- Joined
- May 29, 2022
- Messages
- 3
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all of the comments. I'll try to answer some of your questions, below.
I had considered, and then (eventually) ruled out H1, because, in almost everything that I've read / seen, the general consensus seems to be that LC200N was just generally superior, in edge retention, easier to sharpen, and both varieties were quite corrosion resistant (H1 seems to be better with resisting corrosion, and apparently works well in a serrated edge, but, LC200N just seems to be the preferred material, overall). So, after reading all of the debate threads, people seemed to be about 90% in favour of LC200N vs. about 10% in favour of H1. That is why I decided to go with the LC200N, instead, if I get a Spyderco. Everybody who has that type of steel blade seems to love it, so far.
The Pacific Salt is definitely on my list. I'm just not sure about the blade shape, and whether I should go with a sheepsfoot / Atlantic Salt, instead. The blunt edge has advantages on a ship.
I certainly would've considered a Spyderco Tusk, but I have looked around, and cannot find any for sale, anywhere. Spyderco isn't listing them on the website.
I guess I was reading about the current Camillus knives – folks were saying they were made in China, now, and the blades weren't that great / sharp. I'm sure a vintage one would be better quality, but I don't see any of the model you mentioned on ebay, at the moment. If I were looking for myself, vintage would be fine, but, for a gift, I think I'd prefer to get a brand new knife, rather than a used one.
The DH Russell knife does look very nice, but even though it's issued by the Canadian military / Coast Guard, they can afford to replace their members' worn out / corroded knives, at will. Carbon steel is no use, because that rusts. Based on my web searches, there is a complete paucity of information about the type of stainless steel that they use, so I'm suspicious about how corrosion resistant it actually is (one of my main criteria). I found another thread where someone said that the company won't advertise what type of stainless steel they use. I found a second website where someone commented that if a knife manufacturer won't tell you, it's usually because they are using A1 or A2, which aren't that great with resisting corrosion. All I could find about DH Russell is that their stainless steel was somehow similar to German 440 steel, which (from what I can surmise) isn't overly resistant to corrosion / rust - certainly not as good as H1, LC200N, M360, etc. If the stainless steel was A4 marine grade stainless steel (a.k.a. 316 or 18/10 stainless, composed of 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum), that would be a great option. But, I don't see any specs, anywhere, and the description just doesn't say. So that makes it a "mystery" stainless steel, and I don't want to take any chances, when I know that LC200N, H1, and M360 are all very good, and readily available, and dendritic cobalt is also a no-rust option. Logically, A4 stainless, would certainly have made the most sense, but, I don't want to make assumptions. It seems very odd that they haven't stated the composition, outright - I would think that if they were using something like that, they would want to widely and proudly advertise it, so they could make more sales. For those reasons, I'm a little disinclined to get this one, even though it looks great in the photos. The other consideration is that I strongly suspect that my friend probably already has a very good fixed blade knife. That's why I was leaning more towards a folding knife.
However, the separate DH Russell (or Myerchin) marlinespike is a consideration (I wouldn't care so much about that rusting, because it isn't that expensive to replace). I could always get him a Spyderco, and a separate marlinspike, as an option. It's a good point, though, that he may already have a marlinespike issued to him as part of his existing gear, anyway. So, maybe that would be overkill, and I should just stick with a good EDC knife, and leave it at that.
I had previously strongly considered the Native 5 Salt, but I just read on a Spyderco forum that that particular serration pattern has a tendency to snag. I had thought about that one, though, so I will take another look at it. if I get that one, would you say that the plain edge would be a better bet as an EDC? I just thought that a serrated edge might be handier on a boat. Thanks for the input on the Caribbean, too.
Yes, as mentioned, I had been leaning towards a sheepsfoot blade for the same reasons mentioned above – the blunt edge won't be as likely to damage anything, if dropped, or if you are thrown about in rough seas - including yourself (or others)! I've heard the tale about sheepsfoot blades being favoured, so that sailors couldn't stab each other, or mutiny. But, the safety factor in terms of not damaging the boat, or your foot, if you drop it, or accidentally stabbing yourself or someone else in choppy waters, makes a lot of sense, as well.
What does everyone think of dendritic cobalt? I'm reading now that it has a tendency to chip, when you try to sharpen it, and that the Nitrogen steels are just generally superior. Any thoughts? Does anybody have one of those Boye knives that they could comment about? Would you folks favour the nitrogen steel, over the dendritic cobalt?
Does anyone know anything about M360 steel? It looks like it's pretty corrosion resistant, as well, from what I can tell. Does anybody have one of the Seamasters? If so, what do you think of it?
I thought about the A G. Russell sailor's knife (Sea Skorpion), but I really do not like the fact that it's made in China. I have strong moral qualms about buying anything that is made in China, given the terrible human rights abuses that are perpetrated in that tyrannical dictatorship, and how horribly they treat their own people, and honestly, so does my friend. I'd rather pay the extra money for the Italian-made Seamaster 2.0, or one of the knives made in the USA, Japan, etc.
It is a definite, resounding YES to wanting the knife to be able to be put on a lanyard. I'm going to double check that that is possible on some of the ones I was considering. I'm about 99.99% sure all of the Spyderco knives allow it. I'm just not sure about the other ones, and will have to make sure.
I'll take a look at the Victorianox knives mentioned.
Overall, I think I am now leaning toward either a Spyderco (I will look at the various Salt options/types/blades, again, based on the comments that I have received, thus far), or the Seamaster 2.0. Thank you for all the great input, so far! A big thanks to everybody for all of the recommendations.
Thanks for all of the comments. I'll try to answer some of your questions, below.
I had considered, and then (eventually) ruled out H1, because, in almost everything that I've read / seen, the general consensus seems to be that LC200N was just generally superior, in edge retention, easier to sharpen, and both varieties were quite corrosion resistant (H1 seems to be better with resisting corrosion, and apparently works well in a serrated edge, but, LC200N just seems to be the preferred material, overall). So, after reading all of the debate threads, people seemed to be about 90% in favour of LC200N vs. about 10% in favour of H1. That is why I decided to go with the LC200N, instead, if I get a Spyderco. Everybody who has that type of steel blade seems to love it, so far.
The Pacific Salt is definitely on my list. I'm just not sure about the blade shape, and whether I should go with a sheepsfoot / Atlantic Salt, instead. The blunt edge has advantages on a ship.
I certainly would've considered a Spyderco Tusk, but I have looked around, and cannot find any for sale, anywhere. Spyderco isn't listing them on the website.
I guess I was reading about the current Camillus knives – folks were saying they were made in China, now, and the blades weren't that great / sharp. I'm sure a vintage one would be better quality, but I don't see any of the model you mentioned on ebay, at the moment. If I were looking for myself, vintage would be fine, but, for a gift, I think I'd prefer to get a brand new knife, rather than a used one.
The DH Russell knife does look very nice, but even though it's issued by the Canadian military / Coast Guard, they can afford to replace their members' worn out / corroded knives, at will. Carbon steel is no use, because that rusts. Based on my web searches, there is a complete paucity of information about the type of stainless steel that they use, so I'm suspicious about how corrosion resistant it actually is (one of my main criteria). I found another thread where someone said that the company won't advertise what type of stainless steel they use. I found a second website where someone commented that if a knife manufacturer won't tell you, it's usually because they are using A1 or A2, which aren't that great with resisting corrosion. All I could find about DH Russell is that their stainless steel was somehow similar to German 440 steel, which (from what I can surmise) isn't overly resistant to corrosion / rust - certainly not as good as H1, LC200N, M360, etc. If the stainless steel was A4 marine grade stainless steel (a.k.a. 316 or 18/10 stainless, composed of 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum), that would be a great option. But, I don't see any specs, anywhere, and the description just doesn't say. So that makes it a "mystery" stainless steel, and I don't want to take any chances, when I know that LC200N, H1, and M360 are all very good, and readily available, and dendritic cobalt is also a no-rust option. Logically, A4 stainless, would certainly have made the most sense, but, I don't want to make assumptions. It seems very odd that they haven't stated the composition, outright - I would think that if they were using something like that, they would want to widely and proudly advertise it, so they could make more sales. For those reasons, I'm a little disinclined to get this one, even though it looks great in the photos. The other consideration is that I strongly suspect that my friend probably already has a very good fixed blade knife. That's why I was leaning more towards a folding knife.
However, the separate DH Russell (or Myerchin) marlinespike is a consideration (I wouldn't care so much about that rusting, because it isn't that expensive to replace). I could always get him a Spyderco, and a separate marlinspike, as an option. It's a good point, though, that he may already have a marlinespike issued to him as part of his existing gear, anyway. So, maybe that would be overkill, and I should just stick with a good EDC knife, and leave it at that.
I had previously strongly considered the Native 5 Salt, but I just read on a Spyderco forum that that particular serration pattern has a tendency to snag. I had thought about that one, though, so I will take another look at it. if I get that one, would you say that the plain edge would be a better bet as an EDC? I just thought that a serrated edge might be handier on a boat. Thanks for the input on the Caribbean, too.
Yes, as mentioned, I had been leaning towards a sheepsfoot blade for the same reasons mentioned above – the blunt edge won't be as likely to damage anything, if dropped, or if you are thrown about in rough seas - including yourself (or others)! I've heard the tale about sheepsfoot blades being favoured, so that sailors couldn't stab each other, or mutiny. But, the safety factor in terms of not damaging the boat, or your foot, if you drop it, or accidentally stabbing yourself or someone else in choppy waters, makes a lot of sense, as well.
What does everyone think of dendritic cobalt? I'm reading now that it has a tendency to chip, when you try to sharpen it, and that the Nitrogen steels are just generally superior. Any thoughts? Does anybody have one of those Boye knives that they could comment about? Would you folks favour the nitrogen steel, over the dendritic cobalt?
Does anyone know anything about M360 steel? It looks like it's pretty corrosion resistant, as well, from what I can tell. Does anybody have one of the Seamasters? If so, what do you think of it?
I thought about the A G. Russell sailor's knife (Sea Skorpion), but I really do not like the fact that it's made in China. I have strong moral qualms about buying anything that is made in China, given the terrible human rights abuses that are perpetrated in that tyrannical dictatorship, and how horribly they treat their own people, and honestly, so does my friend. I'd rather pay the extra money for the Italian-made Seamaster 2.0, or one of the knives made in the USA, Japan, etc.
It is a definite, resounding YES to wanting the knife to be able to be put on a lanyard. I'm going to double check that that is possible on some of the ones I was considering. I'm about 99.99% sure all of the Spyderco knives allow it. I'm just not sure about the other ones, and will have to make sure.
I'll take a look at the Victorianox knives mentioned.
Overall, I think I am now leaning toward either a Spyderco (I will look at the various Salt options/types/blades, again, based on the comments that I have received, thus far), or the Seamaster 2.0. Thank you for all the great input, so far! A big thanks to everybody for all of the recommendations.
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I am having a really hard time narrowing it down.
