"Premium" Knife Steels: Beyond Knives

[cm_bushman]

The first thing you always hear about the latest and greatest knife steels such as CPM-M4, 10V, m390, 3V, etc. Is how wonderful they are. The second is how they are all years or decades old and only just recently adapted to cutlery.

After hearing this so often, and seeing all of the marketing literature promoting these steels first and foremost as industrial material, I was just wondering if anyone could recommend some toolmakers who use these alloys (Especially the powder-metallurgy steels) and name them in their products. I mean tools that hit as close to the consumer level as possible. Think drill bits (I see HSS bits often, but I rarely if ever see which HSS they have on tap), chisels, files, planer blades, etc. In other words, I am not as interested in industrial parts such as replacement turbine blades for a jet engine or an industrial shearing blade that segments red-hot steel billets.

It would be interesting to look at custom toolmakers who are kindred spirits to the custom knife makers we see here on the forum, even working with the same materials.






Not really General Knife discussion I know, so if this belongs elsewhere, mods please move!

 

[nzedge]

hey mate, down here in NZ my my mate makes these little steel stars, that are used in wall paper removal tools

tho not really on the same level as the ones mentioned above, these are stamped out of thin CM-154

 

[Bill1170]

HSS jointer and planer knives are M2, and could be made into a very effective knife with a handle via stock removal so long as you kept them cool while grinding. If you like chisel ground blades you could use them as they are, typically 35 degrees inclusive, single bevel.

 

[cm_bushman]

Thanks guys, that wallpaper-removal-thing is pretty cool, especially so since it's a custom tool that's so specialized that is made from good materials. This is not out of scope at all, I dig it.

I'll look into the planer blades, that was what I was looking for in general, I just never see anyone marking their tools with the exact steel they use. I've learned much more about "Tool" steels on this knife forum than with anything actually related to tooling. I've also been wondering about USA-made tools and custom toolmakers lately and it just got me to wondering.

 

[Nebulae]

+1 for planer blades take a look at these guyshttp://globaltooling.bizhosting.com/resources/steel-performance.html I have made quite a few knives from their T-1 HSS

 

[cm_bushman]

T-1 eh? How do you like it? Does it really outpreform M2 in knives? I've heard it is very difficult to HT once you grind it. Those planar blades ar pretty cheap, and some are a good size for stock removing a small knife, thanks for the tip!