Steel choice for large Bowie?

Status
Not open for further replies.
noob93 said:
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.
Click to expand...

It does "do it for me" but to specifically choose between the 3 you mention, I would chose toughness and corrosion resistance.
 
ExtraBaconPlease said:
It does "do it for me" but to specifically choose between the 3 you mention, I would chose toughness and corrosion resistance.
Click to expand...

Okay I'm not aware of a stainless that's as tough as cpm 3v. However the toughest stainless I have ever experienced was elmax. I had a hunter EDC type knife made by gollik knives(great maker). I asked him what the edge angle was and I believe he said around 26 inclusive. It only had a 4 inch blade but I wanted to test it. I chopped and hacked green wood with it and even grounded it once hard with no damage.
 
ExtraBaconPlease said:
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.
Click to expand...

I've read good things about N690!
From what I understand it wont be as tough as 3V but have better corrosion resistance.
I guess it comes down to which is more important, toughness or corrosion resistance.

Considering it will be satin/uncoated, i would personally go with something with high corrosion resistance as long as it is still adequately tough. I hate rust....but then again a rusty blade that isnt snapped in half is better than the contrary haha.
Finding that balance is the hard part.

But hey, you could always go with something stainless with higher thickness so that it is tough, with the trade off of it being less "slicey". But i am guessing you dont really care how slicey it is considering its a bowie? Im not sure though.

Ps how do you find the ash1!?
 
Is n690 the same as 440B? I would go with it or even 420HC, heard good things about its use by Buck.
 
i have some 1095 kitchen knives. And at times they have been forgot about. They make get dark patina, but no rust. Ease of sharpening would be important to me in a bowie. If it's forged you may have less options. I would personally go with some type of carbon for thetraditional aspect.
 
AEB-L at the higher recommended tempering ranges. I think I read is in suitable thickness now for a large Bowie. If you're willing to sacrifice some corrosion resistance for more toughness, S7, 5160, A8 (hard to find though). Are you willing to coat the blade?
 
noob93 said:
Okay I'm not aware of a stainless that's as tough as cpm 3v.
Click to expand...

The steel doesn't have to be stainless. It just needs to have decent rust resistance and be basically unbreakable. That's all I want from it.

XtianAus said:
I've read good things about N690!
From what I understand it wont be as tough as 3V but have better corrosion resistance.
I guess it comes down to which is more important, toughness or corrosion resistance.

Considering it will be satin/uncoated, i would personally go with something with high corrosion resistance as long as it is still adequately tough. I hate rust....but then again a rusty blade that isnt snapped in half is better than the contrary haha.
Finding that balance is the hard part.

But hey, you could always go with something stainless with higher thickness so that it is tough, with the trade off of it being less "slicey". But i am guessing you dont really care how slicey it is considering its a bowie? Im not sure though.

Ps how do you find the ash1!?
Click to expand...

Toughness is more important to me than corrosion resistance. I've own many carbon blades with nice patinas on them. I know how to care for them. However, for this blade I want something I don't have to worry about but first things first, I want it to be unbreakable.

The Bowie will still be more than slicey enough with its 1.2" grind and considering it will be more of a chopper, it will be perfect. I don't want a fragile edge anyway. Needs to be tough enough to hack through bone, I will be testing that when it's made.

I bought the ASH 1 from US ebay a while ago, arrived today :thumbup:

cbach8tw said:
Is n690 the same as 440B?
Click to expand...

No it is not

me2 said:
Are you willing to coat the blade?
Click to expand...

No sir
 
ExtraBaconPlease said:
The steel doesn't have to be stainless. It just needs to have decent rust resistance and be basically unbreakable. That's all I want from it.



Toughness is more important to me than corrosion resistance. I've own many carbon blades with nice patinas on them. I know how to care for them. However, for this blade I want something I don't have to worry about but first things first, I want it to be unbreakable.

The Bowie will still be more than slicey enough with its 1.2" grind and considering it will be more of a chopper, it will be perfect. I don't want a fragile edge anyway. Needs to be tough enough to hack through bone, I will be testing that when it's made.

I bought the ASH 1 from US ebay a while ago, arrived today :thumbup:



No it is not



No sir
Click to expand...

You had mentioned you wanted more stain resistance then 3v but you don't want stainless? You also want it to be unbreakable? Your describing an alloy that does not exist yet to the best of my knowledge. Best of luck in your search.
 
noob93 said:
You had mentioned you wanted more stain resistance then 3v but you don't want stainless? You also want it to be unbreakable? Your describing an alloy that does not exist yet to the best of my knowledge. Best of luck in your search.
Click to expand...

You're twisting my words. Thanks for [not] helping though.
 
ExtraBaconPlease said:
You're twisting my words. Thanks for [not] helping though.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry if you feel like I twisted your words but initially you did say better corrosion resistance. You also said you wanted more toughness. Basically unbreakable is what you said I do believe. Anyways I'm not trying to give you a hard time. I don't know what your budget is but I do know that Fred hackonson of hackonson knife and tool is a metallurgist that makes big tough knives. Perhaps shoot him an email. He works with a8mod and vanadis 4e last I checked.
 
Hey extra, any decision yet or are you leaning towards anything yet? I understand you want toughness, and since you know how to add a patina to help protect a carbon blade, I say your best blade should be in 5160 and being 3/16 should be resistant to breaking, I had mentioned 420hc before, any thoughts on that too?
 
Stainless- Aeb L, N690, Or a nitrogen stainless steel. Some Nitrogen stainless steels have extremely high toughness levels!!!

Corrosion resistant carbon steels- 3V, Cru-wear, PD1, Z-wear
 
ExtraBaconPlease said:
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!
Click to expand...

:confused: Wait. Are we only talking about the steel for the knife you are having built in this thread, and only talking about the design for the knife you are having built in the other thread? Or is crossover allowed, or what?

I have some suggestions on both and I don't want to step on any toes.
 
Fredrik Haakonsen uses Viking/Chipper (modA8) steel for his survival/chopper knives and Vanadis 4 extra for his smaller/hunting/slicer knives, but Vanadis 4 extra with proper edge geometry can be used as a chopper also! It's one of the toughest PM steel, so my first choice for high performance knives. It's like a HSS optimized for cold work.
 
Steel choice also depends on your wallet, if on a budget, 5160 steel (or other great spring steel). If not, Vanadis 4 extra or Cpm3v with a thicker edge geometry.
 
I have made some large knives out of 3V. A friend accidentally took some full swings into brush with bricks underneath. No real edge damage. 3V is good stuff for a large knife in my book. I've beat on some pretty thin 3V and been very happy with the results.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top