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

[Orion's Belt]

I would go with 600 Grit.

Try both 600 and 1000 and see what you like.

Thanks Jim, I'll give it a go when the factory edge isn't working anymore.

Good advice.

The Vanadium amount will lend it self best to those two grits, try them and let us know what you like. Of course, it depends on your uses what steel will work best for you.

I'll definitely check back with what I find I like better.

 

[jimnolimit]

jim, i have a few questions about N680:

1. which knife did you test that steel with?
2. did you ever get a hardness reading for it?
3. i'm surprised that N680 made it into category 5, did it seem tougher than the rest of the category 5 steels?

 

[Ankerson]

jim, i have a few questions about N680:

1. which knife did you test that steel with?
2. did you ever get a hardness reading for it?
3. i'm surprised that N680 made it into category 5, did it seem tougher than the rest of the category 5 steels?

1) Benchmade
2) Not tested
3) Don't recall.

 

[jimnolimit]

thanks jim.

the reason i ask is because i'm looking at getting a general utility/light camp chore/food prep (and it may be called upon to skin an animal) knife, and i have it pretty much narrowed down to two knives. one has a 4",thin (0.080" at the spine) FFG D2 blade (60-62HRC), the other has a 3.5", slightly thicker (0.124" at the spine) FFG N680 blade (made by benchmade). i'm some-what intrigued at N680 because it shares the same category in your testing as CPM-D2 @ 62HRC. my instincts tell me (based on specs alone) that the thinner D2 blade should out perform the thicker N680 blade, but i could always thin out the grind/edge of the N680 knife if the performance will be better. if anyone else has any input on this, please chime in.

 

[olpappy]

The main advantage of N680 is that is has nitrogen added to resist corrosion. For general purpose blades I think N690 would be the more conventional choice as it is similar to VG-10. If you are mainly interested in edge holding the D2 is a proven winner. N680 is not well known yet in this country, maybe in Europe they have more experience with knives of this steel and how it performs. This page of Bohler web site describes both steels
http://www.bucorp.com/knives.htm The N680 can be hardened to 56-58. I would expect D2 to be better at edge holding for general purposes when corrosion resistance is not especially important.

 

[spydusse]

I love n680 that's used in my BM 111 ,really suprised me

 

[CrimsonTideShooter]

Live thread, live.

 

[1st1903]

Die thread, Die!!!

 

[JNewell]

Die thread, Die!!!

Huh? This is one of the more useful threads that has ever appeared at BF. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[skwurll]

Huh? This is one of the more useful threads that has ever appeared at BF. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Most definately! Will always be subscribed to this thread!

 

[1st1903]

I was JK, of course.

 

[JNewell]

I was JK, of course.

Hard to tell without some cues...

 

[Ballenxj]

I was JK, of course.

GOOD! I was a bit worried about you.
-Bruce

 

[tentufire]

Has anyone had the chance to test the M390 on the CF Millie as to where it stands in the rankings?

 

[JNewell]

Has anyone had the chance to test the M390 on the CF Millie as to where it stands in the rankings?

Not yet, although that may be coming some time in the future. The M390 in the first category is the Spyderco Mule, which ought to be a fairly good predictor of the performance of the M390 Military.

 

[nccole]

Jim,
Just checking out the categories from the first page again, and a question came up. Sorry if it has been answered, I did not read all 39 pages of the thread to look for it. Is the S30v not CPM S30v? I know Kershaw never claims to use CPM S30v and Spyderco never claims to use S30V. Did you not test CPM S30V or do you remember what knives were used in your test? I noticed you had CPM for the others that are typically CPM, so did not think this was a simple typo on your behalf. Again thanks for the thorough testing and any idea when some new steels might be added to the data?

 

[Ankerson]

Jim,
Just checking out the categories from the first page again, and a question came up. Sorry if it has been answered, I did not read all 39 pages of the thread to look for it. Is the S30v not CPM S30v? I know Kershaw never claims to use CPM S30v and Spyderco never claims to use S30V. Did you not test CPM S30V or do you remember what knives were used in your test? I noticed you had CPM for the others that are typically CPM, so did not think this was a simple typo on your behalf. Again thanks for the thorough testing and any idea when some new steels might be added to the data?

CPM S30V and S30V are the same steel, it's just shorted to S30V.

 

[nccole]

CPM S30V and S30V are the same steel, it's just shorted to S30V.

Thanks, I was thinking it was similar to 154 and CPM154, or maybe you can clear any ignorance or confusion up about that one too. Thanks.

 

[Ankerson]

Thanks, I was thinking it was similar to 154 and CPM154, or maybe you can clear any ignorance or confusion up about that one too. Thanks.

CPM 154 and 154CM are two different steels, CPM 154 is the powered vers while 154CM is the standard vers.

 

[nccole]

CPM 154 and 154CM are two different steels, CPM 154 is the powered vers while 154CM is the standard vers.

Thanks