NOOB: Chive and/or Scallion steel upgrade?

E

evan61

Joined
Jan 13, 2003
Messages
59
Hello, fellas...been lurking for a while since i discovered the beauty and utility of Kershaw Onions...

For now i tend toward the smaller knives esp. since i'm a city dweller and like to use and carry a knife every day...any chance the Chive and/or Scallion will see steel upgrades? Probably not cost effective but it would be nice...

Also are you going over to sandvik as standard steel on the smaller Onions. The steel snob in me says sandvik would be better than 420HC...

Can anyone illuminate me on the plusses of 420HC? Judging by composition it is pretty humble but i know good heat treatment can make a world of difference...I am curious about it and could be won over if i hear a good story...

thanks, go easy on me...
 
evan61 said:
Hello, fellas...been lurking for a while since i discovered the beauty and utility of Kershaw Onions...

For now i tend toward the smaller knives esp. since i'm a city dweller and like to use and carry a knife every day...any chance the Chive and/or Scallion will see steel upgrades? Probably not cost effective but it would be nice...

Also are you going over to sandvik as standard steel on the smaller Onions. The steel snob in me says sandvik would be better than 420HC...

Can anyone illuminate me on the plusses of 420HC? Judging by composition it is pretty humble but i know good heat treatment can make a world of difference...I am curious about it and could be won over if i hear a good story...

thanks, go easy on me...
Click to expand...
Hi Evan

We will not be changing the Chive's and Scallion's over to 13C26 or 14C28N, they will stay 420HC.

There will be a short run on both models that will have Damascus blades in the very near future. The Damascus Chive (1600DAM) will launch first, hopefully over the next 30 days or so.
 
The best thing that I can say about 420HC is that Buck Knives has been using it for at least 30 years with a lifetime warranty. Buck and Kershaw have the best 420HC on the market. It will take a razor edge with little effort and hold it well. The main thing to remember is to not try to pry anything with 420HC, it will break before it bends very much. Not that prying is recommended for most knife blades of any steel, although some survive it much better than others. Kershaw's and Buck's 420HC is very good steel that will serve you well.
 
Soleil, thanks for the info...i like your style. Good to know you will be here for us when the attack of the giant squirrels comes...

And when it comes to straddling i just wear my titanium jock strap....
 
Hey evan, SOLEIL beat me to it, but Buck and Kershaw do an excellent job with the 420HC. If you are really set on a "newer" steel, and still want a small footprint, consider the following:

Any Leek, especially the 1660CB. A composite 3" blade made with a spine of 13C26 fused to a CPM-D2 cutting edge. Top class steel and workmanship for around $ 60. NGK has them in stock.

The ENER-G2, 1740. Blade just under 3" (2 13/16"), 13C26 and a unique flipper system. Non AO, but very fast. This is a great Lee WIlliams design. About $ 50, and in stock at NGK.

The Shallot, 1840. 3.5" blade of 13C26, and an Onion design with AO. $ 50, and in stock at NGK.

All of these I consider "gentleman's knives" with small footprints, and are non-threating around sheeple.

Browse thru NGK (www.newgraham.com) and take a look at them. For their reference numbers, just put a KS in front of each model number and search. All the details are there. These are great people to deal with...no surprises (except for one which you'll get a kick out of, and hopefully never need), fast shipping and an all around great dealer. Mary Beth and Annie would be glad to assist you in any way.

If you've got any more questions, fire away!

SPX
 
Thomas W said:
Hi Evan

We will not be changing the Chive's and Scallion's over to 13C26 or 14C28N, they will stay 420HC.

There will be a short run on both models that will have Damascus blades in the very near future. The Damascus Chive (1600DAM) will launch first, hopefully over the next 30 days or so.
Click to expand...
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Will they also be frame locks?
Are all the newly produced Scallion's going to be frame locks?


:thumbup:+1 on the Shallot. It's a little longer but nice and slim and a frame lock. This knife is really an excellent knife! :thumbup:
 
If you want to stay in the 2 inch range, take a look at the Kershaw Centofante/Onion.
2.25 inch blade. It's a sweet little knife. Depending on when it was made it will have
either a 440A or 13C26 blade. July 07 was the change over to 13C26.
 
Good call SV...there's also the Mini Mojito (KS 1800) in 13C26. But make sure you get the Mojito, not the Mojo, or you'll end up with 440A. Change-over date was July/August 07. But even with the 440A, it's a neat knife, and while the 440A won't retain an edge as long as 13C26, it gets razor sharp! Stud lock, too!
 
SPXTrader said:
Good call SV...there's also the Mini Mojito (KS 1800) in 13C26.
Click to expand...

I've been meaning to get me a MM. I dunno why I've kept putting it off.
Maybe because Kershaw keeps pumping out new knives faster then I can keep up with.
 
dmonay said:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Will they also be frame locks?
Are all the newly produced Scallion's going to be frame locks?
Click to expand...
Yes they will both be frame locks.
 
420hc=easy sharpening, reprofiling. If you love to toy with your blades, why would anything else matter? don't believe the hype. . . 420hc is more than enough for day-to-day cutting chores.
 
Thanks guys, for the tips!

Checked out the Oniofante but i'm just not a pearl kind of guy, even just a few spots of it...

The Mojito has nice curves, maybe too many for my taste. Also looks a bit thick...

So I've got a boron Chive on the way and am looking out for the Rainbow Scallion...those are the ones i keep coming back to...as for the damascus Chive and Scallion I think Vasili was asking what kind of Damascus on the Leek damascus and there wasn't too much clear info...So if'n it's the same, perhaps paki or Indian i'm less interested...but the pictures of the Leek damascus look great. Anyone have one and used it?

Yinyang, i do in fact like to toy with reprofiling to convex so the 420HC might be just the thing...

thanks for the warm welcome of comments, guys...
 
Hey evan, glad you settled on the Chive. You'll enjoy it. But be warned...

As for the Damascus, the Leeks were Alabama Damascus if memory serves me correctly. Mike aka 2brothers would be the best to address the Dam Leek issue. I think he has about a hundred of them!
 
One more thing...i like the overall lines and blade profile of the Leek the best but it is a bit on the long side for my needs...so the Scallion is about the perfect size...but i'm waiting on the new ones to come...
 
SPXTrader said:
As for the Damascus, the Leeks were Alabama Damascus if memory serves me correctly.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Alabama Damascus. It is a carbon steel Damascus. Probably something
like 5160 and 52100. The Leek I carry stays very sharp and I use it daily.
I too am waiting on the Chives to be released. I might get a couple. ;)
You can't go wrong with a nice Chive, whatever blade steel you choose. :thumbup:

SPXTrader said:
Mike aka 2brothers would be the best to address the Dam Leek issue. I think he has about a hundred of them!
Click to expand...

Close.
My avatar is a little short though. :D

mike
 
Taken from Alabama's website...now i know what Redneck Skin looks like in Damascus...!

Alabama Damascus Steel - Alabama Redneck Skin Pattern Billet

Material = (4) layers 5160, (3) layers 203E, (3) layers 52100, (3) layers 15N20 folded 5 times for 416 damascus layers

Size = Approx. 4" x 14" (Size will vary by billet but we will ship a large/full billet)

Billet has been precision ground.
 
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