Questions about 4116 Krupps

7

72jroberts

Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
277
So right when the Cold Steel leatherneck sf came out I decided I wanted one and I was under the impression that the blade steel was SR5. So I get the knife and I know it's not the be-all end-all knife but there are some features that I really like. So fast forward to about Feb/Mar and I discover according to CS, that the steel on the Leatherneck SF is 4116 Krupps, not SR5. So I decided to strip the blade and use it in a role of a watery/wet environment and just go from there.

Quickly I discovered that this 4116 Stainless takes an easy patina. So my question is: Is that normal for 4116 to take a patina like that? I got some spots on it from farting around in the kitchen, so I used a cider vinegar to put an even patina all over.

I still like the blade, but Im surprised that this steel isn't so stainless......

Comments appreciated,
Thanks,
John
 
The first ones were SK5, then they switched to 4116. Is the knife fully flat ground or hollow ground. If flat ground then it is SK-5, which would explain the patina.
 
I did not know that they had switched from SK5 to 4116. That's kind of lame. Has the price gone down accordingly?
 
Chris:
Well I bought mine for $59 ( I think. -and I hope im not breaking a rule here saying the price).
I don't know what theyre going for now.

Hardheart:
Thanks for always giving well informed answers. Sounds like I have an early model that is the FFG/ SK5. If so, you made my day.
 
Chris,
It IS lame that they changed to 4116. That is my main gripe about CS. I wish they would use better steels. They don't have to use the exotics, but there are better steels overseas than what they use.
 
The FFG ones are SK5. Hence why it took a patina. The saber hollow ground ones are 4116
 
The contract is for several foreign countries that they did not name.

I'm sure there are plenty of US troops out there that have elected to carry CS leathernecks, but they sure aren't standard issue
 
res1cue said:
The contract is for several foreign countries that they did not name.

I'm sure there are plenty of US troops out there that have elected to carry CS leathernecks, but they sure aren't standard issue
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Don't know why they'd carry the CS version over the original. The standard 1095 Ka-Bar is $20 cheaper, and the D2 version is basically the same price with better steel.
 
I have a CS Pendleton Lite Hunter in the Krupps steel. I like it a lot. but of course I did not expect a high end steel in a $14 knife.
 
Sword and Shield said:
Don't know why they'd carry the CS version over the original. The standard 1095 Ka-Bar is $20 cheaper, and the D2 version is basically the same price with better steel.
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According to CS, one of the specifications was stainless steel. Which is why they switched from SK5 to 4116, which is probably why the won't use 1095 or D2
 
Sword and Shield said:
Don't know why they'd carry the CS version over the original. The standard 1095 Ka-Bar is $20 cheaper, and the D2 version is basically the same price with better steel.
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The standard 1095 Kabar version is 25 dollars more according to my stores...
 
4116 has high toughness for a stainless, and it keeps the price low which was likely also a foreign contract concern.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
4116 has high toughness for a stainless, and it keeps the price low which was likely also a foreign contract concern.
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It's actually not a bad blade for soldiers if you think about it. Tough, easy to sharpen, cheap. Very few soldiers are "knife" people.
 
I rather like the 4116, though I've only used the Kudu. My Kudu took some very rough use with no problems other than dulling.
 
It's like SAK steel. Tough, corrosion resistant, easy to sharpen. Only fair in the edge retention department but it's "good enough for government work." Apparently some governments agree. :p
 
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