Ranking of Steels in Categories based on Edge Retention cutting 5/8" rope

Hey ankerson.... What's your personal experience with vg-1, what knives have you used in it? Stuff like that, just wondering how it got in the same category as d2 and s30v in your original post. I have no opinion of it but I just bought knife that happens to have it so I'm trying to read about it.
 
Hey ankerson.... What's your personal experience with vg-1, what knives have you used in it? Stuff like that, just wondering how it got in the same category as d2 and s30v in your original post. I have no opinion of it but I just bought knife that happens to have it so I'm trying to read about it.

That's the polished edge section....

VG-1 is a good steel, should give around the same performance as VG-10 in the coarse edge section.
 
I didn't, not sure exactly what Micheal does so I didn't mention it, however whatever he does works great. :)

Well, after all there ain't many combos to bring that steel at such an hardness D:)
More precisely I was making reference to the HRC score, which is right what S30V should be delivered at
 
Well, after all there ain't many combos to bring that steel at such an hardness D:)
More precisely I was making reference to the HRC score, which is right what S30V should be delivered at


True, I don't like to guess though. :)

In the end it was balanced well performance wise. :)
 
Interesting thread. I just spent way too long going through it.

Any theories on how Buck's 420hc would perform under the coarse section? I read somewhere that Phil Wilson likes 420hc for kitchen knives, and personally I could swear my Buck 110 outperforms my Opinels and some aus-8 knives. I wonder if during polishing it thins up and rolls easily? Probably a pretty picky question, and what is 100 cuts vs 150 or whatver, but I am curious anyways.

I also read this recently and found it interesting: https://scienceofsharp.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/the-diamond-plate-progression/ Diamond sharpening, but still pretty cool. I gotta get me one of them fancy microscopes.

Thanks for the test!
 
Interesting thread. I just spent way too long going through it.

Any theories on how Buck's 420hc would perform under the coarse section? I read somewhere that Phil Wilson likes 420hc for kitchen knives, and personally I could swear my Buck 110 outperforms my Opinels and some aus-8 knives. I wonder if during polishing it thins up and rolls easily? Probably a pretty picky question, and what is 100 cuts vs 150 or whatver, but I am curious anyways.

I also read this recently and found it interesting: https://scienceofsharp.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/the-diamond-plate-progression/ Diamond sharpening, but still pretty cool. I gotta get me one of them fancy microscopes.

Thanks for the test!

That blog is written by our own ToddS :thumbup:

As to Buck 420HC, it has nearly the same chemical composition as Opinel's 12C27mod with a precious bit of vanadium to refine the grain. With the same geometry, it would likely perform in the same class.
 
I just saw a couple mid-tech knives for sale with CTS-875P steel, has anyone seen the specs for that? I just looked for the alloy on the Carpenter website and it comes up with no match. I also tried B75P in case there was a typo... also no match.
 
Annkerson, Have you had any experience with Lionsteel's D-2? Curious how their steel with their heat treat holds up.

I've had some knives of Lionsteel in D2 (and other steels as well).
Although D2 can be brought at 62hrc safely enough, Lionsteel has notably a very conservative approach to each steel, as far as HT is concerned.
Limiting to D2, their knives I had didn't trespass 60.3 HRC, which is two points less the general consensus about that steel.
I'll make it short: you can expect 14% M7C3 Cr carbides, thus good abrasive wear resistance will be achieved, but also great chances of edge microchipping and/or chipping, edge instability, and very low stain/pitting resistance (the half of 440C, lower than even CPM-3V, just as a quick comparison).
 
I've had some knives of Lionsteel in D2 (and other steels as well). Although D2 can be brought at 62hrc safely enough, Lionsteel has notably a very conservative approach to each steel, as far as HT is concerned. Limiting to D2, their knives I had didn't trespass 60.3 HRC, which is two points less the general consensus about that steel.
Hello Daberti, do you think that most knives ought to be taken 2 points higher than the common production practice?
 
Couple of points? It would be heaven 👍🏻
More often three points actually.
Recall Sebbies and Fantoni up above this thread.
Or Elmax Mule at 58.5.

Why should I spend more money in a D2 blade when very good CPM-D2 knives (Kershaw) are out there for less?

After all, James started this thread to educate us (myself included) about how intimately related edge retention is with HT and other parameters.

"Elmax really starts to speak at 61" he said and I definitely agree. Now: what production Elmax blade gets there? None.
I could go on but ain't no use.

James took his time, knowledge and skills to demonstrate that relationships.
Have you seen how the heck of a performer came out of the latest S30V he tested? Was its hardness in the usual 58-60 range?

In the end, mate, how many hrc it depends on steel and geometry, bundling it all with meant use.
But i.e. D2 at 60 it is a no go. Too much carbides of too big a size, bigger than 100micron=>seeking for troubles.
Cpm-D2 at ~61-62 it gave me lotta satisfaction.
Have a nice day mate 👍🏻
 
Last edited:
I've been wondering for a while whether you've ever had a chance to play with Niolox steel? It's quite populair among custom makers over here in Europe but you don't really see the stuff in the states.

And, whether you would have any interest in trying it?
 
I've been wondering for a while whether you've ever had a chance to play with Niolox steel? It's quite populair among custom makers over here in Europe but you don't really see the stuff in the states.

And, whether you would have any interest in trying it?

Haven't seen it yet, yes sounds like it is a nice steel. :)
 
I'll have to get you some to play with then.

I'll get in touch as soon as I'm ready to send you some to play with. It's not in the league of m390 and such I suspect. But I like the stuff anyway.
 
Back
Top