SRS 15 - D2 on steroids!

[nozh2002]

So if SRS-15 is a great steel, that is just fine. As I said I am always ready to try something new, but why the need to compare it to some existing bladesteel based on its composition? This invokes the assumption that their properties will be comparable as well...but do your really know that? What is the toughness or hardness or wear resistance (just for starters) for example in comparison to D2? You said, it is D2 on steroids, so I assume that it will exceed D2 in some or all of these properties (without being inferior in any of those)...but do you actually have any data that supports that? And I don't necessarily mean some scientific data...as you point out, this isn't a science fair. Do you have for example personal experience with both steels and have compared them against each other, or know of someone that you trust, that has? I would very much like to read about personal experience, testing, technical data...anything that has more practical applicability than chemical composition.

Again, meaning of my post as many others here is to bring some attention to new steel I just discovered and excited about. This is not metallurgy scientific congress and I think to post here I do not need to do monthes of researches backed out by independent studies, CATRA testing etc. If you want some - I don't have any - should I shut up and did not tell anybody about my new toy? I don't think so. However? I have this knife and have very positive experience so far - exteremely sharp and keep this sharpness after cutting cardboard and some branch chopping.

Also I respect Japanese knife manufacturers who makes big knife out of it and Japanese metallurgists who rate this steel as Stainless High Speed with 65HRC - it is probably correct and you may expect some toughness from HighSpeed steel (as for M2 for example). And this is powder metalurgy, so they will not go ower all this trouble with powder to produce something similar to old good D2 steel. So it is not simple composition look - again there is some context behind my enthusiasm.

I also like to see some data and hope that somebody around may give some of this data or his opinion about this steel - unfortunately google does not bring anithing. I also slightly hope that american knifemakers will notice this steel and may be start using it (who knows may be this HighSpeed not too difficult in production) or make a deal with G-Sakai to produce their models with this steel or may be some distributer will make a deal with G-Sakai and I'll be able to buy it right here from NewGrapham without International Money Order etc.

My unprofessional and questionable opinion is that production knife with High Speed Stainless Steel at 63HRC level (or may be more) is pretty cool and so far it performs exactly as I expected. I really like this one and think that it may be way ahead of any knife that I have in my collection so far. It may be due to unusual hardness, I don't know but it looks and acts very good.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I think to post here I do not need to do monthes of researches backed out by independent studies, CATRA testing etc.

No, there would be few posts which would pass such criteria. I think it is more of a misread than anything else. I read your post as "Look at this steel, high speed and stainless and powder and really hard and the knife cuts and holds and edge well." Hob seemed to read it more like "Look at this steel, the composition is way superior to D2 and BG-42 is lame in comparison."

...you may expect some toughness from HighSpeed steel (as for M2 for example)

HSS's in general are very brittle, M2 isn't a tough steel, especially as it is usually ran in cutting tools at 65 HRC. Benchmade draws the hardness way down and it hits the torsional toughness peak but this is still very low in regard to tool steels in general for toughness. It only looks good in that regard compared to the ultra-brittle high carbon stainless steels.

The Japanese have been doing some work with HSS's lately increasing the toughness to prevent chipping in use, these would seem to worth exploring as knife steels for thin/acute edges.

-Cliff

 

[nozh2002]

It only looks good in that regard compared to the ultra-brittle high carbon stainless steels.

Oh sure that what I mean - premium knives usually made of that ultra-brittle high carbon stainless steels.

I do understand that Hob just misread it - I have no problem with it. And honestly I was bit enthusiastic...

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

And honestly I was bit enthusiastic...

I would be a fair bit excited using a HSS stainless blade like that myself. It would be nice if more knives were made from steels actually designed to cut things and hardened so as to do that well.

-Cliff

 

[M Wadel]

i would like to try this steel, C 2.3, Si 0.6, Mn 0.3, Cr 4.2, Mo 7.0, W 6.5, V 6.5, Co 10.5... Vanadis superclean 60. who wants to grind it..

 

[nozh2002]

I did not have any problem to grind any steel so far (I did not tried CPM 10V yet, have not time, but CPM S90V (V-9% C=2.3 Cr=14 Mn=1) was not too impossible to grind). One take more belts then other but grinders so far winning over steels.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

As a hobbiest does it really matter if it takes you 50% or more time, probably not, but as a custom maker with a really small output volume, that is half another knife you could be making so you are losing money unless you increase the price to compensate. I'd like to see what CPM-REX 121 would do as a knife steel. Its grindability has to be horrible, it is 72 HRC when hardened and basically a carbide replacement.

-Cliff

 

[Sword and Shield]

I'd like to see folders in Hitachi White or Blue Steel. High carbon, insanely high RCs, should cut like a laser in a thin blade.

 

[HoB]

Sorry, Nozh, another misunderstanding: From your post I didn't even realize that you actually have a knife made from that steel. I thought you were just telling us about the steel. Personal experience is just fine by me. So you have tried it against a blade in D2? What do you like better about it?

Yes, I read the post just like Cliff said. Sorry, my bad. A misunderstanding.

 

[nozh2002]

I'd like to see folders in Hitachi White or Blue Steel. High carbon, insanely high RCs, should cut like a laser in a thin blade.

Here it is - Higonokami, craftsman knife about $15 each:

Laminated blades with Aogami (black) or Shirogami (Gold). Awailable on the Web. I have nice Shirogami folder also:

SRS-15 seems like good step forward from Aogami.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[nozh2002]

Sorry, Nozh, another misunderstanding: From your post I didn't even realize that you actually have a knife made from that steel.

I first got the knife and then in a month or so actually found what the steel is - it is noted as High Speed on G-Sakai website. Finally my friend from Tokyo call producer - and so I know that it is SRS15 and in Japan they actually do some Powder metallurgy stainless High Speed Steel with 65HRC (may be 63HRC on knife).

Look - it just has all what steel junky need

1. Modern powder matallurgy technology
2. Stainless
3. High Speed
4. 65 HRC

All in one bottle!
And already in production!
And price is not skyrocket!

And finally I already have it before I even realize what it is!

I actually hold myself to not to be too enthusiastic!

It is not too different then ZDP-189 in terms of coolness and cheaper and suitable for big knives etc..., but unnoticed, for some reason.

I just use it a little and see that it is still able to shave like no other blade. I did not do any formal testing, however.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I just use it a little and see that it is still able to shave like no other blade.

High speed steel has high hardness, high wear resistance and fine grain and very hard alloy carbide distribution, what more could you ask for - powder metallurgy for even better carbide dispersion and stainless and yep it has those too. Spyderco is looking into HSS for their knives, since they tend to like stainless that alloy or a similar one seems a natural choice and they have work in japan.

-Cliff

 

[nozh2002]

High speed steel has high hardness, high wear resistance and fine grain and very hard alloy carbide distribution, what more could you ask for - powder metallurgy for even better carbide dispersion and stainless and yep it has those too. Spyderco is looking into HSS for their knives, since they tend to like stainless that alloy or a similar one seems a natural choice and they have work in japan.

-Cliff

I told Sal on his forum right away I found out about this one - he sad they are not look at that steel yet, but he'll contact G-Sakai. Will see - Spyderco made Callipso Jr out of ZDP-189 because lot of people were wondering about it - may be they bring some SRS-15 knives in their model line.

Thanks, Vassili.