Noob question

T

TrojanSteel

Joined
Jul 22, 2013
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What does "combat grade" mean? I see that some models, like the SOB, have come in two versions, and the combat grade was less expensive. What's the difference?

Thanks
 
Combat grade means that the knife is made using Busse's SR-101 steel instead of their INFI steel. I can't give you specifics as to their differences, however if you search the forum, there will be threads with lots of info.
 
crcornish said:
Combat grade means that the knife is made using Busse's SR-101 steel instead of their INFI steel. I can't give you specifics as to their differences, however if you search the forum, there will be threads with lots of info.
Click to expand...

No it doesn't - that's Battle Grade.

Combat Grade means the blade (infi) is coated, instead of having a bare steel and more finished blade (like the satin finish of the LE (Limited Edition) or double cut, or the more recent Industrial Grade finish).

Under the coating it could be anything from a nice satin finish to almost a raw forged look with the famous infi dimples.

Infi takes a fair bit of work to get it smooth and shiny, so it's more expensive to finish it nicely. Combat grade gives us a great working blade at a cheaper price.


A picture is worth a thousand words... LE (satin finish) above, coated (effectively a Combat Grade) below:

IMG_4160.JPG
 
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I should add that there can be other differences between Combat Grade (CG) and (often sold at the same time) the LE version of the same knife. Often one is thicker than the other, for instance the original Fusion Battle Mistress where the LE was thicker, and did not have the corrugated bevel technology that the CG had.
 
Lets not forget the other NO Longer available CG "Competition Grade" that was the least finished models at a lower price for those not caring about beauty just raw destructive power...Love that finish!!!
 
Good catch - I had forgotten that there was a "Competition Grade" before the "Competition Finish".
 
foxyrick said:
No it doesn't - that's Battle Grade.

Combat Grade means the blade (infi) is coated, instead of having a bare steel and more finished blade (like the satin finish of the LE (Limited Edition) or double cut, or the more recent Industrial Grade finish).

Under the coating it could be anything from a nice satin finish to almost a raw forged look with the famous infi dimples.

Infi takes a fair bit of work to get it smooth and shiny, so it's more expensive to finish it nicely. Combat grade gives us a great working blade at a cheaper price.


A picture is worth a thousand words... LE (satin finish) above, coated (effectively a Combat Grade) below:

IMG_4160.JPG
Click to expand...


Does that bottom one really count as CG? It seems like more of a special edition to me (even if not explicitly designated as such) since it was available only to inducted hogs and was never offered for sale. I don't think special editions, military overruns, custom shop blades, and so forth technically count as CG, whether coated or not.

My understanding is that a CG model generally refers to regular production models that aren't Limited Editions (LEs), and CG models are sometimes offered with Double Cut and maybe Satin finish options. Take for instance the ASH-1, which was offered with DC as an optional blade finish on the standard model (as seen here, courtesy of the WayBack Machine.), or more explicitly with the "Boss Jack Combat Grade" (as seen here).
 
I know exactly where you are coming from, but it actually is (at least based on) a Combat Grade (depending on how you interpret this):

Jerry Busse said:
The Special HOG Edition will be a combat grade ASH 1 with a Muddy Trough Brown Blade and Magnum Tiger Hide Handles!!!!. . . . Very Cool!!!
Click to expand...

Original thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/515668-ASH-1-Special-HOG-Edition-Details-and-Specs

Anyway, I think that might be splitting hairs a little... I have a photograph somewhere of it doing that too :D
 
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