Recommendation? Need help picking a steel for a specialized knife

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Blackdirt cowboy

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Oct 29, 2015
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I have a buddy who wants me to make a specialized knife for him. He uses the knife at his work to cut through the outer rubber jacket on a fiber optic cable. In the process of doing this, the tip runs against an inner, metallic Kevlar sheath, but does not cut through it. Then the a different tool is used to cut the Kevlar sheath and the knife is used to pry the Kevlar open to get to the cables on the inside. Here is a picture of the type of cable he is cutting into.

r3jyYY3.jpg


So I’m thinking the steel I use needs to have high toughness, and high edge retention. The knives his job provides him are made out of 1095. But He wants a steel that will not rust, so I guess carbon steel is out. What steel would y’all recommend that will get this job done? The only stainless I have on hand right now is aebl in 1/8” thick stock. Would this work, or should I be looking at something different?
 
Still technically Carbon but perhaps CPM 3V or similar.

If stainless is a requirement, S45VN.

Both are expensive, but all premium steels are.
 
Our answer should always be to make a knife.
Sadly the practical solution is probably some sort of utility knife with blade sections that snap off.
 
Rex121, if you just want all the edge retention...
 
Probably some kind of crimper/cutter/stripper is what most folks would use.

You could make one of those or he could just get you to make a nice knife for off the job.
 
I posted this yesterday, but evidently it was when they were doing the forum server update.


Vanadis 4 Extra or Vanadis 8 would be very hard and very tough.
D2 would work. It is nearly a stainless steel.
I'd have to look at the graphs, but CPM-S90 should also be good.
 
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Danke42 said:
Probably some kind of crimper/cutter/stripper is what most folks would use.

You could make one of those or he could just get you to make a nice knife for off the job.
Click to expand...

Actually, the tool they are issued is a knife from Klein tools. He want one of those with a fancier handle.

ofeMNiz.jpg


Thanks for all the suggestions so for. I was getting ready to pull the trigger on some CPM 3v until Stacy’s post this morning. I’m gonna check out his recommendations and then pick one to use.
 
Black dirt cowboy - off the wall thought: could you try buying one of the Kline tools, strip/cut/grind off the handle, then make and put on a new handle? Though the thing is so small and simple in geometry, it might be easier to start from scratch. :-)
 
I used those cable stripper knives when working electronics for NAVELEX. Had a little holster on my belt for it. Then I used a TL-29 with the blade broken with about 1" of blade left (turns out knives are not good pry bars). It was much better. I use the broken TL-29 as a bench knife to open watch cases now. It has been going strong for almost 50 years now.
 
Cushing H. said:
Black dirt cowboy - off the wall thought: could you try buying one of the Kline tools, strip/cut/grind off the handle, then make and put on a new handle? Though the thing is so small and simple in geometry, it might be easier to start from scratch. :)
Click to expand...
You could to sort of a pukko or kiridashi thing. I would guess it has no point because of lowest common denominator folks having to sheath it up a pole or ladder.
 
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