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Sr-101 Vs. A2??
- Thread starter Grego
- Start date
Grego,
Great question..... I am curious, but I think the two steels are actually fairly comparable.
Both are two of my favorites. (*I like INFI, but can't afford it!)
STEEL ..........- Carbon / Chromium / Mang / Moly / Nick / Phos / Sili / Sulpher / Van
A-2 ............. -0.95-1.05 /4.75-5.5 /1.0000 /.9-1.4 / .3 / .000 /0.5000 / 0.00 /.15-0.5
52100/SR-101 - 0.98-1.1 /1.3-1.60 /.25-.45 / 0.000 / .0 /.025 /.15-.35 /0.025 / 0.00
A2 has more chromium than 52100 (aka SR101), but A2 also has a little bit of Vanadium.
My understanding is that A2 is a little more wear resistant. And my "guess" is that A2 will hold an edge just a little bit better. But, both hold an edge well.
My "guess" is that SR101 is a little tougher, but I have never significantly damaged either.
I am confident that with these two steels (as with most steels), it will come down to the quality of the heat treatment for sure.
Swamp Rat/Busse is well regarded for their quality heat treatment.
Bark River uses A2 and they are also highly regarded for quality heat treatments.
Let the battle begin! But, I don't think there will be a looser.
Great question..... I am curious, but I think the two steels are actually fairly comparable.
Both are two of my favorites. (*I like INFI, but can't afford it!)
STEEL ..........- Carbon / Chromium / Mang / Moly / Nick / Phos / Sili / Sulpher / Van
A-2 ............. -0.95-1.05 /4.75-5.5 /1.0000 /.9-1.4 / .3 / .000 /0.5000 / 0.00 /.15-0.5
52100/SR-101 - 0.98-1.1 /1.3-1.60 /.25-.45 / 0.000 / .0 /.025 /.15-.35 /0.025 / 0.00
A2 has more chromium than 52100 (aka SR101), but A2 also has a little bit of Vanadium.
My understanding is that A2 is a little more wear resistant. And my "guess" is that A2 will hold an edge just a little bit better. But, both hold an edge well.
My "guess" is that SR101 is a little tougher, but I have never significantly damaged either.
I am confident that with these two steels (as with most steels), it will come down to the quality of the heat treatment for sure.
Swamp Rat/Busse is well regarded for their quality heat treatment.
Bark River uses A2 and they are also highly regarded for quality heat treatments.
Let the battle begin! But, I don't think there will be a looser.
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2007
- Messages
- 1,337
So SR 101 is the same as that ball bearing steel? I didn't know that.
Same in composition!.... At least as best as anyone outside of Busse and Swamp Rat know (?????????????).
52100 is a great knife steel if heat treated properly.
Swamp Rat (Busse) has apparently figured out a great way to heat treat 52100. They call it "Modified" 52100. But, there has never been any hint or indication that the composition has changed. Only that they have a special heat-treatment.
Marketing or top-secret recipe - Pixy dust or Jerry's Burbon - (??????????) - we don't really know.
But, I can attest along with many others, that Swamp Rat's SR-101 is a great knife steel.
Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty!
.
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2007
- Messages
- 1,337
Yes, I meant pre heat treat magic. Okay. I wonder what the differences and similarities are between the Swamp Rat treatment and the Bark River treatment are.
Well you are talking about two of my top favorite knife makers. Both are great.
But, neither Jerry Busse nor Mike Stewart will tell you exactly how they heat treat steel.
Heat treatment practices tend to be the "Trade Secrets".
They are both great steels for a large variety of knife sizes - especially if made by Swamp Rat or Bark River.
There are subtle differences between the two steels, but most people (99.9%) will be more than fine with either steel for many/most different applications.
Swamp Rat pretty much uses SR-101 for all of their knives with a couple of exceptions.
Bark River mostly uses A2. But, Mike Stewart makes MANY different knife styles and tends to try to match a steels characteristics and strengths to a given knives intended or possible applications.
I think the differences between Swamp Rat and Bark River including differences in performance, ergonomics and aesthetics are going to come down to knife design and design details much more than steel and heat treatment.
When considering Swamp Rat and Bark River on the basis of steel and heat treatment, at some point, I personally will just concede that bother are "Good enough".
.
But, neither Jerry Busse nor Mike Stewart will tell you exactly how they heat treat steel.
Heat treatment practices tend to be the "Trade Secrets".
They are both great steels for a large variety of knife sizes - especially if made by Swamp Rat or Bark River.
There are subtle differences between the two steels, but most people (99.9%) will be more than fine with either steel for many/most different applications.
Swamp Rat pretty much uses SR-101 for all of their knives with a couple of exceptions.
Bark River mostly uses A2. But, Mike Stewart makes MANY different knife styles and tends to try to match a steels characteristics and strengths to a given knives intended or possible applications.
I think the differences between Swamp Rat and Bark River including differences in performance, ergonomics and aesthetics are going to come down to knife design and design details much more than steel and heat treatment.
When considering Swamp Rat and Bark River on the basis of steel and heat treatment, at some point, I personally will just concede that bother are "Good enough".
.
Yeah..... I totally agree. Graphs and charts don't mean much in the knife industry anyway. But, with these two great steels that are somewhat comparable, charts and graphs Really don't matter.
It is about the heat-treat!
Swamp Rat/Busse and Bark River are both very good!
It is about the heat-treat!
Swamp Rat/Busse and Bark River are both very good!