how many feet were cut etc. with the largest variable being that of the heat treat. Subjecting each steels edge to nearly the exact same tests may give different results.

Having said that, its nice to see some more tests out there that offer varied results. Thanks for taking the time to do these tests. :thumbup:
 
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Fartingbadass said:
Are they "off the shelf," if you have reprofiled them and polished them?
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Dude.....did you read the thread....he said he reprofiled to 15 degrees each side and sharpened them all on on the same edgepro with the same stones at 6000 grit.

This is a very interesting test here, for a few reasons. First being cardboard is what I cut all the time, and I'm sure most people cut a TON of cardboard...stuff is everywhere.

I gotta try the CPM steels. I only wish better makers used the better steels. What I think should happen next is get a test with the better makers and their steels. Say compare Strider/Hinderer/CRK.

Again I'm in such awe of the ridiculous mirror edges you get ankerson!
Good work though, more tests like this NEED to happen.
 
once again i'm with detractors, sorry.

like vassili you are testing knives. if you don't think that blade geometry will change the results of your tests check this : buy 2 cheap knives, say 2 saber ground enduras. sharpen both at 15, same edge, same polish. then thin one significantly behind the edge and test. you'll be amazed.

i know that because i bought 2 exact same knives for me and a coworker. hiromoto AS, aogami super stainless clad, around 63-4hrc. great knives, serious company. my friend can barely sharpen so he uses my edge pro at 15 and that's all. mine is reprofiled to paper thin edge. mine stay sharp waaayy longer than his when both are sharpened the same. swaping knives to see if it was not my cutting that was just lighter than his (it is too but not that much) we did this "test" several time. same result each time.

2 same knives, same steel, same HT, same grind, same edge, just one significantly thinned with a microbevel, they don't hold an edge the same at all.

and this is real life result too, not CATRA type testing ...
 
vassili i have posted in the testing section since last fall. used to cut cardboard of same strength & by clock see when a knife quit shaving hair. after cutting cardboard for 23 minutes & the m4 mule still shaving hair , i decided to try other methods for the sake of brevity & effort. since then most cutting has been on 275 lb. edge crush test cardboard. i draw guide lines & count the cuts still i can hardly shave hair. lines on the cardboard to make all cuts the same length. these tests have involved c.s. voyager in vg1, spydies in vg10, zdp189 & s30.some knives were blunt & i had to rebevel so not all bevels were identical. also i threw in queens d2 & gec 1095. presently the most empirical results were derived by being able to test spydies in ffg.vg10--zdp & s30. models were stretch, millie & enduras. although not as empirical as knarfengs sisal rope tests ; my general results were somewhat validated by franks sisal cutting. although cardboard cutting may not be as empiracal as some other mediums ,i have found direct correlations between cardboard & performance on hogs & whitetail deer processing in the field. i do'nt have the ability to measure edge bevel angles & width of edges behind the cutting edge. nor can i know the actual rockwell reading that knarfeng can obtain but over 30 years of testing knives on cardboard does give a person some pretty good knowledge on alloys & heattreats by various makers. m4 followed by zdp189 with gec 1095 , vg10 & vg1 leads me to conclude that all these alloys used in the field will feel [in hand] close in performance. spydie m4 in the mule was noticibly stronger in edge durability.queens d2 seemed to lose initial keeness sooner but after a certain point it seemed to dull no further.dennis
 
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