N690, K110, Elamx knife

[TLA]

My local knife shop here in Anchorage has been making knives and they recently came out with a knife that interest me. I think the blade is 4 inches long or maybe a little longer and the handle about the same. To me it's an outdoor knife that a person could use around the camp, skinning out animals or and EDC as a general purpose knife. They offer it in N690, K110, and Elmax all for the same price. The problem is that I dont have any experience with the these steels. I know that K110 is a member of the D2 steel family and I have some knives with D2. I would be using the knife for camp duties such as food prep, making fuzz sticks and processing out fish and animals. So my question is which one would you choose of the 3 steels based on ease of sharpening and edge retention. Thank you to all that respond.

Tony

 

[Huntsman Knife Co. LLC.]

Elmax is likely the best choice, but alot of it depends on the hardness. I don't have any personal experience with n690 but I believe its a fairly average steel similar to vg-10 in performance. K110 will have less edge retention than ELMAX and be less tough and have less stain resistance.

I'd personally go with ELMAX even at low hardness its still better than the competition and since its a 3rd gen PM steel its very easy to sharpen. It takes a wicked edge and its also extremely stain resistant.

See what hardness they run it. At 58-59 its super tough-- (almost 01 level tough) and has good edge retention. When its maxed out to 61-62 it has really, really great edge retention but is less tough. Either way its better than the other two choices on paper.

 

[TLA]

Thanks KalEl for the information. I will call them later today if I get time and try to find out the hardness and more about the knife. If not then it will be next week when I get back from the North Slope.

Tony

 

[TLA]

Ok I called my local knife shop about the Elmax version. The knife has a 4 1/2" handle, a 4" blade with a thickeness just little over 5/32" and has a rockwell hardness of 58, heat treated by Paul Bos.

Tony

 

[RWT]

If PB treated it should be good and at that RC you can beat on it hard. I have a custom in Elmax that is 59-60 RC and it is very easy to sharpen and works great at cleaning animals. Sharpening is my weakest link and I wanted a stainless that is easily sharpened, hold enough edge to clean a complete deer/hog without needing a touchup and tough enough to pry apart a pelvic bone if needed. Post some pics if you can as I may be interested.... Yeah like I need another knife.