- Joined
- Apr 6, 2003
- Messages
- 95
About 11 years ago I made up two pretty much identical
bowies with 12" blades. I made them with the intention of
abusing them, and kept everything as simple and quick to
make as possible with that in mind.
One blade was A-2, the other ATS-34. Both were heat-
treated by Paul Bos. At the time I sent my knives to
Bob Engnath ,(God rest his soul), and he would send
larger batches made up from many small part-time and hobby
makers to Mr. Bos.
Two fairly identical knives in two steels done by the
same heat-treater. I didn't actually destroy them, but I
did abuse them quite a bit. Both actually stood up pretty
well, but when I got to REALLY chopping and brush-clearing
the ATS blade did keep getting little knicks and chips in
it, and the A-2 did not. Also, the A-2 took a slightly
sharper edge, and was much more aggressive in cutting, as
well as being much easier to re-sharpen.
Since I did't destroy them, I'm not sure what the
comparison would have been. I'm not even sure the cutting
comparison was a fair test, because I might have improved
the performance of either or both by changing the edge
geometry, and I did not do that.
Still, everything else was equal, ie grind, size, shape,
and edge. Since then I have stuck pretty much with ATS for
high-finish or knives up to 10", and A-2 for the occasional
larger piece. I have seem some indication that 440C is
tougher than ATS in a larger blade.
Are you of the opinion that 1095 is a better choice
than 5160 for the larger blade?
bowies with 12" blades. I made them with the intention of
abusing them, and kept everything as simple and quick to
make as possible with that in mind.
One blade was A-2, the other ATS-34. Both were heat-
treated by Paul Bos. At the time I sent my knives to
Bob Engnath ,(God rest his soul), and he would send
larger batches made up from many small part-time and hobby
makers to Mr. Bos.
Two fairly identical knives in two steels done by the
same heat-treater. I didn't actually destroy them, but I
did abuse them quite a bit. Both actually stood up pretty
well, but when I got to REALLY chopping and brush-clearing
the ATS blade did keep getting little knicks and chips in
it, and the A-2 did not. Also, the A-2 took a slightly
sharper edge, and was much more aggressive in cutting, as
well as being much easier to re-sharpen.
Since I did't destroy them, I'm not sure what the
comparison would have been. I'm not even sure the cutting
comparison was a fair test, because I might have improved
the performance of either or both by changing the edge
geometry, and I did not do that.
Still, everything else was equal, ie grind, size, shape,
and edge. Since then I have stuck pretty much with ATS for
high-finish or knives up to 10", and A-2 for the occasional
larger piece. I have seem some indication that 440C is
tougher than ATS in a larger blade.
Are you of the opinion that 1095 is a better choice
than 5160 for the larger blade?
