Puma/d1.4

A

apbr

Joined
Dec 25, 2004
Messages
5
Anyone have/had any puma knives? What did you think of them?
Also, I hear that D2 steel is great, but what about D1.4?
 
Welcome to Bladeforums! :)

I actually do have a couple of lightweight Puma folders but I don't carry them. Not bad knives, but I've moved past them.

I'm not familiar with the steel, though.
 
I have one in my pocket right now. An excellent sample of the older models they used to make. If you find an older one (say, before 1990) you should be fine. It takes and holds an excellent edge. Since then the quality has declined.

It used to be that the steel was heat treated very well. I can't speak for how well it is done now. Some of the knives are still made in Germany (the high end models, I presume) while others are made elsewhere.

I have a Puma catalog that is about 10 years old, and it lists the composition of the steel. There are two different stainless steels they used at the time.

DIN 1.4110 (hunting and pocket knives)
C 0.65, Si 0.40, Mn 0.50, Cr 13-15, Mo 0.45-0.60

DIN 4116 (hunting knives)
C 0.50-0.55, Si 1, Mn 1, Cr 13.80-15, Mo 0.45-0.60

The stainless Pumas I have from the 80s hold an edge very well, and compare favorably with (better in many cases than) 440C and even ATS-34. They did an excellent heat treat. Whether they still do remains a question that I can't answer.

I recommend inspecting knives of recent manufacture before purchasing. Some are still well made, others are lacking.
 
Danbo said:
I think that's Puma's trade name for a 420 stainless.
Click to expand...

well, i've been looking at them this morning and i know they do make some 440C, but theres definitely plenty of 440A.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Welcome to Bladeforums! :)

I actually do have a couple of lightweight Puma folders but I don't carry them. Not bad knives, but I've moved past them.

I'm not familiar with the steel, though.
Click to expand...

Thanks! It's the coolest and most complete knife site I've seen so far, I'm impressed.
 
Don M said:
I have one in my pocket right now. An excellent sample of the older models they used to make. If you find an older one (say, before 1990) you should be fine. It takes and holds an excellent edge. Since then the quality has declined.

It used to be that the steel was heat treated very well. I can't speak for how well it is done now. Some of the knives are still made in Germany (the high end models, I presume) while others are made elsewhere.

I have a Puma catalog that is about 10 years old, and it lists the composition of the steel. There are two different stainless steels they used at the time.

DIN 1.4110 (hunting and pocket knives)
C 0.65, Si 0.40, Mn 0.50, Cr 13-15, Mo 0.45-0.60

DIN 4116 (hunting knives)
C 0.50-0.55, Si 1, Mn 1, Cr 13.80-15, Mo 0.45-0.60

The stainless Pumas I have from the 80s hold an edge very well, and compare favorably with (better in many cases than) 440C and even ATS-34. They did an excellent heat treat. Whether they still do remains a question that I can't answer.

I recommend inspecting knives of recent manufacture before purchasing. Some are still well made, others are lacking.
Click to expand...

I found a puma my dad has so i've been looking into them. supposedly, there is a way to tell the date it was made from the serial number, but i'm not sure how yet. He's had this one from the 80's I'd say, and the edge is still great, hasn't been used much.

Thanks for the heads up on the decline in quality.

EDIT:
http://www.pumaknifeman.com/
this site shows a dating guide for puma knives, my dad's was actually made in JAN 1972! a little older than i thought.
 
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