Steel frustration

sogtrident7

sogtrident7

Joined
Jan 14, 2007
Messages
268
I am in a buying phase again right now. I go through phases where I get malcontented with the current rotation. I carry knives in the 400$ range. Sebenzas, MK1 etc. I am tired of s30v and s35vn and am frustrated that most of the knives I like the size, fit and feel of are made from these or Elmax. I am not really fans of these. With this renisance were in and these new steels coming out like new cars. I am still seeing that M4, M390 and Zdp-189 are still among the top of the heap. Problem is I'm not really seeing many knives in these steels I like. I get why some makers use these others as they are great median steels that aren't hard for most to touch up. I have a wicked edge and haven't found one yet I cannot sharpen. I am in line with Elliot at Ferrum for two customs. One in M390 and one in his properly treated SM100 Ti alloy. I am hoping my number comes up soon with him. I have been in line with him over a year and recently spoke with him and I don't believe he is taking customs anymore. Just venting more than anything. I love a good old large Sebenza, the smoothness, blade to handle ratio and carry profile but as many others say I really wish he would do runs in some exotics. I love that BM and Spyderco do this but am not a huge fan of these knives. I am however appreciative of what they have done for the industry.
 
Since you're already lined up for some customs, the only other suggestion I can come up with is to head over to sites like Arizona Custom Knives, True North, Steel Art, or Only Fine Knives (there are many others as well) and see if anything they have in stock interests you. They may have a one off model in a steel / size that hit your sweet spot.
 
Wait to see some of Big Chris's knives come out on the exchange, fixed blades. Do not k ow if you are more of a folder man. Chris is not taking orders right now, but he is always posting some stuff and he tends to try different steels. Hope this helps, let us know how it goes.
 
Out of curiosity, how frequently do you need to sharpen your carry rotation now? Unless your usage pattern is so heavy that you're sharpening all the time, why would you pine for more wear-resistant steel all at all? If you sharpen once a month, would sharpening once every two months really be magical enough to make a difference?
 
All steels have a set of attributes. All have tradeoffs. Wanting to try new steels is fine, but don't get caught up in the marketing. Those steels aren't inherently better than the others you mentioned. Often they cost more but I doubt many people could tell them apart in daily use with knives mislabeled. Of course everyone wants to say they could tell but let's be honest. Plus most of us don't use knives enough every day to completely dull them anyway. So this lusting after new steels is simply marketing at work
 
You just have to look around for the steels you're interested in. Chances are, you'll have to decide if you want the knife because of the steel or if the knife appeals to you. CRK isn't going to change, I don't think Hinderer will change. Strider has done different steels as well as ZT. AG Russell has the Acies II in ZDP. The steels are out there for the taking.
 
Fanglekai said:
So this lusting after new steels is simply marketing at work
Click to expand...

This is spot on, and once that marketing is working, everyone from the custom makers to the mass manufacturers has to take notice. Whether or not they all start producing knives made from the newest, hottest steel of the day depends on a lot of factors, but like any other business, this is about making money. If it's not cost effective for a business to switch materials, the worst case scenario (for them) is that they miss out on a very lucrative trend. While it sometimes benefits us as consumers for a product to fizzle and end up being sold at deeply discounted prices, that's bad for the manufacturers. Nobody wants to sit on unsold product. If you (OP) are ordering custom knives and routinely carry $400 knives, you're already dealing with people in a position to offer a lot of insight about what steels they'll work with, rather than mostly speculation from us, the consumers.

A few months ago, I ordered a Kizylar Savage in D2. I was concerned when the box label stated AUS8, as there is an AUS8 version, but the blade was stamped D2 and I'll take that as carrying more weight. However, I bought the knife for collecting purposes, and even if I did use it, it'd take a lot more than what I'm likely to dish out to prove which steel it actually was based on edge retention and ease of sharpening. I'd guess that a fair number of forum members are EDCing pretty inexpensive knives and wouldn't really be able to decisively tell the difference between 440, AUS8 or 8Cr13MoV based on routine use and maintenance. I know I couldn't. At the end of the day, the knife I use and abuse more than any other is a Chinese lockback folder I was given well over 20 years ago. It doesn't hold an edge worth a damn, but even after numerous chips, rolls and sharpening with a $5 hardware store sharpener, it has enough steel left to last another 20+ years. Almost any other knife I own would be better in more ways than one, but would I appreciate the improvements enough to use a different knife?

It could be that the bean counters have decided that combinations of features that you're looking for just aren't going to sell based on their market research. It's a very small portion of the knife-buying public, even among diehard types like those here on BFC, who are going to appreciate the significance of one steel over another, or why one knife costs $40 and another is $400.
 
All good points. I use mine pretty hard and do enjoy an extremely sharp knife so I do touch up a couple times a week. Usually strop and hit with fine diamond once a month or so. I had a 710 in m390 and a few benchmades in M4 and did notice a bit of difference. I do understand the business aspect and sales ability and workability of some of these is not the greatest but if you think about some of the prices we pay for these and in the end it just feels like me as the consumer should be entitled to the steel I want lol. I know that's quite a short sighted statement but you know. I have an Acies II on the exchange right now and love it but I want the original Acies, bigger one as I have Shrek paws. Thanks for the insight folks some times I need a healthy dose of perspective. When I retire my dream is to make knives. I guess then I can whatever my little heart desires as long as I can get it.
 
I do like a good fixed blade. I have a Few from Craig Barr and I kid you not be is a Magician with a 5160 heat treat. Some of the most durable steel I've had. I have a small 3 3/8" x 1/4" in that of his. I chopped on oak for a half hour and could still shave no problem. But who is big Chris and is there a link?
 
sogtrident7 said:
I am in a buying phase again right now. I go through phases where I get malcontented with the current rotation. I carry knives in the 400$ range. Sebenzas, MK1 etc. I am tired of s30v and s35vn and am frustrated that most of the knives I like the size, fit and feel of are made from these or Elmax. I am not really fans of these. With this renisance were in and these new steels coming out like new cars. I am still seeing that M4, M390 and Zdp-189 are still among the top of the heap. Problem is I'm not really seeing many knives in these steels I like. I get why some makers use these others as they are great median steels that aren't hard for most to touch up. I have a wicked edge and haven't found one yet I cannot sharpen. I am in line with Elliot at Ferrum for two customs. One in M390 and one in his properly treated SM100 Ti alloy. I am hoping my number comes up soon with him. I have been in line with him over a year and recently spoke with him and I don't believe he is taking customs anymore. Just venting more than anything. I love a good old large Sebenza, the smoothness, blade to handle ratio and carry profile but as many others say I really wish he would do runs in some exotics. I love that BM and Spyderco do this but am not a huge fan of these knives. I am however appreciative of what they have done for the industry.
Click to expand...

Not really that many NEW steels....

4V, XHP, BD-1...... And that's really about it, except for a few I am forgetting, but still just a handful literally.

The rest of them have been around for awhile and in use in other areas of the steel industry that they were originally developed for, or another plants version of an existing steel.

For the most part if there is a steel that you want there is generally a custom maker that can or will deal with it if you don't like the various limited runs on the production side.
 
Big Chris has a sub forum here under the Makers listing, and he lists his under the fixed blades in the exchange. I have several of his, great quality and design. I have stayed with 01 steel for mine, he does have the other steels.He is a stay at home dad taking care of the kids, could not meet a nicer guy.
 
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