sr 101 vs cpm 3v

[Thomas Linton]

Buck used to sell its knives by batonning through large machine bolts - with 440C.

 

[bld522]

Perhaps that's why Ray Ennis likes 440C so much.

 

[bigretic]

I don't know anything about CPM 3V but Sr 101 is insanely tough stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCPvSkfWzpA

 

[Gravelface]

3v kills sr101 in edge retention and toughness. I prefer it on all my hunting knives by far. Its just a better steel, depending on who heat treats it. No competition in hard cutting tasks.

So which SR101 blades have you used to compare against?

 

[Thomas Linton]

Perhaps that's why Ray Ennis likes 440C so much.

Perhaps any decent steel, with a good heat treatment and good technique can cut through softer steel - like a car door hinge or a large bolt - even if it is not optimal for impact. Proving little.

 

[MVF]

It's interesting that it is agreed that 3V is closer to INFI than to SR101 (52100) but that 3V beats SR101 in edge retention when Busse says that SR101 beats INFI in edge retention.

 

[JayGoliath]

(Busse group names its SR101 for some odd reason)

SR= Swamp Rat. Now i'm not too sure about 101

 

[battboy]

does any one have a 411?

 

[J85909266]

Isn't SR101 modified 52100? I thought it had slightly altered make up and a specialized heat treat. Based on 52100, but not the same. I'm searching, but I can't find any info on it, now.

 

[Twindog]

I like 3V for choppers, such as the Big Chris bolo I use for clearing woody brush. The 3V edge is strong and stable. It stands up to hard use. It's a great steel.

But 52100 is one of my favorite steels. It takes a fine edge without a lot of fuss. It holds an edge well. It's tough. And it's easy to sharpen. It, too, is a great steel.

For a tough speciality steel, 3V is hard to beat. For an all-around knife steel, 52100 is hard to beat.

 

[kdstrick]

I have some Fehrman's in 3v and swamp rats in sr101 (52100). Both are excellent steels. I've beat the snot of of both of them and cannot discern any difference between edge retention and toughness between the two steels (although as mentioned 3v wins on paper...). The biggest difference in the two is that the 52100 is more rust prone. 3V will also gather surface rust similar to D2 so neither are a 'stainless' steel.

Busse does a very extensive multi-day heat treatment on his 52100 and it will outperform most stock removal 52100 in my experience. Bruce Culberson does a great 52100 heat treatment also.

Bottom line is that both steels perform very very well. If I could only have one my preference would be based on the ergonomics of the knives. Which one fits your hand better?

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