Steel Snob

NJBillK said:
Take a look at the Spyderco Mantra for a capable but lighter carry, or a Mantra 2 for an even slimmer package. The Mantra line is one of Spydercos hidden gems that gets overlooked way too much.

For a more workaday model, look at the Gayle Bradley 1.

For a capable work knife, but designed as a high quality EDC that can dress and play equally hard, look at the:
- Benchmade 908BK-1501
- Spyderco Gayle Bradley 2
Click to expand...

Those plus the Military were the ones I was specifically talking about. I would like the mantra but it's a little small for my tastes and the gb 1 is a little chunky while the hidden liner on them both sucks. if they had a little more access to the liner I would've bought one years ago
 
Hickory n steel said:
Whatever Victorinox uses
Click to expand...
OK out of respect for Victorinox :
The martensitic stainless steel alloy used for the cutting blades is optimized for high toughness and corrosion resistance and has a composition of 15% chromium, 0.60% silicon, 0.52% carbon, 0.50% molybdenum, and 0.45% manganese and is designated X55CrMo14 or DIN 1.4110 according to Victorinox.
 
My favorite steels right now are the ones I happen to be using in the field: CPK D3V and 4V. There is a bit of hype surrounding them and it has been fun discovering the limits of the the steels within the framework of the geometries in which they were ground. I am always tempted to point in their direction whenever a recommendation thread pops up, but then again, I don't want to compete with any more forum members than I have to during their limited supply sales o_O !
 
Steel I have the most of would be Busse knife group's sr-101, but s35vn isn't far behind it, 5 in sr101 and I think 4 in s35, granted the sr101 only gets used for serious yard maintenance, camping, and building the occasional backyard fire in the winter, the s35 gets used all day everyday. I've had 3 in vg10 and it's very sharp but chips out and takes a while to get the edge back. With s35 my mileage has been that it more or less stays sharp as long as the vg10 but when it dulls it rolls or flattens more than it chips and makes it easier to sharpen cause you're straightening the edge instead of trying to grind a chip out.
 
highestpoint said:
Those plus the Military were the ones I was specifically talking about. I would like the mantra but it's a little small for my tastes and the gb 1 is a little chunky while the hidden liner on them both sucks. if they had a little more access to the liner I would've bought one years ago
Click to expand...
There are a few folks that have modified the show side of the scale slightly to allow better lockbar access.

Just a dremel, file, or sand paper and a dowel is all that is needed.

I would check the depth regularly, but I would use the dremel to remove the bulk, and then a 1/2" or 3/4" dowel wrapped in increasing grits to smooth and subtly shape the notch.
You won't have to remove much. I would be surprised if anything more than 1/8" would be required, and 1/16" - 3/32" would probably add enough clearance while maintaining close to the factory feel and not be too obvious or intrusive to your in hand feel.
 
Wowbagger said:
OK out of respect for Victorinox :
The martensitic stainless steel alloy used for the cutting blades is optimized for high toughness and corrosion resistance and has a composition of 15% chromium, 0.60% silicon, 0.52% carbon, 0.50% molybdenum, and 0.45% manganese and is designated X55CrMo14 or DIN 1.4110 according to Victorinox.
Click to expand...
Respect for Victorinox is the exact reason why I couldn't care less what steel they use.
I don't need to know what steel it is because I'll only ever get it from Victorinox, and any Vic that I buy will always be exactly what I expect it to be.
I know it's a Victorinox knife and that's all I need to know.
 
John Stubley said:
Most likely 440A as i can only afford the budget end of the market.

John.
Click to expand...
Unless your knives are from the flea market or gas station, the blades are probably aus8 3cr or 8cr variant steels which can all work well for boring edc use. 440a usually isn't good anymore, but as late as 25yrs ago there were American knife companies putting out decent ( decent for boring edc stuff ) 440a. I don't know if it costs more or just has a bad rap from gas station knives, but I don't think any decent knives are made from it anymore.
Don't quote me on this though, because specific blade steels aren't usually on my radar.
 
Last edited:
Hickory n steel said:
Unless your knives are from the flea market or gas station, the blades are probably aus8 3cr or 8cr variant steels which can all work well for boring edc use. 440a usually isn't good anymore, but as late as 25yrs ago there were American knife companies putting out decent ( decent for boring edc stuff ) 440a. I don't know if it costs more or just has a bad rap from gas station knives, but I don't think any decent knives are made from it anymore.
Don't quote me on this though, because specific blade steels aren't usually on my radar.
Click to expand...

Well i just ordered a couple of £12 Anglo Arms folders and the steel type is not even shown, So i don't expect it to be that good for that price, I just like the look of the knife.

I cannot carry any knife that is not a folder and is under 3" in length without a lock in the UK anyway, so they are unlikely to see much action.

6gWNxP7.jpg


John.
 
In 1st place it's 1095, because I have 3 GEC traditionals, plus I have two Damascus steel customs by Alan Davis where 1095 is one of the component steels.
In 2nd place it's O-1. I have three: a Jeff Tate kiridashi, a CS Gurkha Kukri, and a CS Trail Master.
 
Last edited:
I've got a pile of old cold steel voyagers that I never use or carry so technically Aus-8a. Out of the ones I actually carry I only have one repeat steel that's N690co
 
I have 4 knives I rotate atm

CRKT Swindle - 8Cr14MoV
Opinel No. 6 Carbone - XC90
Spyderco Delica 4 - VG-10
Maserin 392/CN - AUS 8

For the blade the CRKT is my least favorite steel it might that 8Cr is that much softer or the CRKT heat treat isn't as good or it is the knife I have had the longest and have thus used the most. I have yet to actually need to sharpen any as mine get light use they see more mail, boxes, box tape, and packaging tape than anything else. Next most used purpose for mine is to score the shielding on Cat5/6 cables to strip the outer shielding. I know my CRKT is due for a sharpening and my Spyderco, due to letting someone else use it, the others still have great edge on them.
 
4-s30v. 2-154cm. The rest are all different. 420hc, vg10, 440c, d2, elmax, samdvick, aus8 "stainless steel" carbon steels etc. This thread got me thinking, i have a good variety of steel. ‍♂️
 
Most are a mix of 1095 and 52100. INFI and D2 are also well represented in my collection but S30V and 14C28N get the most pocket time. I am very happy with Spyderco and Kershaw stainless steel options. Not too pricey and easy to tune back up. A few licks on the diamond hone and they're back in business.
 
Ha! I was just gonna jot down CPM S30V because that's what I expected it to be until I really started thinking about it. I honestly don't have 2(good quality) knives in the same steel. From CTS-XHP to 8cr. N690 to Hap40. Elmax to 5160. I like messing around with different steels so it makes sense to me. Favorite is M390 for now.. CruWear may steal that seat real damn soon, though.

I have a lot of junk knives that don't tell me what they're running so maybe the most of what I have is trashy steel, haha.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top