What dagger option exist?

B

billyTheBlade

Joined
Jun 15, 2022
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So I am looking for a dagger in 5160, 51200, CPM 3V or CPM-MagnaCut. I would like a dagger that has some cutting ability and a reinforced tip. With a blade 9-12 inches in length I have not been able to find anything like that. Can anyone point me in a direction?
 
Tell me if you find one, I'm looking too... Carothers is the best knife like this I can think of, not a dagger but some of their knives have a swedge, made of really quality 3V.

You might be able to find some 5160 bullsh*t in Cold Steel's catalog that's big and sharp but that's all a bunch of bullsh*t, man.

But the thread asked what's my opinion on daggers - used to like them as some sort of SD thing? Now my only dagger is a lil 2.2in UTX-70 that I use because it has 4.4in of cutting edge.
 
It's shorter than your specified blade length, but the Cold Steel Tai Pan in CPM-3V has broad grinds that would be good for cutting. Blade length is 7.5".

I don't think there are many daggers being made these days with blades 9-12 inches long, much less with premium steel. For a blade that long you might have to go custom, which would be pricey.

Welcome to Bladeforums.
 
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You could probably get a pig sticker at that kind of length. Not sure about the steels though.

 
This thread reminds me of when I first started getting into knives.

The steels you name are interesting because they're all very different. You have a spring steel, a ball bearing steel, a high-alloy tool steel, and a cutlery-specific high-alloy stainless steel. To me that suggests you're not really sure what it is you're looking for in your steel choice.

With daggers cutting ability is always more limited by nature of the grind, as the bevels must be steeper than a single-edged knife of the same blade width or height, or the radius of a hollow grind must be smaller. Both of those things impede cutting ability. Plus a reinforced tip further exacerbates this problem by usually being thicker or more obtuse on the edge reaching the point. Can such knives cut? Yeah, a bit, but they will not cut very well.

The best cutter among daggers will probably have the widest blade, which will allow for the best cutting geometry.

The blade length you're looking for is also uncommon, as 4"-8" blades are the most common among production or midtech daggers.

You would almost certainly need to get a custom knife to tick all the boxes you're looking for in the same dagger.
 
All those steels are high toughness steels. CPM-MagnaCut is a little different in that it has lower toughness but still higher then most stainless steels. You are right that CPM-MagnaCut is probably a bad pick. Something like Z-Tuff would be better.

The reason I want a minimum of 9+ inches is because that is the minimum length of a small medieval dagger.

My training is in fencing and 9 inches in the minimum length you can use with sword fighting techniques. So many of the knifes I see are so poorly designed as fighting knifes. It is kind of depressing. I really don't know knife fighting techniques only sword/dagger.

I have owned stuff from cold steel in the past the edge bevel did not match up. Maybe I should buy a Quillon dagger from Tod Cutler I have no idea what steel he uses.

​

 
billyTheBlade said:
All those steels are high toughness steels. CPM-MagnaCut is a little different in that it has lower toughness but still higher then most stainless steels. You are right that CPM-MagnaCut is probably a bad pick. Something like Z-Tuff would be better.

The reason I want a minimum of 9+ inches is because that is the minimum length of a small medieval dagger.

My training is in fencing and 9 inches in the minimum length you can use with sword fighting techniques. So many of the knifes I see are so poorly designed as fighting knifes. It is kind of depressing. I really don't know knife fighting techniques only sword/dagger.

I have owned stuff from cold steel in the past the edge bevel did not match up. Maybe I should buy a Quillon dagger from Tod Cutler I have no idea what steel he uses.

​

Click to expand...

I got one of his daggers for Christmas and I didn't care for it. The grind was all messed up, the handle really thin which makes me question how thick is the tang. Too much money for Deepeeka quality.
 
Hashishiin said:
Tell me if you find one, I'm looking too... Carothers is the best knife like this I can think of, not a dagger but some of their knives have a swedge, made of really quality 3V.

You might be able to find some 5160 bullsh*t in Cold Steel's catalog that's big and sharp but that's all a bunch of bullsh*t, man.

But the thread asked what's my opinion on daggers - used to like them as some sort of SD thing? Now my only dagger is a lil 2.2in UTX-70 that I use because it has 4.4in of cutting edge.
Click to expand...
I don't know of any Cold Steel knives that use 5160. They do have this model in 1055 though.
34432A97-7054-424D-B444-59D2BBCF86BE.jpeg


OP: There is not a lot out there that meet your requirements in the production knife world.

You would likely be best served by contacting one of the many talented custom makers here at BladeForums and having one made to your specs.
 
Svord L6 steel

Hog Beater 11.5 blade​

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Hog Beater 11.5 blade » Svord Knives Limited

www.svord.com www.svord.com
 
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MolokaiRider said:
OP: There is not a lot out there that meet your requirements in the production knife world.
Click to expand...

Do you have any recommendations. I have heard good stuff about Carothers. I don't know if they do custom work.

I think I would need to draw up a CAD diagram because a lot of fighting knives are not well designed. I think it would be a big a risk of wasting $600 and not getting a useable dagger. Probably my first design may end up sub optimal. At least I would be able to design a mostly useable dagger with useable blade geometry / distal taper / fuller / center of gravity.

I should probably 3d print a design. Before I send it away to a custom maker.

​

 
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What about this Hanwei Rondel dagger? It's 5160, has 9 inch blade and has a T-shaped design that allows for a strong tip.

DSC5250.jpg
 
madcap_magician said:
This thread reminds me of when I first started getting into knives.

The steels you name are interesting because they're all very different. You have a spring steel, a ball bearing steel, a high-alloy tool steel, and a cutlery-specific high-alloy stainless steel. To me that suggests you're not really sure what it is you're looking for in your steel choice.

With daggers cutting ability is always more limited by nature of the grind, as the bevels must be steeper than a single-edged knife of the same blade width or height, or the radius of a hollow grind must be smaller. Both of those things impede cutting ability. Plus a reinforced tip further exacerbates this problem by usually being thicker or more obtuse on the edge reaching the point. Can such knives cut? Yeah, a bit, but they will not cut very well.

The best cutter among daggers will probably have the widest blade, which will allow for the best cutting geometry.

The blade length you're looking for is also uncommon, as 4"-8" blades are the most common among production or midtech daggers.

You would almost certainly need to get a custom knife to tick all the boxes you're looking for in the same dagger.
Click to expand...

Ironically also a smatchet.
 
Legendary_Jarl said:
I got one of his daggers for Christmas and I didn't care for it. The grind was all messed up, the handle really thin which makes me question how thick is the tang. Too much money for Deepeeka quality.
Click to expand...

Handles are kind of thin on the original fairborn's though.

It might be a dagger thing.
 
Legendary_Jarl said:
What about this Hanwei Rondel dagger? It's 5160, has 9 inch blade and has a T-shaped design that allows for a strong tip.

DSC5250.jpg
Click to expand...

A Rondel dagger, tanto or Bowie knife etc are better for knife tasks but a double-edged blade gives you access to certain fighting techniques some of which depending on the situation can be very effective.
 
Drop bear said:
You could probably get a pig sticker at that kind of length. Not sure about the steels though.

Click to expand...

So I have the F dick and it is good for what it does, which is kill things.

I was having a look at pig stickers and Cudeman do a nice looking one in MOVA? steel(which I know nothing about.

otherwise the other common brands the meula's, Nieto all have one.
 
MolokaiRider said:
I don't know of any Cold Steel knives that use 5160. They do have this model in 1055 though.
View attachment 1845787


OP: There is not a lot out there that meet your requirements in the production knife world.

You would likely be best served by contacting one of the many talented custom makers here at BladeForums and having one made to your specs.
Click to expand...

The other cold steel I was thinking of was the Arkansas toothpick.

But having a look. It is a style of knife. Which opens up more options.
 
MolokaiRider said:
I don't know of any Cold Steel knives that use 5160. They do have this model in 1055 though.
View attachment 1845787


OP: There is not a lot out there that meet your requirements in the production knife world.

You would likely be best served by contacting one of the many talente d custom makers here at BladeForums and having one made to your specs.
Click to expand...
No, can't do new Cold Steel. No trust.

I've been wanting a knife from David Mary David Mary soon. You taking commissions, man? I need a good fixed blade and I love your stuff.. If you are, I have yer email.
 
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