new steel making a debut soon....

Barry H

Barry H

Joined
Nov 3, 1999
Messages
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I called my CRK dealer this afternoon to ask him to call out to the kind folks at CRK and ask if I could have a custom Sebenza made with a D2 blade. He said, "Sure, wanna hold for a minute?" Five minutes later Jesse got back on the phone and said "No way in hell do they want to do a D2 blade, but very soon, CRK is going to drop BG-42 and start using S30V on the Sebenza line, suppose to be BG-42 on steriods"
Well. I don't know about that. Has anyone else heard this "fact"?
If any one from CRK reads this, please post!
Thanks,
Barry H
 
CPM S30V is the stainless version of CPM 3V from Crucible, which is a great steel in my opinion. S30V may well be the toughest stainless on the market and is a reasonable price compared S60V or S90V.

The below information is taken from the Crucible web site and explains the CPM method of making steel.

In the CPM process, we start with a completely prealloyed molten bath similar to conventional processing. But, instead of pouring the molten metal into an ingot mold to freeze slowly, the metal is poured through a small nozzel and gas atomized to produce a rapidly solidified fine powder.

The powder is screened and filled into steel containers which are evacuated and sealed. The filled containers ("compacts") are then hot-isostatically-pressed (HIP) to achieve 100% density at approximate forging temperatures.

This process is referred to as "Particle Metallurgy" to distinguish it from the dissimilar traditional "Powder Metallurgy" process used to create pressed-and-sintered parts. The CPM process offers the following substantial advantages over sintered product.

1. CPM grades are 100% dense - there is no residual porosity.

2. CPM grades are 100% steel - no binders are added.

3. CPM grades are bonded by diffusion-bonding at forging temperature, not sintered at melting temperatures - there is no inherent brittleness due to melting.

4. CPM grades are completely alloyed in the molten state for uniformity - there is no mixing or blending of elemental powders.

This could well turn out to be one of the great knife steels. Time will tell.
 
I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing some of the one-piece line-up knives offered in CPM 3V or D2....just a thought. If A2 stays on - as it should...it is a great steel - I wonder if it would be possible to have it hardened to RC60-61. I am not too concerned about having to "field sharpen" my knives on rocks...I always carry a diamond file. Further, I seem to recall that A2 exhibits its best toughness at RC55-57 and then again at RC60. Does anyone else care to comment on this?
 
I heard from a knowledgeable source that Reeve's shop tested S30V in the early stages of Crucible's development. It's a natural upgrade path for them I would think ... S30V appears to be a small step better than BG-42 in edge retention and perhaps corrosion resistance, and a notable step better in toughness. It sounds like it's harder to grind and finish than BG-42. On the cost side, I'm not sure. It might be a bit more, but not a LOT more.

Those that are experimenting with the heat treat say it is very responsive and can be austenized at fairly normal temps... around 2000F or slighty below, similar to BG-42. I.e., it probably won't require any substantial changes in heat treating equipment or methodology.

By contrast, S90V takes 2050F or more and is harder to grind and finish than S30V. Ergo:
1. S90V results in accelerated furnace wear and is a bit harder to get past Rc 58 for large batches or where quench techniques are limited...
2. S90V is more time consuming and therefore expensive to get a decent finish on it.

So I sorta understand why CRK didn't move to 420V. S30V looks like a real winner all around.

Now, if we could get Reeve to do the one-piece line in 3V and take it up to Rc60, I'd own a Project I (7.5" spear point).
 
A2 has more impact toughness than D2, but D2 has more wear resistance.
Will 3V be harder to grind than BG-42??

Thanks!

Jeff
 
Hermie,
I called my CRK dealer again and it is his understanding that CRK will start using S30V after their current supply of BG-42 is finished. I have no way of knowing if your new special order will feature the new steel. If I were you, it certainly would be worth an e-mail or phone call to find out. Let us know what you discover.
Regards,
Barry H
 
There was the rumor of a switch to 3V for the fixed blades a while ago but I do not recall any official word.

While I am always intruiged by newer steels I am curious as to how much of a performance improvement S30V offers verses BG42 in a small folding knife. To me edge holding is the most important factor in a pocket knife and while toughness is also a factor, it is more of an issue with larger fixed blades.

S30V is reportedly harder to work with and much harder to finish (see Mr Jerry Hossom's posts on this subject)and I would theorize that would make it more expensive. I guess my question is: is there enough of a performance gain to justify a price increase??

On another note: If the one piece line was made out of S30V, that is something I would get excited about.

I would love to see Mr. Reeve's input on this issue.....
 
THe BG-42 as used in my CR Knives has left me smiling and very happy. It outperforms just about anything else I have used. Still if there is to be a change, I am sure it is for a good reason. In this case the constant strive for higher performance.

Its a win,win situation IMHO. I would pay a little more for this.

So question is when will CRK run out of that terrible, good ridance BG-42?;) :p

I better start saving for a s30V knife now...

I wish they would offer a Damasteel plain Large Sebi (without a long wait period). I happen to think this would make an attractive and highly usable knife.

I love my Spirograph Damascus and have not had even a spot of rust, even though it is my EDC (in a G2 sheath of course:cool: ), but parnoia makes my want a Damasteel blade as well... Esp in a Large!

Oh and I also want...:p :)

Happy New Year all!
 
I just spoke with CRK and they said that they are looking to make the complete change around late Feb - March. She said that they need to finish off the BG42 and then it is over for that. She said that there a few Mnandis that are going to have them soon but will not go out until the BG42s are sold. I can not wait for mine.

By the way, the price will be the same!
 
seems to me that the bladeshow is just around the corner :) and that is when/where announcements of this sort are usually announced.... but then again what would I know.... as far as wanting a-2 steels you might want to find one soon... same with the bg-42 stuff
 
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