S7 for a hardcore chopper?

[AcridSaint]

I have yet to meet the steel that will keep a pristine hair-popping edge after chopping into a rock. Even if the damage is lessened by using a tough steel, it will still need to be touched up in that section, again, usually long before wear resistance comes into play (at least for my use anyway).

Actually, I'm more intrigued by S5 as it is. At least on paper, it should be tougher than S7 at even greater hardness.

If the steel doesn't offer significantly better impact resistance in your application, why would you not choose a far less expensive alternative that offers better edge retention? If you're going to beat the crap out of a knife and expect to have to fix the edge, I don't know why you would use a more expensive steel.

 

[the possum]

Thanks for your reply, AcridSaint. It lets me know there's at least one person here who's not tired of hearing my same old stories.

If the steel doesn't offer significantly better impact resistance in your application, why would you not choose a far less expensive alternative that offers better edge retention? If you're going to beat the crap out of a knife and expect to have to fix the edge, I don't know why you would use a more expensive steel.

First off, with as long as it takes me to make a big chopper with my meager tools in my garage, the expense of the steel is not one of my primary considerations. I've used steels both more and less expensive, and found that's not what determines its performance characteristics.

Secondly, I have seen a large difference in impact resistance. I've gone from tearing and mashing quarter inch deep dents, to chipping big chunks out of the main grind & breaking a blade, to one that can now handle the same tasks with only half-milimeter deep nicks. So yeah, I'd call that significantly better, but at the same time, half-milimeter deep nicks still need to be sharpened out.

 

[AcridSaint]

It seems like it meets your requirements then, so that's fair enough for me. The steel still isn't for me, however. I'm surprised you'd see the kind of damage you describe with simple alloy steels like 5160.

 

[Gossman Knives]

Yes it would make a good chopper although has a low RC to maintain impact resistance. It's an extremely impact resistant steel.
I prefer O1 or A2 for choppers.
Scott

 

[the possum]

I'm surprised you'd see the kind of damage you describe with simple alloy steels like 5160.

Actually, the two exteme examples of damage I mentioned was with steels not suited to the task at all, so in retrospect I probably shouldn't have even mentioned it. Guess my main point is just that I wouldn't call a steel inferior for this application just because it didn't have carbides for wear resistance.