Stock removal chopper steel recommendation

Robber58

Robber58

Joined
Oct 9, 2008
Messages
478
I don't forge and have no plans to start but I have a customer that wants a "camp knife" that will cut as well as chop. I have used ATS 34, CPM154 and D2 almost exclusively for all the knives I have made over the years and don't feel they are good choice for chopping (although I have seen D2 in production choppers). I have made a couple of blades from S30V and have heard that it can work, but I do have concerns about the inherent brittle nature of stainless, even the CPM varieties. I would greatly appreciate your recommendations and insight.
Thanks,
Randy
 
Dan,
I am too old for pain. I have thought about A2 but I have only used it for tooling so I don't have any direct experience with it's toughness in a blade. Thanks for the recommendation.
Randy
 
If you are REALLY willing to deal with the hassle, then probably CPM M4.
 
I'd go with the CPM 3V, if price isn't a problem. Properly heat treated 0-1 is under rated for a chopping blade, but it's good enough that Reggie Barker won the world cutting competition at the Blade show a few years ago with an 0-1 blade. If it's got to be stainless, I don't have any personal experience to recommend from, but I've heard good things about CPM 154 in bigger knives.

Todd
 
All,
Thanks for the input and recommendations. I actually have a lot of CPM 154 but I have not been sold on it as a chopper. As always, heat treat and edge geometry are everything.
Randy
 
If you want to go stainless, there does exist some tough stainless steels like AEB-L and H-1. Both are significantly tougher than 440A.
 
I know I'm in the minority but you could still use CPM 154 as long as it has a robust edge and good HT as you suggested. My all around favorite though would be 3V. If you use CPM M4 get it as close to your desired finish prior to HT....
 
Well,
I may have to give 3V a try. From what I have read, it can be a bear but S30V is no picnic after heat treat either. It will have a working finish so that should not be too much of an issue. Is it reltively stable in heat treat so I can grind very close to finish dimensions to minimize effort after? Thanks again for the inputs.
Randy
 
My opinion probably isn't worth much since I haven't even made my first knife yet, but I recently went through the selection process for a chopper and decided on CPM 3V. (I plan to get there eventually...) I have some A2 stock laying around b/c it's supposedly easier to work and I'll probably start with that, but the 3V will come eventually.

An even better opinion than mine...I contacted Chuck Bybee at Alpha Knife Supply regarding M4 or 3V, and he said 3V was his all time favorite steel, so I went with that. FYI you're likely going to need to contact Crucible directly if that's what you choose to use.
 
Is it true that CPM 3V edges roll more easily than other steels at the same hardness? I hear about this and wonder if it is true.
 
cotdt said:
Is it true that CPM 3V edges roll more easily than other steels at the same hardness? I hear about this and wonder if it is true.
Click to expand...

Could you elaborate? Where'd you get your information from? What steels were compared and at what hardness? What edges were put on the blades and how were they tested? Hasn't been my experience in the least or most others that I know of.
 
cotdt said:
Is it true that CPM 3V edges roll more easily than other steels at the same hardness? I hear about this and wonder if it is true.
Click to expand...

No, it's not true. Whoever told you that must be sniffing glue.:p
 
I like using 5160 austempered in salts at 475f for twelve hours.5160 is available in large sizes so stock removal isnt a problem.Darrin Ellis sells the salts and building a low temp salt pot is as easy as a pan and turkey fryer type burner.You will find many uses for a salt rig like austempering,martempering,blueing,and many other things.Austempering 5160 will produce an incredibly strong and resilient blade.L6,870m,and 15n20 work great too.
 
If you want something that is both very tough and very wear-resistant, CPM M4 is very good for that. It also maintains hardness at very high temperatures, so you can chop with your knife even in the deepest bowels of hell.
 
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