Please explain to me composite steel blades using copper as spacing medium.

hank_rearden

hank_rearden

Joined
Jun 7, 2002
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hi guys. this is some sort of an invasion by a spyderco fan. really my first peek at this forum. the thing is any knife that contains zdp 189 catches my interest. and no, i've never owned a kershaw.

in my former life as a miner, we used rock drills with steel shanks that were slotted at the end, to allow a tungsten carbide bit to be force-fitted, wrapped by a thin copper sheet. no doubt the assembly process with kershaw composites is similar: little or no heat is needed to generate the 'sandwich.'

we were schooled in proper care of drills and their bits. failure to maintain/repair despite telltale warning signs may lead to failure of either the bit, the copper, or the steel. but, this was in an industrial environment which is a bit more harsh and demanding than ordinary knife use.

therefore, please tell me more about these composite blades, their advantages (i can already think of time and energy savings compared with forge welding.) also their weaknesses and special care/treatment.

thanks.

hank.
 
No special care that I know of, advantage? It looks cool :D I have the solid ZDP and I don't know if it is, but the composite blade Seems lighter.
 
From what I've read the positives are looks, and having an expensive steel only on the edge (helps reduce cost) while still having a strong steel on the spine.
 
hank_rearden said:
hi guys. this is some sort of an invasion by a spyderco fan. really my first peek at this forum. the thing is any knife that contains zdp 189 catches my interest. and no, i've never owned a kershaw.
Click to expand...

You won't be sorry. Without qualification, to me Kershaw is one of the best knife companies out there today. To me, their offerings are like going to a knife cafeteria; they have good working steels all the way up to excellent premium steels. They have heavy working knives down to dressy little knives. They have everything in between, and all have their bulletproof warranty.

hank_rearden said:
please tell me more about these composite blades, their advantages (i can already think of time and energy savings compared with forge welding.) also their weaknesses and special care/treatment.
Click to expand...

Other than the explanations provided in the video and by others here over the last couple of years, I don't know anything about the process. It seems pretty simple to me, and as long as it works I don't care about a detailed metallurgical discussion about the physics of material change when brazed.

I can tell you though, that it works brilliantly. I have a Tyrade composite, which I rarely carry. Not because it isn't a great knife, but I am afraid someone will borrow it and I will lose track of it, or I will lose it or have it stolen on the jobsite.\

In my rotation of Kershaw work knife carries, I have a Junkyard Dog combo, which is the larger knife Thomas has in his hands in the video. That knife is absolutely outstanding. Great working knife for the job site (construction) and it is one of the few knives I have that I use with no caution. The D2 hits the sweet spot for me as it is hard enough for a good working edge, but easy to sharpen. No, you don't need diamonds for D2 - your regular setup should work fine.

I was concerned about a bit of torquing or twisting of the blade popping the brazed joints, and that been discussed here as well. Not a chance. I use it like I would any other heavy made work knife, and have for about three years. Never a problem with the blade; outside of normal wear and sharpening, the blade still looks new.

Robert
 
Every time I look at my 0350 composite I wonder.. but I guess the process must not work with Ti. It's plenty STRONG enough for a blade, just doesn't hold an edge very well. A Ti blade bonded with a high-quality steel edge.. how much would you pay for your favorite EDC with a third of the weight gone?
 
the main purpose was to take the mullet from the Southern fashion world and bring it the the forefront of the knife world. Business in the front and party in the back. The 0777 is a perfect example. Sorry couldnt resist. :D
 
Is a ti zdp composite even possible? I certainly would love one.

It could lead to a knife the slices AND prys! Now that would be something I'd have to have.
 
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