So how far could A2 really go?

SkagSig40

SkagSig40

Joined
Feb 1, 2001
Messages
2,671
We all know how INFI is in a class all it's own and is truly a wonderful steel! But how was (Busses) A2 back in the day!? How did it perform on tests like being flexed in a vice? How many cuts through 1 inch manella roap an still shave? How about the 2x4 test and the tip being pushed through a steel plate with a hydrollic(sp?) press test? Does any one know if A2 was tested like this at all? This would be really cool info to know!!!! I think the way Busse heatreated there A2 (if I remember right they put in something like 80 hours of heat treat per knife, 60 of those were cryo treat) made it much better than all other A2 blades and probibly better in most catogories than most other steels not including INFI but it wasn't around yet! Any body know anything on this at all? Thanks!

P.S. Tell your stories of how you abused you old A2 Busses! I wan't to hear how they held up for you!:D
 
tell us, tell us!
i think jerry is taking a vacation?
anybody else know? cliff? anybody?
hello :yawn:
 
In my experience A2 is a wonderful steel, especially with Busse's special cryogenic treatment, however, INFI surpasses it in lateral strength, edgeholding, chopping ability, corrosion resistance, etc.

Again, don't get me wrong - A2 is wonderful when it comes to both overall toughness and edgeholding - much better for instance than ATS-34. However, it is easily surpassed in all categories by INFI.

My ONLY complaint about A2 is that it is easily stained, especially by blood. So it requires much more maintainance.

Hope that helps.

Marc
marc@bussecombat.com
 
A2 is usually compared to very brittle steels like ATS-34 and D2 and thus it comes off looking very durable. However this is like comparing the knives Ontario makes to those $2 imports. Ontario comes off shining, but in reality you are still pretty far down on the quality meter.

I have used A2 by Mission and Reeves, and was not impressed by its durability as compared to steels with very high toughness like 5160. The edges will tend to fracture rather than give, and the blades will tend to snap with little or no perm. bend set it. And both of these knives are run at lower RC's in order to get a high durability.

That being said, Busse did use a very different heat treat on their A2 blades, and ran it much harder, which would make it much stronger and the edges much more resistant to impaction. In any case, those Busse's were used, and like any Busse, hard use doesn't mean chopping frozen carrots, thus I doubt they were fragile.

-Cliff
 
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