Steel choice for large Bowie?

Status
Not open for further replies.
ExtraBaconPlease

ExtraBaconPlease

Joined
Mar 8, 2016
Messages
2,898
Hey everyone

I'm designing a couple of Bowie's. You can follow along here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...titled-Designing-2-custom-Bowie-s-to-be-built

For the larger Bowie, it has a 12" blade.

My only requirements for the steel is that it's strong/tough and has good (more the better) corrosion resistance.

Not too sure what steel to go with. Please leave some suggestions/relevant info below.

Thank you!
 
Last edited:
3v but coated for better corrosion resistance
 
How about PD1 or CPM 3v? It would be cool to see a large bowie in a great steel like those not made by a large manufacturer.
 
I was initially thinking 3V and it's not off the table by any means. I'm just wondering if I can gain more toughness and/or corrosion resistance if I sacrifice the edge holding capabilities. Any steels lend themselves to those requirements?

jbmonkey said:
3v but coated for better corrosion resistance
Click to expand...

It will be a satin blade my friend
 
I was initially thinking 3V and it's not off the table by any means. I'm just wondering if I can gain more toughness and/or corrosion resistance if I sacrifice the edge holding capabilities. Any steels lend themselves to those requirements
Click to expand...

If you want more corrosion resistance and tougher go find Infi made Busse knives. Alternately pick a stainless like 420HC or 440A or Aus6. and you get more corrosion resistance but somewhat less toughness. Typically one attribute goes up at the cost of another. There are some fudges around that with various alloys and processes like powder steel but higher carbon and chrome will usually mean less tough steel, more corrosion resistance and/or higher wear. 3V and then Cruwear/PD#1/Z wear and on to 4V are some of the highest performing compromise steels with good numbers in all attributes. I'd go with one of them and adjust my maintenance routines to them rather than giving up performance for less maintenance.
 
The Mastiff said:
If you want more corrosion resistance and tougher go find Infi made Busse knives. Alternately pick a stainless like 420HC or 440A or Aus6. and you get more corrosion resistance but somewhat less toughness. Typically one attribute goes up at the cost of another. There are some fudges around that with various alloys and processes like powder steel but higher carbon and chrome will usually mean less tough steel, more corrosion resistance and/or higher wear. 3V and then Cruwear/PD#1/Z wear and on to 4V are some of the highest performing compromise steels with good numbers in all attributes. I'd go with one of them and adjust my maintenance routines to them rather than giving up performance for less maintenance.
Click to expand...

Although it would be nice, we both know Busse won't just send me a slab of INFI to make my custom bowie from.

"I'd go with one of them and adjust my maintenance routines to them rather than giving up performance for less maintenance."

But I am very much willing to drop edge retention in this case. I want to. I don't want to worry about corrosion.

I'm looking at 3V or N690 at this point. It's going to be a big thick hunk of steel so toughness shouldn't really be an issue.
 
I think corrosion resistance is overrated, unless you plan on using and ignoring your knife.

I had one blade rust on me in 30 years of knife use- A Spyderco Gayle Bradley in CPM M4, when I was hiking the AT, and got rained on for a few hours. Got to the truck, changed clothes and went home. Forgot about the knife until the next day, and it was starting to pit. Cleaned up with scotchbrite and did a vinegar dip to patina it a bit. I don't personally think corrosion resistance is that important, unless you want something you can neglect and do no maintenance with.

I use a Bark River Mountain Man (3V) as my main cooking/chef's knife and only wipe it clean with just a paper towel, unless I cut meat, then soap and water and paper towel wipe. No oil on it. This has been my setup for 2 years, and no rust, corrosion.

Mastiff- OP is making a knife, not buying one. I didn't think Busse sold its proprietary steel to people, do they?
 
Danketch said:
I don't personally think corrosion resistance is that important, unless you want something you can neglect and do no maintenance with. [/B]
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I want.

"OP is making a knife, not buying one. I didn't think Busse sold its proprietary steel to people, do they?"

No, they don't. Even if they did, their heat treat is what makes the steel so good anyway - and that's a secret so it wouldn't matter if they did send me some.
 
440C and have it properly heat treated. S30V and S35VN would work too but at a higher material cost.
 
big and thick........what about cts-xhp. just heat treated properly for the tasks at hand. its kinda sorta like a stainless d2. not sure how it would do in a big thick blade though? you need some metalurgists and experienced with various steel in large chopper knife makers.

440b maybe. always seemed to be a good steel for what you are asking for?
 
Last edited:
12" blade is quite long/large and in order to give a decent FFG balance look - the blade need to be 0.25 - 0.30" thick, 1.7" wide. Clearly, you seek a high corrosion steel (at least 12% of free Cr after ht). Which limits steel choice to: N690 or Niolox/sb1

Beside size ("this is a knife") both steel support high keenness (very sharp). You also want it very strong/stiff/strength (beside bulk/a-hunk-of-steel), so ideally ht to 62+rc. <= hahaha rocket ship to Mars but would it blowup on impact? So you like good toughness (impact load) as well, so the edge would roll or ripple before lead to fracture/chip.

Size + mirror polish + very sharp = shock & awe! So put on a 25dps (yeah hefty thick edge) but put on a very sharp, toughness taken care by geometry + strength also given by bulk/geometry.

I do make knives (along with plenty of ht R&D), I aim/target for performance, therefore look/f&f often neglected... My version of this knife would be:
0.25" thick Niolox (although never work with it before), ht to 62+rc, edge geometry 15-17dps and 0.015-0.020" behind edge thick.

Currently I got distracted from my fine tuning ht for high alloy/carbide volume stainless - such as s30v,s90v,.. With these

EqDk0CAh.jpg
 
AEB-L 440B or even 420HC will do the the job. If the budget isn't major concern Z-FniNit should be great too.

I don't think we need 62+ HRC to perform great as a bowie since with that kind of hardness, while the edge would held up better on light use but it would be the cause of catastrophic failure especially in long term use.

If you really need to abuse your knife then better tinkering with geometry since increasing cross section by 50% the strength is increase by 338%. No magic steel or HT in this World could make that much different.

The cutting penetration between 0.20" and 0.30" while kinda noticeable but its less important than overall design, balance point, ergonomic etc. that what really make a knife being a great knife.
 
First find the knife maker and then figure out the steel with that knife maker.
:D
 
I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better all-rounder than 3V regardless if you don't need higher edge retention. I'd say go with your initial feeling and stick with it. That's what I would pick anyway.
CPM-154 would be my second choice
 
XtianAus said:
I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better all-rounder than 3V regardless if you don't need higher edge retention. I'd say go with your initial feeling and stick with it. That's what I would pick anyway.
CPM-154 would be my second choice
Click to expand...

You're totally right. I'm deciding between 3v and N690. Also waiting to see if Coke has anymore suggestions. Gut is telling me 3v. I still need to weigh up the costs and everything - I haven't even thought about the price of this build. Not saying money is no factor but I'm prepared to spend. If I want 3v, I'll get it. More research needs to be done on my behalf before I choose anything.

While I'm researching I can play with the ASH 1 that just arrived in the mail :D

Edit: 154 CM is also a good choice.
 
If 3v doesn't do it for you I think you would have to decide which is more important.toughness or edge holding or corrosion resistance as 3v seems to balance those all very well.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top