A base material is just something that both have in common from which they can be derived along a simple path for a specific purpose. For example, comparing both to Stellite 6B (base material), Stellite 6K has more carbon and Talonite is age hardened. If you went further back you would get Stellite 6 which has the same composition of 6B but is not worked the same. 6K is not age hardened, I asked Deloro Stellite about this months ago.
I should clarify the above about David Boye's cast dendritic Cobalt. It is very different from Stellite 6K or Talonite. Whereas both of these materials are very ductile and tough, the cast Cobalt is not. It fractures very easily compared to them. It is also softer (39 RC) and much weaker from what I have seen. I would be curious to know what the Tensile strength and impact toughness are.
On the positive side Boye's cast cobalt has more bite at high polishes, which is the intended goal of the casting. As well, David Boye grinds some of the highest performance cutting edges I have seen, he is the equal of Phil Wilson and only out done by the no edge bevel makers like Martin and Schott.
One reservation about Boye's dive knife is that while it does make shallow cuts quite well because of the thin edge profile, it is very thick at the spine (.3") and thus the thick primary grind really makes deep cuts difficult. How significant this is obviously depends on what you want it to be able to do. The thickness would give it good prying strength, but the material used doesn't give me great confidence in that specific area.
Boye can also be reached by email (address is on his website).
-Cliff
[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 07-19-2000).]