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What do you have to spend for a high performance SS field/utility fixed blade?
- Thread starter maximus83
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If you're talking to me, no I'm not, at all. I have a number of carbon steel blades and they are great, several that I've acquired in the last year include: ESEE Junglas, Condor Golok machete, and Swamp Rat Ratmandu. All are excellent, excellent knives and I have no concern about using them.
However, here is how my own knife use has developed:
* For folders, I prefer stainless. The mechanisms, etc., are easier for me to care for if I get a high corrosion resistant stainless.
* For smaller FB's (let's say 5" or less) whose primary purpose is stuff like: utility jobs, camp knife, slicer, skinner, I also prefer stainless, usually in a thinner stock for best cutting performance. Because if it's a GOOD stainless, I like the high edge retention, the high cutting performance, and again, the reduced concerns with corrosion. This is the type of knife I'm talking about in this thread.
* For large knives whose purpose is heavy working, chopping, batoning, limbing, etc., and where "toughness" is a major consideration, yes do I prefer carbon steel as with the 3 knives I listed above.
Ankerson
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Depends on what one really wants, their budget and the actual use of the said knives.
But don't fool yourself a properly done custom in a high performance steel is very hard to beat.
That has been my expectation, though of course I can't say for sure since I haven't owned any of the really expensive blades. However, there may be a few exceptions out there. The new Spyderco Southfork I listed above, which I have seen in the $250 price range, is allegedly an amazing performer. This because of 2 things: its use of a super-steel that really enhances edge retention throughout a lot of cutting work, and its Wilsonian blade geometry (which is already well proven in the Southfork design--see detailed review of the original s30v Wilson Southfork that Cliff Stamp did). Although I haven't tried it myself, I'm considering getting this blade as I believe its stellar performance would justify its higher price (if it really pans out).
Ankerson
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Hey Ankerson, thanks for the pics. On the Southfork, is it your experience that this would make an outstanding all-purpose field/utility blade due to it extreme cutting performance vs other knives? Or do you think it's too "thin" to be used as a general utility blade beyond just slicing, food prep, fish cleaning, and skinning tasks?
Also, what are your thoughts on the S90v used in the Spydie collaboration Southfork model? Worth it, or not?
Also, what are your thoughts on the S90v used in the Spydie collaboration Southfork model? Worth it, or not?
Ankerson
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I think it will be more than worth it, will put one through my process once I get it.
As far as a do it all knife beyond cutting tasks I would say likely not as I wouldn't pound on a knife with a thin grind or make serious twisting cuts either, a little common since go along way.
But for anything other than pounding in it or using it for a pry bar it should perform way beyond the norm.
Seems to me then, that in a roughly 4.5" all-purpose stainless field/utility knife--if I want high-end cutting performance--the Spydie Southfork might be the one to beat. The $250 would be worth it to me, if the performance comes along with it. I always carry my Swamp Rat RMD in my pack for any work that requires beating on a knife, it seems to hold up to that very well. 
But take that 3/16" RMD and try to slice thin chunks off of something, it just isn't that great. Basically I need a great CUTTING knife for about 80% to 90% of my common cutting tasks, and then I need a tough carbon steel knife like the RDM (or a large chopper like my Condor) for the remaining work.
But take that 3/16" RMD and try to slice thin chunks off of something, it just isn't that great. Basically I need a great CUTTING knife for about 80% to 90% of my common cutting tasks, and then I need a tough carbon steel knife like the RDM (or a large chopper like my Condor) for the remaining work.
Ankerson
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Seems to me then, that in a roughly 4.5" all-purpose stainless field/utility knife--if I want high-end cutting performance--the Spydie Southfork might be the one to beat. The $250 would be worth it to me, if the performance comes along with it. I always carry my Swamp Rat RMD in my pack for any work that requires beating on a knife, it seems to hold up to that very well.
That's what knives like this are for, use a folder or a thicker FB for the harder tasks and leave the fine work for the more expensive knife that is made for cutting.
You know it just occurred to me, I think I may have made a 'category mistake' in my original post. Perhaps someone else can help here. I previously thought the "Vanadis 23" steel on the Rasul knives was a stainless. But now on reading the specs on their original site, it seems like it's more of a tool steel in the category of M2/M4.
Does anybody know, is the Vanadis 23 in the Rasul knives really SS, or is it more of a fancy tool steel that's not necessarily stainless, along the lines of CPM3v? I just can't find that much definitive info about it.
Does anybody know, is the Vanadis 23 in the Rasul knives really SS, or is it more of a fancy tool steel that's not necessarily stainless, along the lines of CPM3v? I just can't find that much definitive info about it.
Ankerson
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No, it's not stainless at all, but it's a high alloy non stainless.
Ankerson
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Soon, very soon from what I hear.