-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
san mai vs. SK-5 High Carbon
- Thread starter kershlack
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2006
- Messages
- 44,235
It depends on what you are chopping I think.
The current San Mai III is VG1 sandwiched between something on the order of 420J.
In slicing, San Mai will hold an edge longer than SK-5. In chopping, while much tougher than VG1 alone, I think San Mai would not be as tough as SK-5. (SK-5 is an alloy steel with similar carbon loading to that of 1080 or 1085.)
So it would depend on whether you need edge retension or toughness for your chopping.
If you were chopping softer materials such as thee yucca trees found in my back yard in S Cal, I would expect the San Mai to outlast the SK-5 because yucca is really soft and full of fibers that need to be cut. But if you were chopping harder materials I would expect the SK-5 to last longer.
If I were making a choice of what to buy, I would choose the SK-5 model unless I were in an environment in which I really needed corrosion resistance and were willing to pay the large monetary differential to get it.
The current San Mai III is VG1 sandwiched between something on the order of 420J.
In slicing, San Mai will hold an edge longer than SK-5. In chopping, while much tougher than VG1 alone, I think San Mai would not be as tough as SK-5. (SK-5 is an alloy steel with similar carbon loading to that of 1080 or 1085.)
So it would depend on whether you need edge retension or toughness for your chopping.
If you were chopping softer materials such as thee yucca trees found in my back yard in S Cal, I would expect the San Mai to outlast the SK-5 because yucca is really soft and full of fibers that need to be cut. But if you were chopping harder materials I would expect the SK-5 to last longer.
If I were making a choice of what to buy, I would choose the SK-5 model unless I were in an environment in which I really needed corrosion resistance and were willing to pay the large monetary differential to get it.
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2005
- Messages
- 2,826
Cold Steel offers four Kukris and all four are marketed as weapons. The San Mai model goes for $500 and clearly isn't a top choice for hacking through the jungle. The SK5 is the same size and weight (22 ounces) and both have the same plastic-molded sheaths.
The two "workhorse" machetes are in the twenty dollar range. The standard one is an even 16 ounces; the other is 18 ounces and has a 17-inch blade length opposed to the standard 13-inch.
The two "workhorse" machetes are in the twenty dollar range. The standard one is an even 16 ounces; the other is 18 ounces and has a 17-inch blade length opposed to the standard 13-inch.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2006
- Messages
- 6,211
FWIW I have the CS 'mini-kukri' which is carbon V. I use it to clear vegetation in my garden, which I would imagine is closest to its original purpose (other than cutting the ears off Jap soldiers in WWII that is).
I find the steel is more than adequate when cutting softer plant tissue. It does stain easily from the sap, etc but you can prevent rust with the usual cleaning and oiling routines.
Personally, I see the CS kukris as pure working tools. The carbon steel is easier to sharpen and they cost a hella lot less than the San Mai equivalent.
If you want to try San Mai, I think you'd be better off with a Trail Master or the smaller version (Recon Scout, is it?).
As far as chopping wood goes, I would look at an axe or hatchet for that. A kukri was designed to clear jungle vegetation, prep food, etc, and not really to chop wood (esp. hard wood). It will do it, but a good axe (like the Gransfors Bruks range) will be far better suited IMO./
Mark
I find the steel is more than adequate when cutting softer plant tissue. It does stain easily from the sap, etc but you can prevent rust with the usual cleaning and oiling routines.
Personally, I see the CS kukris as pure working tools. The carbon steel is easier to sharpen and they cost a hella lot less than the San Mai equivalent.
If you want to try San Mai, I think you'd be better off with a Trail Master or the smaller version (Recon Scout, is it?).
As far as chopping wood goes, I would look at an axe or hatchet for that. A kukri was designed to clear jungle vegetation, prep food, etc, and not really to chop wood (esp. hard wood). It will do it, but a good axe (like the Gransfors Bruks range) will be far better suited IMO./
Mark