-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
So...................................
- Thread starter Cobalt
- Start date
I would like to try Busse's A2 also.
I really have no experience with that steel besides one older Bark River (STS8) but that knife and I are friends and it has not let me down--takes a great edge and can handle heavier work. I would not try some things with it that I have seen INFI do (and excel at!), but INFI is in its own class
More makers should work with Z wear. Supposedly it was Zapp's "answer" to Crucible's 3V. One of its claims to fame is toughness equal or exceeding 3V but at higher hardness like Rc 62 for example. Also, it is said to be friendlier to sharpen.
I must say though, from what I know of Mr. Carothers' 3V and its (impeccable) heat treat, Zwear has some mighty big shoes to fill. I am hoping that it will join INFI, 3V, and 5160 as another favorite of mine
I really have no experience with that steel besides one older Bark River (STS8) but that knife and I are friends and it has not let me down--takes a great edge and can handle heavier work. I would not try some things with it that I have seen INFI do (and excel at!), but INFI is in its own class
More makers should work with Z wear. Supposedly it was Zapp's "answer" to Crucible's 3V. One of its claims to fame is toughness equal or exceeding 3V but at higher hardness like Rc 62 for example. Also, it is said to be friendlier to sharpen.
I must say though, from what I know of Mr. Carothers' 3V and its (impeccable) heat treat, Zwear has some mighty big shoes to fill. I am hoping that it will join INFI, 3V, and 5160 as another favorite of mine
Jaxx
Moderator
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
- Messages
- 19,799
Check out Matt Diskin's stuff. That m390 Volcan I have is one of my favorites. He makes other models too. :thumbup:
zombieassassin
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2015
- Messages
- 4,931
I didn't know other knife steels existed.
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2006
- Messages
- 16,703
Other than my INFI holdings, I have a soft spot for A2 and some of the old carbon steels -- when properly prepared (only).
I do have one folder in m390, but must admit I haven't used it enough to form an opinion.
I do have one folder in m390, but must admit I haven't used it enough to form an opinion.
Cobalt
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 1998
- Messages
- 17,725
I will take a look at these. I agree with Randy though, when it comes to folder steels, I would have been perfectly happy with good ole 440C, ATS34, VG10 etc. Those steels always performed well when HT'd properly.
Jaxx
Moderator
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
- Messages
- 19,799
Agreed. Got a couple small Yurco blades in 440C. Scalpels, all. Easily up there with or very near my Carter neckers. And a Polkowski...a cqc 4", if I recall the model correctly...it's ATS-34, toothy sharp as frak on both edges. All are some of the first customs ever bought, about a year before I got into Busse. Still have & enjoy them.
dogboye
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 1999
- Messages
- 7,150
Not challenging, but just curious. What do you cut with your small knives?
Like I said, I've gone paper to plastic, meat to (corrugated) cardboard, fruit, veggies, some little bit of wood in there, with my Grip. And it just keeps going. I've bought into a metric ton of steels that are supposed to be the super steel, and it is the only one that has NOT disappointed me. Yet. And like I said, I haven't been working INFI long enough to say it is better or worse. I've no doubt better INFI is better on large blades (as I think I said before).
Whenever it DOES come time to sharpen it, then I'll see how much I still like it.
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2011
- Messages
- 1,340
My feelings exactly....even when I won a Shirogorov on an IG raffle, the s30v ensured that it didn't stay in my hands very long.
Shit, even when I scored a unicorn digicam TAD SnG, the s30v and thick grind had me let go of it way sooner than I was planning to.
I'm grateful Spyderco uses it so much,otherwise I'dprobably have sent a LOT more money to Golden, CO over the years...i just don't get it...
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2001
- Messages
- 27,054
I have a John Greco Companion in A2. It's one of my favorite knives. The sumbitch won't hardly ever go dull. I've put it through hell for years and the thing keeps on kickin'.
Best $50 I ever spent. Try finding one now for that price.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2001
- Messages
- 27,054
It's been up there at #1 for a while now...
The poll has to be rigged! How could it be head and shoulders above the rest? Is it really that good?
[emoji38][emoji23]yep.
Cobalt
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 1998
- Messages
- 17,725
Not challenging, but just curious. What do you cut with your small knives?
Like I said, I've gone paper to plastic, meat to (corrugated) cardboard, fruit, veggies, some little bit of wood in there, with my Grip. And it just keeps going. I've bought into a metric ton of steels that are supposed to be the super steel, and it is the only one that has NOT disappointed me. Yet. And like I said, I haven't been working INFI long enough to say it is better or worse. I've no doubt better INFI is better on large blades (as I think I said before).
Whenever it DOES come time to sharpen it, then I'll see how much I still like it.
Try not to be to abusive to folders. Pretty much everything you cut plus cat5 cable, coax, power cable(unpowered of course), heavily sealed packages, heavy webbing, tow straps, rip cord. I rarely cut paper with it. Oh and I have used my folder to cut out barb wire fence that got stuck under my car once
I hate to think if I had used S30v on that barb wire fence what would have happened. Luckily it was a 440a blade and it just rolled. Out of all my folders, the ones that have always been able to take the most abuse from the above were the ATS34/154cm blades.Gossman Knives
Edged Toolmaker
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2004
- Messages
- 9,402
A2 is my favorite too. I remember the A2 Steel Heart. Great knife. I also like S7 for heavy choppers.
Scott
Cobalt
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 1998
- Messages
- 17,725
Why does everyone seem to forget about S7? That is one of the toughest steels on the market and has been for decades(The only thing tougher is S5 and that is near impossible to find). I would think that you would see more knives made of it.
dogboye
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 1999
- Messages
- 7,150
Try not to be to abusive to folders. Pretty much everything you cut plus cat5 cable, coax, power cable(unpowered of course), heavily sealed packages, heavy webbing, tow straps, rip cord. I rarely cut paper with it. Oh and I have used my folder to cut out barb wire fence that got stuck under my car once
Roger that.
I don't think M390 would take well to barbed wire. I can't say I've cut much conductive material (coax, copper wire, etc) with it. So, yeah, I can't say it would be good or bad for that.
As I said earlier, ELMAX gets quite a working from me, but again, tends to be just the same stuff I've mentioned for M390. CPM-M4 I have worked the sh** out of, and it holds a great edge, a long time, against some very abusive material -- cutting up carpeting that has been on a floor for several years, with dogs in the house; tremendous amount of dust/dirt/abrasive material. It held its edge pretty well through that, and I got it back to shaving without TOO much trouble. Definitely took a carborundum stone to reset the edge, finished with ceramic. It's good stuff. But rusts... fairly quickly... from what I read. Mine are still coated.
I am in the camp of not liking S30V either. I'm not sure why it is used so much. There is a lot of better steel out there. Maybe it is easy to work?