SR101 vs Infi

Thanks, those do look like nice kitchen knives. So aside from them using ELMAX in thin stock, what stainless is it or does it compare most directly with? Thanks.

Its been a while since I got into this stuff. I know just what my INFI will and will not do. 52100, not so much, more limited but I am comfortable with it. ELMAX, never really heard much about it.

Thanks for anymore info.
 
elof_alv said:
Jerry was quoted quite a few times as saying that INFI is not the best choice for smaller knives. If you are not concerned about corrosion go with SR-101.

D2 is supposedly not very suitable for abusive work, that why there are almost no choppers in that steel. For slicing it it great.
Maxes from Yard are great slicers, but not that much more. If you need a do it all knife then you'll need something thicker than .09"...
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This is the d2 torture testing from swamp rat. It was beaten with a ball pean by a large police officer for a decent amount of time. D2 isn't suitable for abusive work the way most people heat treat it. It's still not ideal - but as per Jerry it's better than INFI in thin cross sections. Under hard loads the D2 has better edge stability. It will chip if placed under enough stress, but at the point where INFI would bend and mash over (again, in thin cross sections like those of the elmax series from scrap yard) Scrap yards d2 will maintain it's shape.
Skinner_Beating_4.jpg

skinner_beating2.jpg


I've been told that if both knives are at 58-60rc INFI is better at edge holding in soft materials like soft woods, and SR101 is better at abrasive materials like sod bags. INFI's malleability at high hardness has a kind of self aligning effect in soft woods that keeps it in shape where other knives mallform and then continue to blunt or bend farther out of alignment with repeated use.

If it's 60-62rc I have no idea.
 
As someone who runs Infi, SR101, and Elmax, all from Busse Knife Group and in smaller blades I'd say calling infi inferior for small knives is...... misleading at best perhaps.

If you think of your small busse or bussekin as being for light cutting duty through abrasive materials only, then you'd be correct in calling infi inferior to SR101 which is in turn inferior to Elmax. If however you EDC a small blade, and use it for lost of non-knife tasks (why else would you EDC a busse?) that list reverses itself. You turn around and find that Elmax is too hard, and in our application too thin, for hard use and it micro-chips away and would break outright if subjected to higher loads. SR101 is much better, but you can damage the edge. It primarily happens through deformation, but damage done. Infi is far more resistant to that small level edge damage, and once you get it you need only find a hard flat surface and you can steel it back to relative sharpness. Again if you are looking for a box opener, you're looking at the wrong brands outright. If however you use your knives for everything that knives weren't meant for, I'd say infi is in fact the superior choice. And there is one more party piece: if you pocket carry SR101 in the summer, you start to develop microscopic spots of rust. The constant rubbing from your pocket keeps it from getting massive, but its there. Turn around for a while and it'll grow when you're not looking and not using the knife. BTW this is true even if you treat the exposed SR101 part of your knife religiously with Tuff Glide. Infi however, when exposed to the same conditions, won't rust on me. That alone makes it the better choice. Again just my opinion, for whatever thats worth, but its just that toughness and ability to "get the edge back" from INFI that I think makes it excellent for little knives as well of course large ones. The corrosion resistance is just a perk. :P
 
The way I understand it is, there is nothing wrong with smaller knives in INFI, it's just that the steal excels at being in the larger (chopper) role.

Just because Elmax is so thin on the ScrapMaxes doesn't mean it always used so. Got ZT 0560 in Elmax and it's 3/8 thick (or so). It's a newish steel that is supposed to be an improvement over S30V. Has much better corrosion resistance. Hard to tell how it compares to S30V in toughness/ edge holding with the knives/use I have for either. I'd say that the Max 460, a longer one might be even better, is a really good choice for fishing knife.
 
I'm a Busse fan and I would say Fehrman 3V is the best steel for mid size blade. Noticeable better edge holding than SR101 while being as tough and stain resistance as INFI
 
The D2 testing that Swamp Rat did a long time ago found me ordering a couple of Bog Dogs in D2, but they shipped me SR 101/52100. I'm still on the lookout, whatever they did with that D2 heat treat was very impressive...
 
I've really nothing to add
other than

RMD's are the bees knees
and INFI is awesome!

your really cant go wrong with some many great offerings
 
shqxk said:
I'm a Busse fan and I would say Fehrman 3V is the best steel for mid size blade. Noticeable better edge holding than SR101 while being as tough and stain resistance as INFI
Click to expand...

I own and use several Fehrman's in 3V. It is very comparable to INFI in most applications, but I'd disagree with your assertion that it is as stain resistant as INFI. In my tests and use the 3V attracts surface rust far more than any INFI I've owned. It's only surface rust, but INFI is more stain resistant.

Shown is a Fehrman Shadow Scout compared with a Boss Jack Proto and SJTAC comp finish.

IMG_0346-1.jpg


.
 
kdstrick said:
I own and use several Fehrman's in 3V. It is very comparable to INFI in most applications, but I'd disagree with your assertion that it is as stain resistant as INFI. In my tests and use the 3V attracts surface rust far more than any INFI I've owned. It's only surface rust, but INFI is more stain resistant.

Shown is a Fehrman Shadow Scout compared with a Boss Jack Proto and SJTAC comp finish.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/kdstrick/busse/IMG_0346-1.jpg[/IMG

.[/QUOTE]

Same experience here. I only have one knife in 3v (in a well polished stonewash finish), but it gets small spots of red rust across the blade even when wiped clean right away after use. When I carried around a SAR3, it got dull gray a bit but didn't get any red rust (d2 has been about the same for me, that dull gray from everyday chores and carry but additionally maybe some red rust if I don't take care of it and use it on something wet).
Click to expand...
 
Wow, Just Wow, while I have not bought or used any INFI made in the last couple of years, I am simply shocked to see people posting SR-101 as superior on anything other than Flex and edge retention in Gritty or hard material (think cinder blocks or the chopping of mild steel)

Might be time for another Public Test like the ones held in 2000 and 2001.

If INFI has fallen off in edge retention in soft materials (think Skin, leather, wood, clean rope and Bone) then all that "Old INFI" should start commanding bigger better Badder pricing, because the old stuff can still do every thing listed to date!
 
papathud said:
Wow, Just Wow, while I have not bought or used any INFI made in the last couple of years, I am simply shocked to see people posting SR-101 as superior on anything other than Flex and edge retention in Gritty or hard material (think cinder blocks or the chopping of mild steel)

Might be time for another Public Test like the ones held in 2000 and 2001.

If INFI has fallen off in edge retention in soft materials (think Skin, leather, wood, clean rope and Bone) then all that "Old INFI" should start commanding bigger better Badder pricing, because the old stuff can still do every thing listed to date!
Click to expand...

I'd LOVE to see some more testing. But no matter who does it, the methodology will come into question... as will the edge geometry, etc. You remember Cliff Stamp. ;)


Noss was the latest, and he got practically run off the forums.


No matter how you test something, someone is always going to disagree with the results.


I think that fact is just sad. But it is a fact.



Still, I am in complete agreement with Papathud. Public tests are exactly what they are... nothing hidden. I wonder if Jerry and the gang are up to a public showdown. Maybe Jerry could do some sort of Pepsi Challenge. Lots of folks saying INFI isn't any better than any other steel nowdays on the forum. Some guys are even comparing it to 1095!!!

Busse's website could use an upgrade. Post some vids... live vids with witnesses of INFI doing it's thing. It's been a long time since INFI proved anything to a non-believer.


I think it's time for Jerry to step-up and prove how superior his steel and heat treatment really are... It's been done before..... Time to do it again.



.
 
kdstrick said:
I'd LOVE to see some more testing. But no matter who does it, the methodology will come into question... as will the edge geometry, etc. You remember Cliff Stamp. ;)


Noss was the latest, and he got practically run off the forums.


No matter how you test something, someone is always going to disagree with the results.


I think that fact is just sad. But it is a fact.



Still, I am in complete agreement with Papathud. Public tests are exactly what they are... nothing hidden. I wonder if Jerry and the gang are up to a public showdown. Maybe Jerry could do some sort of Pepsi Challenge. Lots of folks saying INFI isn't any better than any other steel nowdays on the forum. Some guys are even comparing it to 1095!!!

Busse's website could use an upgrade. Post some vids... live vids with witnesses of INFI doing it's thing. It's been a long time since INFI proved anything to a non-believer.


I think it's time for Jerry to step-up and prove how superior his steel and heat treatment really are... It's been done before..... Time to do it again.



.
Click to expand...

I have used INFI and I edc and ESEE 3 and I will be the first to say the only thing 1095 has over INFI is cost beyond that INFI is better than 1095 every single way you slice it. That being sad there are steels that are far superior to INFI in single catigories. M390 comes to mind for edge holding and corosion resistance. From my personal experience D2 and SR101 will hold an edge better while skinning. The thing INFI really has going for it is that it is a very good jack of all trades steel. While its not the best at anything it is very good at everything.

I do think the reason a lot of people doubt INFI comes from two things; one they have either never given it a fair chance or they get rubbed the wrong way by some people saying that INFI is better than every other steel at everything which most people know simply isnt true.
 
kdstrick said:
I'd LOVE to see some more testing. But no matter who does it, the methodology will come into question... as will the edge geometry, etc. You remember Cliff Stamp. ;)
Click to expand...

This is very true. And while INFI is a good steel, there are many "super" steels out there that perform at incredible levels - but only on one dimension. CPM 10V, M390, S90V, etc. I don't think that anyone would expect INFI to come close to these steels in edge retention on rope. They, of course, won't stand up to the bashing that INFI will, it's strength comes from doing many things well. But don't expect it to be in even the same class as these steels when it comes to edge retention.
 
sodak said:
This is very true. And while INFI is a good steel, there are many "super" steels out there that perform at incredible levels - but only on one dimension. CPM 10V, M390, S90V, etc. I don't think that anyone would expect INFI to come close to these steels in edge retention on rope. They, of course, won't stand up to the bashing that INFI will, it's strength comes from doing many things well. But don't expect it to be in even the same class as these steels when it comes to edge retention.
Click to expand...

I am sure that everyone is aware of these tests, but just in case: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...based-on-Edge-Retention-cutting-5-8-quot-rope

Would older INFI have great wear-resistance? *shrug* What we have now matches 154CM @ 61Rc and above VG10 in these tests, that seems pretty good ... but certainly not M390 ;) I'm alright with that. I still have hopes for seeing SR101 on this list somewhere...
 
I have used my 3V knives harder than anyone I know, and I am happy with the results! Recently got my Fehrman extreme judgment but haven't had a chance to test it! How do they perform guys?I will try to test the knife as soon as I get time to go to the forrest!
 
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