Old(er) Hogs Help

[Cobalt]

Here is a good post to explain the difference from a user standpoint. INFI is still better. Also another post about sr101 and infi that is interesting

Jeff :



This was the only problem I had with mine. It does have to be a fairly high pressure one though of decent velocity. For example digging through rocky soil or chopping hard woods are not problems, but hard wire can be.

For example, I took a coathanger last night and chopped it up with my Basic #7 and my Battle Mistress. I was chopping on a spruce stump and making cuts about 1.3 to 1.6 deep in the 2.6 mm thick wire. These were hard chops the wire was being pushed right into the wood. I had some harder wood but I didn't want to use it as a base as I had it for something else and didn't want to beat it up.

Anyway, the Basic was indenting fairly significantly taking semicircular hits about .6 mm in depth. The Battle Mistress on the other hand was being informed at a much smaller level. They had to be measured under a scope and were less than .2 mm in depth. The BM was also cutting into the wire better about 25%.

The Basic was actually losing bits of the edge with the impacts. I think that the toughness was being exceded and that it was fracturing because of the more extensive compression. The Battle Mistress was just being very lightly flattened.

Note both edges are thinner than the factory. My Basic has a v-ground included bevel angle of less than 30 degrees. The BM is slightly more obtuse about 35 degrees and has the dual grind. Neither one of these factors however could account for the size of the change here it indicates a difference in the material properties.

-Cliff

I just took a look at the edges of my INFI Busse knives under a 30x microscope, compared to my SR101 Swamp Rat knives. The results aren't very rigorous, but still worth reporting.

The INFI blades have probably received 5-10 times as much heavy use as the SR101 blades. Both kinds of knives have received the same basic maintainence: wash the gunk off when I'm finished, then dry it, strop a few times with Veritas paste on leather, a few strokes on the prototype knife sharpener (I reviewed previously) if absolutely necessary.

The difference under the pocket microscope was dramatic. All of the INFI blades look basically like new. Perfectly straight edges--no scratches or dents of chips. Remarkable, after the things I've done to them. All of the SR101 blades have numerous tiny scratches and dents and chips all along the edges.

To be clear about this, I am talking about dents and chips and scratches which are too small to be seen with the naked eye, and too small to be felt with the finger nail. The SR101 Swamp Rat knives are razor sharp; and I have no complaints whatsoever. In fact, I love 'em.

But the INFI really looks pristine. I'd think those edges were new, if I didn't know better. The view through the microscope gave me a new appreciation for just how good INFI is.

It appears that INFI still reigns supreme, by a longshot.

 

[neverforget]

Hi All, hope everyone had a good holiday. First I wanted to say thanks for all the in-put, you guys have lot of great information and are not shy to give it up :thumbup:

Mine is looking pretty dang good. I received my b-11 asym today off of a friendly hog. I really wanted to get out today and have some play time, but here in the northeast were expecting our first good snow fall; expecting more than a foot. Older folks like to have plenty of wood on hand, I went around doing my thing, I just look at it as paying it forward. Besides them grandma's know how to cook

Yeah!! can you say time to get the sleds out hit the woods and have some fun. I dig the winter time. Friend of mine his Dad owns 137 acres and lets a few of use use his cabin and woods anytime we want, wonderful property!! Perfect time to check out the b-11 and put her through the ropes. Thought you guys might want to see my basic collection, b-11 came shaving sharp, edge never touched, the hog I got it off of, received it from the Boss's hands himself I think that's pretty sweet.

May all have a great New Years

 

[papathud]

Let us see a new push cutting test through new, clean one inch rope and see how many cuts and still shaves?
It has been more than than ten years, with people claiming SR101 being more durable?
Is the real INFI the old INFI gone?
Just Sayin

 

[Cobalt]

Let us see a new push cutting test through new, clean one inch rope and see how many cuts and still shaves?
It has been more than than ten years, with people claiming SR101 being more durable?
Is the real INFI the old INFI gone?
Just Sayin

Well, I doubt it's gone, but no one has done an analysis of it in years, so it may have changed slightly, who knows. As for SR101 being more durable, no, it's not, and I have proven that to myself as well as others have. In fact, there is lots of proof, that INFI is still tops in every way, two postings that I quoted above are but a few.