Sebenza vs Apogee

Steve :

the Apogee offers better blade steel, an optional recurved blade, a bigger blade, a more ergonomic handle, and much prettier finish. Oh, and you can get the Illusion Dual-Action release if you want.
Click to expand...

In what way have you found 420V better than the BG-42 in the Sebenza? Corrosion resistance, durability, cutting aggression, edge retention, ease of sharpening ?

The recurve I like a lot, he also has a larger blade with a very interesting edge profile, check out :

http://www.darrelralph.com/camp.jpg


and there is also a picture of an Apogee with a much better cutting grind than the one pictured above :

http://www.darrelralph.com/timapog.jpg

No argument on the handle. I have held and lightly used a Sebenza and it was immediate to me that the ergonomics were not good. However the cutting performance of the high deep hollow grind were very strong. Durability is low but only relevant in regards to hard contacts off of rock, hardened metals, and especially twisting while the edge is embedded into something.

The other problem I had with the Sebenza was that I could jam the lock with a tight grip. Not fail it, but cause it to become so tightly locked that it was very difficult to open. Not a one finger job. How does the Apogee handle similar stress?

The comment about custom vs production is critical, if you can have the Apogee the way you want it then this is a huge advantage.

-Cliff
 
Oops! I didn't know I was being redundent with this post....sorry. To DR. What stainless steel do you like the best for the knife? What carbon?
 
K
I keep most of the steels I mentioned above in stock so I dont have a need to get rid of any one steel that I bought a big amount of.
From my tests and experience I like 420v the best in Stainless for general all purpose use on a folder. This steel is not the end all save all. I also have some D2 with 12.5 chrome. This makes for a nice blade that is on the cusp of being ss. I have always liked d2 for the service it provides. HEAT TREAT IS THE KEY ON THIS AND ALL STEELS.
420v is a good steel that I feel is a step up from the norm. Its tough and holds a great edge for a long time. I am building a 420v fighter soon. I will test it for bigger blades and give results down the road. I have made a very thin kitchen knife from it. I was totally satisfied with the performance and the edge holding.
For hunting I like talonite , stellite k6, D2
3v, 52100, 5160, 1084. I call the talonite and stellite blood knives. You can just not sevrvice them after bloody use and no hurt the blades (staining rusting)
For fighters (bowies ect) and tac straight knives my fav here is 5160 , 52100, a2, 1084, D2, 3v, 440c.
I am not in love with any one of these steels above. They are also not in any order.
I do feel that intended use come into play for every knife.
Most folks have a full set of needs they want the blade to meet. When buying, custom blade steels are one of the choices that make all the difference to the buyer. Every steel has trade offs.
I just try to meet the needs of the buyer by matching requirements.

Cliff
The Apogee lock tention is set to the liking of the buyer in some cases. Some like them to be hard lock some like them light. The lock works either way. And yes if gripped tight the lock engages more. I do feel the apogee is easier to unlock then other folders in most cases when the lock is engaged tighter. The purpose is to gaurd against the liner failing in a hard use situation. The lock works well. The sticking is a trade off IMHO . I have had other types of locking liners knives that fail when squeezed. I just like the idea of having the choice of total lock up or posiblity of unlocking.
I do want to say that there are many locking liners that do not fail. Once again Kit Carson is a very good example of great locking liners at least in the knives I have seen that he has built.
Kits thoughts and practices are IMHO the standard of the industry for this type of lock in this time frame.
I have not handled everyones knives so please dont take offese here. Just commmenting about this type of knife that I have seen.
As for other locks I like the inlayed lock . These are built into the frame. After several upgrades this lock works well. I use them all the time on my integral damascus and other knives.
The other process that I feel needs more merit is the SS locking liner. I am building several full carbon fiber edc and apogees now days. I am using .075 thick 410 hc stainless liners. I feel the frame will not squeeze and release the lock. The lock is stiff and provides good tough service IMHO. I also feel the ss is a better wear surface than titainum in a thinner lock face.
The stainless liners take more work with the heat treat and the selective temper at the lock face but I feel for my folks that can live without titainum the stainless it is better.

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Web Site At www.darrelralph.com
 
Just wondering if it happens to be Inconel. Fun stuff (make the turbine disks out of it, since it can withstand the heat). I don't know how good of a blade material it would be, but it would be cool to show off, anyway.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Cliff,
None of my sebenzas' locks can be jammed by pushing pushing the lock bar over. It just becomes a little bit more sticky that's it.

-Johnny
 
E
Did another spark test . This looks like ti to me.. I think the plane was a prop jet.
??????????
Fun to forge
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Web Site At www.darrelralph.com

[This message has been edited by Darrel Ralph (edited 07-28-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Darrel Ralph (edited 07-28-2000).]
 
Cliff,

My very subjective and unscientific comparison, having carried an Apogee for a year and only sharpened it once, suggests that Darrel's 420V holds an edge significantly better than BG-42. I carried a Baby Benza for a while, and liked the edge, but it wasn't anything extraordinary in terms of edge holding.

Part of the difference could be edge geometry, but they are not that much different in terms of cutting efficiency. If the Apogee can cut as well and hold an edge better, that's a good performance advantage.

[This message has been edited by Steve Harvey (edited 07-28-2000).]
 
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