What are the "super steels"? INFI, CPM3V ... what else?

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wacki

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Sep 12, 2009
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I know INFI and CPM3V are super steels. The technology behind CPM3V is amazing. Using an air cannon to create micro-droplets of steel which are then impact pressed to a homogeneous structure is a rather clever way to deal with the laws of physics regarding to melting points of various elements.

I don't know the tech behind INFI.... and I'm guessing few others do. But what are the other "super steels" out there?

FYI:

These are not "super steels": A2, CruWear, or CPM M4

EDIT:

I'm aware that CPM M4 and CPM 3V are made with a similar process.. I almost edited out / deleted that part of the post. What I should of done is included the link to the website that defined what is and isn't a "super steel". The list I provided wasn't something I made up.

I'll have to dig through my history to find the original article. I'm merely trying to figure out what is and isn't a "super steel"....
 
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CPM 10V, 15V, CPM Rex 121, M390, K390, Vanax, S90V, S110V, S125V, CTS-20CP, CTS-204P, and ELMAX could all be considered high wear resistant "super steels".
 
Wait,

Why is CPM3v a super steel and not CPM M4 considering they are made via the same process...
 
wacki said:
I know INFI and CPM3V are super steels. The technology behind CPM3V is amazing. Using an air cannon to create micro-droplets of steel which are then impact pressed to a homogeneous structure is a rather clever way to deal with the laws of physics regarding to melting points of various elements.

I don't know the tech behind INFI.... and I'm guessing few others do. But what are the other "super steels" out there?

FYI:

These are not "super steels": A2, CruWear, or CPM M4
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Lol cpm m4 uses the same technology that strikes you as so cool... and if I'm not mistaken it tests better in a number of categories according to members on this site who do test steels in knife applications...

oh. and the very uninspiring s30v uses that tech too.

as for my $.02 on super steels, m390. the only one I've used. while I wouldn't consider 3v to be a super steel, I have a knife on the way in it that I'm rather excited for
 
Why would infi be considered a super steel? I thought it was just a tool steel weighted slightly more towards toughness than abrasion resistance. Its the right steel for what busse uses it for, but I dont see why it should automatically be classified as a super steel when you specifically excluded cpm-m4 which is better in many applications.
 
Read more, post less. You made a fool of yourself with your "What's the sharpest steel" thread, and now this?
 
It depends on what you mean by "Super Steel", IMO super steels are steels that excel above all or most others in one or more catergories, for example CPM-10V in edge retention, H1 in corrosion resistance, S7 in shock resistance/toughness, etc.
 
What exactly is a super steel? Its a made up term used by us knife nuts to describe the latest and greatest steels available, nothing more. If you're referring to steels made using modern powdered metal tech, well then there are a whole host of them, most performing quite well, but ranging greatly in attributes. There are many, many steels that fit that description, all of which could be called "super steel" for their intended use.
 
Scurvy092 said:
Wait,

Why is CPM3v a super steel and not CPM M4 considering they are made via the same process...
Click to expand...

I'm aware of that and had the same thoughts myself. I almost edited out / deleted that part of the post. What I should of done is included the link to the website that defined what is and isn't a "super steel". The list I provided wasn't something I made up.

I'll have to dig through my history to find the original article.
 
There are so many great quality steels that excel at diff things its hard to just labeling certain ones as "super steel" if you would have asked which steel excels at "blank" then we, the forum could better justify properly answering your question.

Edge rentention super steel will be different from impact resistance super steel and so on and so forth. So what exactly are you looking for in a steel? As long as it does the job I need it to do and does it well its super steel to me.
 
Is there an official set of standards that define a "super-steel"?

As far as I know, it's simply a buzzword.
 
singularity35 said:
Nope. 420HC with proper HT is no super steel by today's standards. ;)
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Sort of true. The problem is that it depends on what characteristics you want in the steel. You want corrosion resistance coupled with good toughness? and easily re sharpened?Then 420HC with proper heat treat is no slouch.

The problem with "super steel" is that en general the only characteristic it takes into account is edge holding. For instance, ZDP189 is considered a super steel as is M390. But I wouldn't want a chopper made out of either one of those because I'd constantly be worried about chipping and breaking the blade.
 
I think for most intents and purposes in the forums, super steels refer to the extreme wear resistance steels that can cut for a long time.
 
Robert Carter said:
There are so many great quality steels that excel at diff things its hard to just labeling certain ones as "super steel" if you would have asked which steel excels at "blank" then we, the forum could better justify properly answering your question.

Edge rentention super steel will be different from impact resistance super steel and so on and so forth. So what exactly are you looking for in a steel? As long as it does the job I need it to do and does it well its super steel to me.
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this! i think steels are compared to closely.... there are different steels for different jobs quite like different tools for different jobs.
 
FYI:

These are not "super steels": A2, CruWear, or CPM M4
Click to expand...

Cruwear and CPM M4 sure perform like super steels. Did you just decide one day they weren't super enough? For cutlery purposes they can hold their own with the best. Likewise lots of other steels that aren't new or sexy.

How do you make a list of things that are just based on opinions? Yours mostly at that it seems.

Joe
 
mkjellgren said:
What exactly is a super steel? Its a made up term used by us knife nuts to describe the latest and greatest steels available, nothing more. If you're referring to steels made using modern powdered metal tech, well then there are a whole host of them, most performing quite well, but ranging greatly in attributes. There are many, many steels that fit that description, all of which could be called "super steel" for their intended use.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Well put. It's like asking what a "survival" knife is. A steel is super if some steel junkies or a marketing department deem it super.
 
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