Sleeper steel appreciation

Runs With Scissors

Runs With Scissors

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
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A couple weeks or so ago I ordered one of the new Hackmann Flutter-By knives complete with plastic handles and 12C27 Stainless blades.

Ya' know...I've had that stuff around in wall hangers for awhile now, but this is the first time I've actually used it in quite some time. I don't think I've seen a more user friendly, likeable, easy to maintain steel out there. I've been using those Butterfly knives every chance I get, food preparation, carving, cutting rope, scraping ice and dirt off some wood, cutting up cardboard boxes, opening mail, etc. The stuff holds an edge WAYYYY outta proportion to what it takes to sharpen it. Any time I feel the edge dulling (twice now) all I gotta do is hit it about ten licks on a set of crock sticks, and it's ready to go again. Add thirty seconds stropping to put 'em into laser cutting mode.

It's probably not as durable as some of the new super steels if I needed to pry a house off it's foundation, and certainly doesn't hold it's edge quite as long, but it's so easy to maintain and live with that it really doesn't matter to me. I'm actually thinking about using one of my 12C27 blades in a mid size camp knife this summer. PLENTY usable enough, fairly cheap to obtain, and I won't break into a cold sweat every time I get near water, or find a dark spot on my blade.:D Remarkable how much pleasure a person can derive from old stuff sometimes.
 
Sounds similar to the 440C from Benchmade I've been carrying recently. I own knives ranging from $5 to $150, with steels such as S30V, VG-10, 154CM, and lately I've been carrying my $25 440C Benchmade Mini-Pika, and dont see myself changing any time soon.

It just sharpens so easily. I put a few small nicks on the edge while prying a compression fit lightbulb out of a car dome light, and about 10 passes on the Spyderco Sharpmaker and it was back to sharp as ever.
 
If you like 12C27, you should get one of Bark Rivers knives made with that steel. They are AMAZING, the Mountaineer is my favourite.
 
12C27, 13C26, and AEB-L are all similar Swedish Stainless steels, with 13C26 and AEB-L being a little better in my opinion because they have a little more carbon. In my opinion, they are the best steels available. For the maker (industrial mostly) they are all blankable. They excellent corrosion resistance, as good as 440C (according to amount of chromium in solution), they also have the highest toughness of any high hardness stainless (59-60 Rc). They could have toughness as high as A2. Their carbide size is as small as carbon steels, they're even finer than the CPM steels. The chromium carbides that they form are the smaller harder form, rather than the carbides that are formed in 440C, the big nasty ones.
 
in 12C27. I like it. Takes a wicked edge and holds it while being pretty easy to sharpen. Often overlooked steel. If I could find a next gen. Ka-Bar in it I'd be a pretty happy camper.

Frank
 
I've had Laguiole knives in the steel and found it most satisfying.

It takes a good useable edge with little effort. Therefore, I heartily agree.
 
I've been thinkin' about a Laguiole for awhile now, may have to break down and get one some time.

That was another thing I neglected to mention...how incredibly keen of an edge that stuff takes, unreal sharp, for very little effort.

Very few knives I've had ever seem to come as sharp, or resharpen the same. (that's not counting my beloved convex edges);)
 
i've been praising 12C27 for a while, love my puukkos...

and as much as i hate to say it (big Spydie fan), my Kershaw ET in 13C26 was -the- sharpest edge i've ever received from a factory.
 
Couldn't agree more. I have several Moras with this steel and are super performers (especially when you consider the price) :thumbup:
 
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