Opinions on Kiku Matsuda knives?

[cat]

Any opinions or thoughts on the Kiku knives available at jkd ?

There are also a few left at tadgear but both of them have sold all the "nicest"/"best" ones.

 

[ryosuke]

I had Kiku's neck knive but sold it. Made from D2. Very sharp and well made. He grind knives for William Henry.

 

[nozh2002]

I had Kiku's neck knive but sold it. Made from D2. Very sharp and well made. He grind knives for William Henry.

Dou you kniw anything about OU31 steel he uses?

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[cat]

I suppose you have seen this at jkd :
http://www.japaneseknifedirect.com/user/OU-31%20Steel.pdf

There is something wrong with the pdf - it forces a check for updates to Acrobat Reader and then messes up the display. All I can get from it before that happens is that it is hard, up to RHC 62, and very fine-grained, and easier to machine than D2, and stronger than D2. I don't know if there is anything there about the composition.

I'm just thinking that if Kiku Matsuda prefers it, and he is apparently a very highly esteemed bladesmith, then it must be good. I like what he's doing; his combining of Japanese bladesmithing with modern "tactical" type sheaths, and his etch blade finish.

PS: I just found this:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199135

 

[nozh2002]

By downloading this pdf and trying to open it several times I got is clear.
Here it is:

Micro fine steel embodies what many knife-makers have long wanted. It
is a steel developed by seeking after the bounds of quality of knife steel
with "homogeneous", "fine" and "clean" microstructure, using carefully
selected materials, and joining our comprehensive technologies.

Features
1. High hardness equivalent to M2: HRC64.
2. Better machinability then M2 or D2. Good workability by dispersing
fine carbode
3. Toughness more then 3 times higher then that of D2, acheved by
compounding special alloy and dispersing carbide.
4. Unrivaled wear resistnce achived by deposition of dence special
carbide.
5. Outstanding heat treatment properties. Hardening temperature
same as that of 13Cr and 18Cr stainless steels.
6. Sharpness equivalent to that of Japanese swords but MICRO FINE STEEL
does not break or bend, and cuts well for a long time.
-------------------------------------------------
From Jeff Hall post:
"It is a Japanese steel with .9 Carbon, 8.5 Cr, 2 Mo. Also has a sprinkle of Vanadium and a dash of (3%) Cobalt."

Nothing really clear.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[cat]

If the claims are true, then it seems that it is similar to D2 and M2, finer grained is good for a razor sharp edge (finer grain means properties more like powder steel?), and they seem to put much emphasis on the even carbide dispersion.

For me, it doesn't matter if it's OU31 or D2.