Question RE: Soligen Steel

A

AC_23

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Apr 17, 2000
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I saw a few knives in the Smokey Mountain catalog with this blade steel listed. I am considering a purchase I'd like to find out the quality of this steel. BullDog knives are the models in which this was listed.

Thanks,
Clay
 
This tendts to be a cheap way out, to claim a good steel without actually specif-ying. or such is my understanding. Solingen is actually a place in Germany(if memory serves), so claiming a SOlingen blade is just like claiming a Sheffield blade. WHIle they're both places with well established cutlery history and quality claims, the name in itself doesn't specify a specific type of steel, or guarantee a good bladee
 
It's Solingen, a city in Germany. That only tells you where it's made not the steel type.
 
From my experience with German knives I would think that even though the composition of the steel is not given, it is usually comparable to the "standard" steels used in the U.S..

If it´s stainless it could be similar to 440A, 420HC, etc., probably a bit better, but not as good as 440C, some German knives are 440C but they would mention it.

If it´s not stainless, it could be similar to 1095, or probably a bit less in carbon such as 1080.

I have no personal experience with BullDog, hopefully someone else will pitch in, you may also ask at the Traditional forum.
 
Don Luis is right again. They take a lot of pride in the knives they make in Solingen. They don't use "bad" steel. Carbon steel blades fall into the 1080 to 1095 range. This is usually what is known as "Solingen Steel". I have mostly found it hardened into the 56 to 58 RC hardness range. This makes a good compromise between toughness and hardness. They use a lot of different stainless varieties that fall under generic specs. The Linder website lists some of the many stainless varieties used in the area.

http://linder.itchi.de/s/static/en/stahltabelle.html
 
My all time favorite slip joint knives were the Solingen made Tree Brand trapper and stockman, followed by the Eye Brand versions.

Tree Brand/Boker has not improved by moving to Argentina. I am not sure if they still make knives in Solingen.
 
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