The "Ask Nathan a Question" Thread

[Godbout1987]

I haven't tried it yet. But I'm sure it's going to be fantastic, they put a lot of work in their work.

Thanks a lot! That’s the best answer I could’ve get! I know they make great stuff, loved my infi and sr101 blade but I wasn’t sure about 3v at 61-63hrc like they advertised.
Glad you tested it.

 

[Grenock]

Idunno


View attachment 2364546

I ordered some to try it. I thought this was going to be 62, but I may have misread it or perhaps that was a typo.

That is disappointing to see.

 

[unwisefool]

I haven't tried it yet. But I'm sure it's going to be fantastic, they put a lot of work in their work.

Edited

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Fun story about a Busse I have. It's a sjtac in INFI with a ridiculously sharp and kind of thin convex edge. I let one of my friends borrow it at my bachelor party weekend. I look over and he's using it to chop up branches for the fire. But he's chopping on top of some big, jagged rocks. Before I can say something, the branch slips off while he's swinging the knife down and he chops that nice, thin convex edge directly onto the rocks.

He looks at me horrified, but when we went to check the edge, there was only a small chip out of it. I was very impressed. That knife has handled a lot of abuse.

Yeah, Busse really does a good job with that. He helped pave the road that so many of us walk on.

 

[dialton]

S

 

[trevitrace]

I have owned over 50 Busse blades in the last many many years, still have several keepers (in fact there is a Radioactive Meaner on my belt as I type this) but I must say that overall I prefer your designs for my uses. The blade shapes, thumb ramp and Jimping, feel of the handles in my hand, the hidden lanyard loops and that tumbled finish which shows little wear compared to other finishes put you at the top of my fixed blade list for what that’s worth.
You folks build a hell of a knife.

Never warmed up their handles.

 

[Blues]

I don't think we should clutter the "Ask Nathan a Question" thread with an extended discussion of another maker's work. Just my opinion, fellas...but I think it's the right thing to do. There are better places for that conversation if it needs to be had.

 

[XtianAus]

Nathan the Machinist could you please tell us about the toughness of AEBL vs Magna Cut?

You have previously stated "AEBL is durable compared to other stainless steels, but is not in the same league as 3V. It won't just snap off if you baton with it, but I wouldn't wail on it either."
Where would MC fit in this statement?

Thank you

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

I think AEBL might be a little bit tougher than Magna cut in the sense that it seems to tolerate impacts without breaking a little better. (The literal definition of toughness)

Magna cut might be a little bit more durable than AEBL, in the sense that it maintains an edge in rough use a little better and seems to accumulate less damage in hard use.

Neither one would be an ideal choice for use in a competition chopper, although the same can be said for 3V.

Magna cut has much better corrosion resistance and edge retention. But it is more difficult to sharpen and is a less ideal steel for casual users, for that reason.

 

[XtianAus]

I think AEBL might be a little bit tougher than Magna cut in the sense that it seems to tolerate impacts without breaking a little better. (The literal definition of toughness)

Magna cut might be a little bit more durable than AEBL, in the sense that it maintains an edge in rough use a little better and seems to accumulate less damage in hard use.

Neither one would be an ideal choice for use in a competition chopper, although the same can be said for 3V.

Magna cut has much better corrosion resistance and edge retention. But it is more difficult to sharpen and is a less ideal steel for casual users, for that reason.

Thanks Nathan.

What would it take to break magna cut? Say in something like the dek - would batoning be its limit?

 

[adluginb]

Knifesteelnerds.com chart

AEBL - Toughness = 9 Edge Retention = 3 Corrosion Resistance = 7
MC Toughness = 7 Edge Retention = 5 Corrosion Resistance = 9.5
3V - Toughness = 9 Edge Retention = 4.5 Corrosion resistance = 5.5

It doesn't list what the numbers would be for Nathans heat treat of the D3V but those numbers should give you an idea.

 

[ferider]

Thanks Nathan.

What would it take to break magna cut? Say in something like the dek - would batoning be its limit?

#NotNathan

Don't worry about batoning. Careful with the tip.

(a Manix 2 in 4V after some yard work / cutting bamboo; 4V should behave similarly to MC except corrosion resistance)

 

[bluemax_1]

#Nathan

Don't worry about batoning. Careful with the tip.

(a Manix 2 in 4V after some yard work / cutting bamboo; 4V should behave similarly to MC except corrosion resistance)

Nate's mentioned that despite Larrin's original claims that MC was like a stainless 4V, in his own testing (even with his own heat treat tweaks, that improved durability), MC doesn't really live up to those claims.

 

[Brenmack]

#NotNathan

Don't worry about batoning. Careful with the tip.

(a Manix 2 in 4V after some yard work / cutting bamboo; 4V should behave similarly to MC except corrosion resistance)

Good data point, as is the Knifesteelnerds.com chart, but that's where other factors come into play, particularly a blade's profile. I never owned a Manix but Spyderco folders are usually pretty thin blades (at least the various models I've owned to date) and likely caters to a slicier crowd. Though the DEK1 is also thinner (comparatively to other CPK models), I'd expect the DEK1 has more material behind the tip and it'd likely take more to create similar types of fractures/failures.

Beyond the CPK forum, I noticed we are always inclined to compare one blade/steel to another. However, it's almost always impossible (99%+ of the time) to do that when we don't have data that stems from controlled tests.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

I like magna cut. And it is very impressive for a stainless steel. But it is not 4v.

 

[Casinostocks]

Nathan, you would have made a wonderful teacher in another life. I know that in many cases nowadays, the profession of teaching is a path to financial poverty, but I like many, can just listen to and learn from you for hours!

Oh, ANAQ! Here you go with a Q:

Can Sadie go up to the visitors on 11/12 at the CPK Compound and eyeball / sniff these guys close up? I am very concerned, some of them sound shady as heck!

 

[jmgruber]

Nathan the Machinist
1. Will there be any DEK1 in D3V at the compound open house or is the DEK run finished?
2. Would you allow a live proxy like the Friday sale?

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Nathan the Machinist
1. Will there be any DEK1 in D3V at the compound open house or is the DEK run finished?
2. Would you allow a live proxy like the Friday sale?

Yes

Yes

 

[bluemax_1]

Just had a thought/question;

In light of the variability in curvature with the K20, would it be possible for folks who ordered 2, to request a pair that's matched as closely as possible?

Would like to be able to use them for some of the double sword forms (usually performed with my pair of Liuyedao).

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Just had a thought/question;

In light of the variability in curvature with the K20, would it be possible for folks who ordered 2, to request a pair that's matched as closely as possible?

Would like to be able to use them for some of the double sword forms (usually performed with my pair of Liuyedao).

Yes, we are going to try to do that.