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

[Comedie]

On page 1 I see H-1 in the initial list, but not in what is apparently the more recent list that follow it?
Seems to have been recurring debate on whether the serrated Spydercos have a much higher RC from work hardening.
Is testing in this format forbidden, as apples-to-oranges? Do other steels work harden as well from serration grinding?

 

[awestib]

I kind of re-found this thread after a while. Great info here. Thanks Jim to keep this up. M4 is an interesting steel for a large knife it seems. Any idea of the cost for a let's say 9 inch chopper/camp knife? Similar to the Bladesport blades.

 

[Ankerson]

I kind of re-found this thread after a while. Great info here. Thanks Jim to keep this up. M4 is an interesting steel for a large knife it seems. Any idea of the cost for a let's say 9 inch chopper/camp knife? Similar to the Bladesport blades.

I think it will depend on who made it.

 

[calc]

Is testing in this format forbidden, as apples-to-oranges?

Even if you were to test SE vs. SE instead of SE vs PE, you'd still have the issue of variations in patterns. Quite a few variables at play with that sort of testing.

 

[Surfingringo]

Jim, while we're on that topic, do you know whether the original, accidentally high (64-65 HRC) HT on the Spyderco Gayle Bradley folder was moved down to a lower range? Early on, Sal Glesser confirmed the 64-65 HRC range and said it was not what Spyderco had intended, but that they would see what happened with the knives. I don't think I've ever seen any follow-up on that.

I'm almost positive that later runs came in closer to the 62-63 range. I want to say I even heard Gayle Bradley say that but my memory is not always to be trusted.

 

[Ballenxj]

Anybody have any experience with Canal Street Knives 440C? I keep hearing it's good stuff, but I dunno.

 

[Ray Allen]

I'm almost positive that later runs came in closer to the 62-63 range. I want to say I even heard Gayle Bradley say that but my memory is not always to be trusted.

Matches my memory also. I had called the office with that question, but, that was quite some time ago. My GB was pretty dang tough, but I decided the ergo's just weren't for me, so I ended up going in another direction.

 

[black mamba]

Anybody have any experience with Canal Street Knives 440C? I keep hearing it's good stuff, but I dunno.

I had a 4" stockman from them in 440C, and it took and held an edge beautifully. For a light to medium use pocket knife it worked flawlessly.

 

[JNewell]

I'm almost positive that later runs came in closer to the 62-63 range. I want to say I even heard Gayle Bradley say that but my memory is not always to be trusted.

Matches my memory also. I had called the office with that question, but, that was quite some time ago. My GB was pretty dang tough, but I decided the ergo's just weren't for me, so I ended up going in another direction.

Thanks, I don't remember seeing that, but there's two qualifications in that statement...

 

[Ankerson]

Added Phil Wilson CPM S125V Bow River - 62.5 RC - .006" behind the edge.

BESS

66 Ave Start
621 Ave finish

 

[sodak]

Who -eee! Gave 10V a run for it's money... Nice.

 

[Twindog]

Lot of cutting.

Can you explain the difference in the BESS score at the end of your tests? I expected that the BESS scores would be close at the end of the tests, but the S125V is almost twice what you got for Niolox. Niolox pooped out a lot faster, but it was quite a bit sharper at the end than S125V

CPM S125V - 2340 - Phil Wilson Bow River - 62.5 RC - .006" behind the edge - BESS - 621

Niolox - 420 - LX Blades - 59 - 59.5 RC - .006" behind the edge - (BESS - 344.5)

 

[Ankerson]

Lot of cutting.

Can you explain the difference in the BESS score at the end of your tests? I expected that the BESS scores would be close at the end of the tests, but the S125V is almost twice what you got for Niolox. Niolox pooped out a lot faster, but it was quite a bit sharper at the end than S125V

CPM S125V - 2340 - Phil Wilson Bow River - 62.5 RC - .006" behind the edge - BESS - 621

Niolox - 420 - LX Blades - 59 - 59.5 RC - .006" behind the edge - (BESS - 344.5)

Not enough data to figure it out yet.

Just started using it.

Taking into count that both knives would still slice phone book paper in the end I am thinking that there isn't that big of a difference between them.

Still it's going to take a lot of testing for any king of real pattern to start to develop, it's going to take years I think.

 

[Ankerson]

Who -eee! Gave 10V a run for it's money... Nice.

I would say they performed basically the same being as close as they are in that range.

 

[calc]

Added Phil Wilson CPM S125V Bow River - 62.5 RC - .006" behind the edge.

BESS

66 Ave Start
621 Ave finish

Phil's designs are gorgeously minimalist in a timeless fashion. Yet another great piece - just thought I'd add my praise for its aesthetics since apparently the performance speaks for itself.

 

[Ankerson]

Phil's designs are gorgeously minimalist in a timeless fashion. Yet another great piece - just thought I'd add my praise for its aesthetics since apparently the performance speaks for itself.

Thanks, it's very light weight at 3.2 ounces and feels great in hand.

 

[calc]

Thanks, it's very light weight at 3.2 ounces and feels great in hand.

3.2 ounces? Wow. My wife and I have a few major life events happening in the next 6 months or so, but eventually I will set aside some funds for something from Phil.

BTW, as always, great photos. I've been lurking this thread for a few years now and I appreciate them as much as the data produced.

 

[Ankerson]

3.2 ounces? Wow. My wife and I have a few major life events happening in the next 6 months or so, but eventually I will set aside some funds for something from Phil.

BTW, as always, great photos. I've been lurking this thread for a few years now and I appreciate them as much as the data produced.

Thanks.

He had a very long list so you have plenty of time I think.

I will likely use it a neck knife.

4.25" blade so it's not too long for that.

 

[calc]

Thanks.

He had a very long list so you have plenty of time I think.

I will likely use it a neck knife.

4.25" blade so it's not too long for that.

Haha yeah, I'd imagine 6 months is just a fraction of that wait list. But with what we have on our plate - good things, of course - it'll be a a little while before I even want to think about adding my name. A piece from Phil would be grail-level for me, so I want to make sure everything is set before I go for it.

Anyways, to get back on topic, it really does look like it'd make a decent neck knife. Not a lot of wasted space on it.

 

[Surfingringo]

Hey Jim, a question about the s125v. Per our pm conversation it seems like that one might have lost some of its initial sharpness a bit quicker than the 10v but then held that mid level sharpness for longer than you expected? So it sounded like they ended up at about the same level after 2500 cuts but sharpness falloff followed a different curve for the two steels. Does that sound right or am I reading more into it than i should?