steels, quality, and price queries.

[leonc]

Hello chaps,
just a quick question or two, as i have been reading some of the other posts and am confused again.

1) people talk about the spydy military, the police, endura, toad, delica etc, and ask "plain edge, serrated edge, or 50/50.."
why does no-one go for the dyad, which has a plain edge clippoint blade, and a sheepsfoot serrated blade?

2)the CRKT crawford/kasper is touted by all as a great knife, but then beaten savagely because it has an AUS6 blade, not AUS8. i have a spydercard with AUS6 which holds a really scary sharp edge, and i cannot see a prob with AUS6 (i have only had the spydy for a little while, haven't had a chance to test it properly.). Is AUS6 that bad?

3)i really like the Benchmade 710/705, and am thinking of buying one (prob 705, in the uk i could be sent to prison for carrying the 710.); people on the forums have been saying that benchmade QC is bad recently, and that they send out poorly sharpened, or loose blades. sod paying £80 for a poorly made knife - who is right? is benchmade a spent force, or are they worth spunking my beer money on?

Plus, is SPADEWORX, who is from the UK and signs his posts ANDY, and is in the military, actually andy lewin, currently at sandhurst*? if so, email your mate leon from upminster, cos i have lost your mail address, and want to find out how much fun running up and down mountains carrying a howitzer really is.
*sandhurst is army training college for officers, kind of like american west point, but better, older, more efficient, better beer.........................................

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Blades made from AUS-6 will be softer, weaker and less wear resistant than blades made say ATS-34. This means that they will blunt much faster from rolling and impact more readily. It is chosen as a blade steel mainly because it lowers the cost, same with 420, 440A etc. .

Benchmade does recieve comments about poor QC on a regular basis. However the poor warrenty and overall blade support would be more of a concern to me.

-Cliff

 

99+% of all knives are bought by people who do not care about steel quality, as long as it is called "stainless".
Some "nifenuts" have made a new religion of finding "the best steel" and everyone has a different opinion on "what is a must" for said qualification.
So with 10'000+ members you may expect about 12'000 diverging opinions.
I do own a few knives made from "absolutely horrible" steel 420, which have served for many years and done quite some cutting. (Yes: there are better steels).
So "what is best" depends on what you are asking for....
Happy sharpening

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Ted

 

[Disrespect Dirt]

Hey... while 420 and the like are horrible steels for anyone who wishes to use their knives seriously for any utility... they aren't bad steels for throwing knives! Especially when just starting out throwing, because you dont really care about beating the crap out of them (which is inevitable when youre a novice thrower)... just thought I'd add what I see as the only real merit for these steels! Pheroze

 

[allenC]

I think alot of folks bash 420, AUS-6 and lesser steels unjustly. Almost any Buck, Schrade, Gerber, Boker, Camillus, CRKT (ect) knife you buy is better than the knives used by the early pioneers of America (and they used their knives EVERYDAY).
Take the machete used in 3rd world nations for example: most are made of cheap steel but they do more cutting in 2 months than most Americans will do in 2 years.
I can remember when the Buck 110 was THE working man's knife.
I'm all for better and more modern (that's why I keep buying more and more knives like Spydercos) but plain ol 420 or 1095 will meet 99.9% of your cutting needs.
Besides, it's fun putting a keen edge on a knife.

 

[e_utopia]

Benchmade, like any other company, is not perfect, but if you buy from a knife store, where you can inspect it prior to buying, or from a quality online dealer, who will inspect it for you, you're completely safe. From my dealings with Benchmade's CS department, I have to call them second-to-none. They have always went out of their way to be helpful, even when they weren't required to (as in, when I wanted a black-coated clip to replace one of my silver clips; they were under no obligation to send me a new one, let alone do it for free).

Plus, the 705 is one of the best utility knives available. I've heard of people driving trucks over their 710's, with no problems other than some scratches. The 705 is just a smaller version of that knife, and still should be able to take that without failing.

--JB

P.S., while the sharpening isn't perfect, every Benchmade that I've gotten would shave right out of the box, and I'm going to have to sharpen it at some point, anyway, so I'm not going to avoid getting a great knife, just because I might have to sharpen it if I want a scary-sharp edge.

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e_utopia@hotmail.com

 

[Raptor]

Many people do knock AUS6 unjustly.
Yes, it definately isn't as strong, or hold an edge as well. But it still is a very good steel to use in knife blades.
I personally love the CRKT LUS with it's AUS6 blade. The blade cuts, cuts, and keeps on cutting. That seems to work for me.

Would I have liked it in AUS8?? Sure. But I'm not going to get upset because a manufacturer chose to maybe use a slightly inferior steel. If I like it I either choose to buy it, and give it my own test, or I pass. Simple.

Just remember, BFC members are not your average knife user. We expect alot from a knife and are always looking for that elusive "perfect knife".

And on a side note..........Better than West Point??
I think you need to go have another pint!!

--The Raptor--

 

[Bugs3x]

A few months ago, Blade magazine had an article on the "best steel", done via some sort of vote by high mucky mucks of some sort or another in the knife world.

With great hilarity, I found that the concensus (sp?) placed 440A in a tie for first place.

As someone else pointed out, most forumites seem to get a bang out of sharpening their blades. I've never understood that in view of the grail search for a steel which never needs resharpening.

As I believe another pointed out, it depends upon how much cutting one does. If one employes a knife cutting boxes open all day for a living, then you betcha, the lasting qualities of a blade are significant -- unless of course, the only break one gets from the monotony is the opportunity to sharpen one's blade. For opening letters, a couple boxes, peeling a couple apples and 3 oranges a week, an edge on AUS will last indefinitely.

Lastly, it simply isn't fair to rub our poor noses in it about the better quality of British beer. Remember this is a true democracy where the mediocre is usually most popular -- a Bud anyone?

**Damn! I forgot the new ratings. I'm sorry everybody, really sorry. Please forgive me.

NOT!!
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Asi es la vida

Bugs

[This message has been edited by Bugs3x (edited 03-29-2001).]

 

[blademan 13]

I do not find AUS6 to be a bad steel at all. Apparently neither did Al Mar or Cold Steel. Both of who had (have) very fine reputations for their blades performance and used this steel for almost all of their early stainless blades I believe. Also throw SOG into the mix. There is no doubt that AUS6 has probably been used in more large fighting knives and bowies than all of the specialty steels combined ever will.

While I have a few of the more exotic steels in my arsenal and can definitely see their place, I am not so sure they are ideal for everyone. I have seen many blades using a high grade steel that were shown to me and dull as the proverbial hoe. Fact is, some people just do not have the knowledge or experience to put a hair popping edge on something like 420V. On the other hand, my daughter can put a fairly decent edge on AUS6. Is it better to have a dull exotic steel or a sharp AUS6 one?

As far as use goes, I have no doubt in my mind that a majority of the knives out there utilizing one of the exotic steels see far less use and abuse than those with the cheaper steels. Exotic steels usually mean customs, and there are just not that many people out there subjecting their $400-$500 knives to real use. String, packing tape, a few boxes, lunch and letters do not really require the benefits of 2% carbon. It does have status however.

Granted, if given the choice of one knife to play out a survival scenario, it definitely would not be AUS6. If my blade was being subjected to continuous use for hours a day, again I would choose something else. But for daily carry and doing a majority of the things one typically encounters, it is just fine. Also the price point at which it is typically found makes it all the better.