Steel for Big Bowie ?

A

almtiba

Joined
Aug 29, 2003
Messages
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Hi Guys, need some opinions here.

I'm ordering a big bowie to Ricardo Lala, knifemaker from Korth Knives, here in Brazil. :)

(I'll post some pics of his knives in the Gallery forum)

He normaly does these bowies with 440C steel. I asked him about diong it with S30V, but the price got HIGH !!! And, he told me the S30V don't get the polished finish.

I'm thinking about D2. What do ya think ?

Any other sugestions about steels ?

It's not that I have something against 440C, but I already have some bowies with it, and wanted one with other steel...

Thanks in advance for the help, guys !

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil
 
It seems that you are interested only in the stainless steels, so my recommendation would be to stick with 440C if you want the high polish. Is this knife going to be a user? If so, I would seriously look at S30V. This can be a good stainless for big knives, because of its toughness. There have been reports of edge chipping so I wouldn't go too hard with this steel. I have never tried D2 on a big knife so I have no recommendations.

S30V is a much more expensive steel than 440C and along with that it takes more belts and more time to grind it. When it comes to a big knife these can be reasons for the much higher price.
 
The knifemaker has jut told me he has D6 tool steel in stock.

I never heard about that, but he told me that if I don't mind about corrosion, it's one of the best non-inox steels available.

What do you think ?
 
If you just want a pretty bowie I would go for ATS-34 or 154CM, those will take an amazing mirror finish. 440C is seldom as pure so I would consider it a secondary choice. If you actually expect to use the bowie in the field for some chopping of wood or bone I would go for more durable alloys. I would consider a non stainless like 5160 or 1080 for serious use. D2 and D6 are pretty tough to polish and are on the brittle side. I would consider A2 as a better choice for toughness, but definitely not even close to stainless.
 
5160 and L6 are the toughest, D6 has carbon of 2% ,too high, 1080 and 1095 could be used. For stainless 440C is actually a very good choice.
 
From all I have read, 440C is reknowned for it's ability to take a super fine mirror finish; even more so than ATS34 or 154CM.

It wouldn't be my choice for a big knife, unless it was to be a pure show piece. I would choose L6. Just keep it wiped down.
 
There are three other steels that I know will work great for big knives: CPM 3V, W1 and W2. Ron Newton is making me a 12" bowie from W2 and he swears by this steel. I asked him one time if he would go with W2 or L6 for a big bowie and he said that he far prefered W2. I would let you know how W2 is on a working knife except I have no intention of using this knife; sorry.

CPM 3V is an expensive steel, but one of the absolute best.
 
I have a big bowie in W2 steel.It takes a very keen hair popping edge.I have used it to cut down thick branches.Used it to also cut free hanging one inch thick rope and it does that easily.Takes impact very well and is fairly easy to sharpen.52100 may take an even keener edge,but may lack a litle bit behind in impact resistance.Both of these are not stainless steels and will require a little extra care,which is part of the joy in owning and using a fine knife.
 
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