New testing vid for the Fell Beast is out!

[Huntsman Knife Co.]

Testing went well. NITRO V has great edge stability and is completely stainless. Zero corrosion after leaving wet tree sap on the blade for several days.

I'm going to move forward with 3 steels for this model. 52100 for ultra demanding use and cold weather, NITRO V for swamps, tropics, and costal climates, and 3V just because its awesome.

After thorough testing I think NITRO V has better edge stability that 52100 but is not as tough. This is especially evident when you break the blades in a vice. After you get past 90-100 degrees NITRO V will break while 52100 will take a permanent bend. This is a tradeoff with stainless and is to be expected.

Both 52100 and NITRO V can handle chopping through nasty material, batoning, repeated flexion, and having the spine beaten with a ball peen hammer and both will have a place at the table until something better comes along.

 

[Currawong]

Great video Hunter !!! I'd like to see a comparison between nitro-v, 52100 and cpm-3v for the Fell Beast (i.e. testing the three steels with the same blade thickness and edge geometry). I'm guessing they would all roll but the 3v wouldn't chip?

 

[Kyle363]

Looks great. I'm excited to see what my American Parang can do. I'm not planing on chopping rocks or copper pipe but I'm glad I know I could.

 

[rodriguez7]

Bad ass video man. I really like how your blades are designed and tested. I'm taking what I learn from you and applying it to my blades. It'll take a few years before I'm at your level! Nitro-v looks like some good steel.

 

[rodriguez7]

Have tried bending 3v in a vise? Will it take what 52100 does?

 

[Camber]

Nice video Hunter. I think this kind of vid is important for selling yoru work if your market is users!

 

[Huntsman Knife Co.]

Thanks for the kind words guys!

I've broken several 3V blades in a vice but they were all done at 62RC and HT for higher carbide formation. Those blades broke into several pieces. I've never done a bend test on a 3V blade HT with the Keffeler protocols for max toughness. When I get the 3V fell beasts in Ill probably put one in the vice for science. My prediction is that it will take a bend and then snap if pushed further.

When I have all 3 steels in at the same time Ill have to do a head to head test and see how the edges fair. Realistically all 3 have such great edge stability that at .025-.030 BTE thickness and 20 degrees per side I don't think you'd ever damage the edge without hitting a rock or similar.

 

[MikeKu825]

Badass video.. makes me even more excited for my Nitro V Beast!

 

[Brian77]

These look great. We use machetes probably as much or more then any other sharp object. I have never owned a "scandi" type blade shape and edge. Hope to try that out.

 

[ATJ999]

Would LOVE a 12 inch Nitro V machete!!

 

[ShannonSteelLabs]

Wow. NITRO V is some pretty awesome stuff! Wonder what hardness they went too.
Stainless machetes....brilliant. especially in such a tough steel.

 

[Huntsman Knife Co.]

I went with 58-59 RC and had the spines tempered down with induction. The edge stability on this stuff is really top notch.

 

[ATJ999]

After some work with it, I can affirm that it does have fantastic edge stability! And Colin from Shannon Steel labs knows I am very hard on my blades! The Fell Beast is holding up very well. I am hoping you come out with the 12 inch nitro V machete, I will be all over that!!

 

[Huntsman Knife Co.]

After some work with it, I can affirm that it does have fantastic edge stability! And Colin from Shannon Steel labs knows I am very hard on my blades! The Fell Beast is holding up very well. I am hoping you come out with the 12 inch nitro V machete, I will be all over that!!

The next run is going to be .135 s7 but I will be doing nitro V again in the future. I really like how it performs and it's a dream to grind. The new run will be a little bit bulkier and the extra weight will really up the chopping power. Not to mention they will be almost indestructible.

 

[ATJ999]

That sounds awesome!! So does the S7 ones!

 

[Camber]

The S7 ones do sound great. I'm glad you were able to source some that thin! I think it will be great for a machete and Peter's S7 heat treat is very good.