Severely underrated knives

K.O.D. said:
The 0808 was a nice design. I had hoped that would come out with a CF scale version. I dislike full titanium. I never bought one because of that.


I used to hate on S30V. It turned out to not be an issue with the steel, but either an issue with a particular batch of steel from around 2014 from what I've heard.

While it's not my favorite, it's perfectly fine. S35VN however, I've had mixed results with, but mostly that it is easier to sharpen than S30V, but has less edge retention. Obviously this depends a lot on blade geometry as well.

Civivi's damascus is really impressive. The edge retention has surpassed expectations hugely, I'm guessing this is a combination of heat treat and thinly ground blades.
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The only thing S35VN has over S30V is that S35VN has better toughness and better corrosion resistance. S35VN is honestly probably better suited for a fixed blade, but even then S35VN's toughness is not ideal for most fixed blades if you are going larger for bushcraft or etc. EDC fixed blade, well, it's gonna work. But for an EDC fixed blade 420HC 8cr13mov would work. Magnacut is going to replace the S30V/S35VN/S45VN series of steels most likely, as it has similar edge retention but the toughness of 4v and almost corrosion proof. Only thing we gotta wait for is Magnacut to become more available and heat treats to be dialed in, although it helps that Larrin Thomas (inventor of magnacut) also gave a pretty good idea of where it needs to be HRC wise, (62 is good for fixed blades, 63-64 for folders as 62 is the drop off point for toughness).


As for the Damascus Civivi uses, according to these:

Civivi Naja Damascus - what damascus steel?

Hi all, saw the new Civivi Naja Damascus model being announced recently. The Damascus looks good and crisp and for a $75 knife this seems like a good deal. However I can’t seem to find any info on the steel besides WE mentioning that it’s “Chinese Damascus”. Does anyone has more info on the...
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Civivi Damascus performance

I know the composition is secret for industry reasons, but I've heard multiple things about how it is composed and nothing about how it performs. Civivi knives don't use super high end steel, so the Damascus won't be competing with the likes of S35VN or M390, but how does it compare to the...
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So called "Real damascus" for under $100?

Now I know the original "real damascus" method isn't around anymore, but there are these knife companies from India and Pakistan that are calling it real damascus and selling off knives for under $100. My questions are, can you actually get a real folded steel knife for under $100? If so are...
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9cr18mov, but preforms likes well treated 440c. Perhaps is layered in some way. According to Larrin in the last thread, a lot of the cost of Damascus is labor. Labor is cheap in some countries aka China/Pakistan. Kershaw makes Damascus in Alabama according to the last thread, and so that is what they use in their made in USA Damascus knives. Makes me want to pick one up, so I think that should be added to the underrated knives category. American Damascus for fairly cheap.
 
BD_01 said:
OTOH, the only way I would buy and carry a 0456 is in a ‘last knife on earth’ scenario! :D
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Ha, to each his own 😀

I was actually going to chime in that the 0456 is one of my favorite underrepresented ZTs. Good utility blade shape, decent steel, and hell for stout. The downside is the massively heavy handle. I sorta see it as if we were remaking Robocop, but Murphy is played by the Kershaw Needs Work and OCP resurrects him as an 0456.

I will go to my grave proclaiming that the Zt 0909 is one of the most underrepresented and criminally discontinued folders. Everything about it worked and landed itself to being a great work/camp knife. Killing it off started to sour me on the ZT pocket jewelry they started to focus on after that.
 
Slice O Life said:
The only thing S35VN has over S30V is that S35VN has better toughness and better corrosion resistance. S35VN is honestly probably better suited for a fixed blade, but even then S35VN's toughness is not ideal for most fixed blades if you are going larger for bushcraft or etc. EDC fixed blade, well, it's gonna work. But for an EDC fixed blade 420HC 8cr13mov would work. Magnacut is going to replace the S30V/S35VN/S45VN series of steels most likely, as it has similar edge retention but the toughness of 4v and almost corrosion proof. Only thing we gotta wait for is Magnacut to become more available and heat treats to be dialed in, although it helps that Larrin Thomas (inventor of magnacut) also gave a pretty good idea of where it needs to be HRC wise, (62 is good for fixed blades, 63-64 for folders as 62 is the drop off point for toughness).


As for the Damascus Civivi uses, according to these:

Civivi Naja Damascus - what damascus steel?

Hi all, saw the new Civivi Naja Damascus model being announced recently. The Damascus looks good and crisp and for a $75 knife this seems like a good deal. However I can’t seem to find any info on the steel besides WE mentioning that it’s “Chinese Damascus”. Does anyone has more info on the...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Civivi Damascus performance

I know the composition is secret for industry reasons, but I've heard multiple things about how it is composed and nothing about how it performs. Civivi knives don't use super high end steel, so the Damascus won't be competing with the likes of S35VN or M390, but how does it compare to the...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

So called "Real damascus" for under $100?

Now I know the original "real damascus" method isn't around anymore, but there are these knife companies from India and Pakistan that are calling it real damascus and selling off knives for under $100. My questions are, can you actually get a real folded steel knife for under $100? If so are...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

9cr18mov, but preforms likes well treated 440c. Perhaps is layered in some way. According to Larrin in the last thread, a lot of the cost of Damascus is labor. Labor is cheap in some countries aka China/Pakistan. Kershaw makes Damascus in Alabama according to the last thread, and so that is what they use in their made in USA Damascus knives. Makes me want to pick one up, so I think that should be added to the underrated knives category. American Damascus for fairly cheap.
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Yup the damascus Kershaw uses is made in Alabama, but Kershaw doesn't make it. The company is Alabama Damascus. You can go their website and buy billets of it. You might of meant that, but just wanted to throw that out there for information's sake, not trying to be anal or anything. I only have one of their damascus knives, a Skyline, and I like it quite a bit. It's pretty cool actually because I always wanted a modern folder in an old school carbon steel like 1095 or something. It behaves like that for me and strops up crazy sharp really easily.
 
LimpCroissant said:
Yup the damascus Kershaw uses is made in Alabama, but Kershaw doesn't make it. The company is Alabama Damascus. You can go their website and buy billets of it. You might of meant that, but just wanted to throw that out there for information's sake, not trying to be anal or anything. I only have one of their damascus knives, a Skyline, and I like it quite a bit. It's pretty cool actually because I always wanted a modern folder in an old school carbon steel like 1095 or something. It behaves like that for me and strops up crazy sharp really easily
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Ohh, that makes sense. I thought Kershaw made it in house and just called it Alabama Damascus
 
A year or two ago, I'd have said the Hogue Ritters, but I think those are finally getting some well-deserved respect and attention.

I agree with OP's thoughts on the Sage 1 for Spyderco and especially the BM Presidio IIs. The Mini Presidio II is, I think, the most underrated knife in Benchmade's lineup. It's such a good all-around knife.. better than Grips or Bugouts, imo.. I certainly don't think it gets enough attention.
 
LimpCroissant said:
Yup the damascus Kershaw uses is made in Alabama, but Kershaw doesn't make it. The company is Alabama Damascus. You can go their website and buy billets of it. You might of meant that, but just wanted to throw that out there for information's sake, not trying to be anal or anything. I only have one of their damascus knives, a Skyline, and I like it quite a bit. It's pretty cool actually because I always wanted a modern folder in an old school carbon steel like 1095 or something. It behaves like that for me and strops up crazy sharp really easily.
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Just wondering if Fain Edwards is associated with Alabama Damascus. The Damascus blades he did in association with Jim Parker were/are excellent.
 
Just going thru this thread I was struck by just how many weirdly named models there was..But I think the most underrated Brand is Buck. Most models made in the United States and many time tested designs and perhaps the best heat treatment in the business Buck probably gives it's customers the most value for the buck.
 
bucksway said:
Just going thru this thread I was struck by just how many weirdly named models there was..But I think the most underrated Brand is Buck. Most models made in the United States and many time tested designs and perhaps the best heat treatment in the business Buck probably gives it's customers the most value for the buck.
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Buck are also unbelievably tough. Here's a test by my man JOE X


His other tests with buck go similarly, at least with the fixed blades. Of course you got the amazing heat treat that buck does, but with the steel you have limitations on toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance, but overall it's probably still more than most people will need. I mean, what do you want a Buck to do, open some boxes, mail, maybe some light camp tasks or hunting tasks.
 
Rich S said:
Just wondering if Fain Edwards is associated with Alabama Damascus. The Damascus blades he did in association with Jim Parker were/are excellent.
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Arathol said:
No, I doubt it. Alabama Damascus is owned and operated by a guy named Brad Vice.
I think he is or was a supplier for Bear and Sons.
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Huh, interesting. I did not know the anwser to your question R Rich S , so I did a little looking. It looks like Fain Edward's own damascus knives are described "forged by maker". The Parker Edwards knives were made by both him and Jim Parker, like you said, but I saw that they were "probably more famous for their commercial damascus than their knives". Then, apparently from what I saw, Fain Edwards sold out to Jim Parker in 86'. Then sometime after that the business morphed into Bear MGC. There seems to be a connection between everyone involved but ultimately, I do not know. Interesting piece of history though.
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Always thought the BM 14205/14210 were underrated for the build quality. Solid knife. Pretty beefy. Quality materials.

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The Presidio is also vastly underrated too IMHO. Largely for the same reasons as the 14205. Only the newer Presidio II has better steel now at a much lower price point.

And of course any SAK is underrated in my book. The same quality as when I was a kid and so useful as part of an EDC.
 
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whp said:
I also have realized recently how underrated the CS Broken Skull is. Big and strong for its weight and a great grind for slicing and general cutting (cardboard). A shame it was discontinued and replaced with a similar model, the Range Boss, made with cheaper materials
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... sad part is, most people who dislike 'mall-ninja' naming refused to give the broken skull a chance (myself included).... even tho the design seemed good

please, any companies that read this, please keep the mall-ninja naming reserved for gas station cheap models
 
The Spyderco Caribbean SE is one of my all-time favorites that doesn’t get enough attention. Virtually rust proof, serrated edge that excels at particular tasks, a handle that feels great in the hand, drop shut action, and can be easily employed with one hand even while wearing leather gloves.
 
bucksway said:
Just going thru this thread I was struck by just how many weirdly named models there was..But I think the most underrated Brand is Buck. Most models made in the United States and many time tested designs and perhaps the best heat treatment in the business Buck probably gives it's customers the most value for the buck.
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The buck 110 was my very first knife. I traded a really good slingshot or it, a slingshot my grandpa made for me, but I was 9 and it was 1958 or 59. I really wanted that knife.
 
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