What is considered they most "exotic" super steel out there?

Surfingringo said:
I'd agree with Peacent's post above. I have been using and testing H1 for years now on a saltwater kayak and have done everything I can to make it rust with no success. I have Spyderco Salt knives that have been in the kayak 24/7 for years covered in fish blood and stomach acid and sitting in pools of saltwater. I have purposely never rinsed them with fresh water just for the sake of corrosion testing. Zero corrosion...nothing. I do not believe the steel can rust.

Now, I have seen rust on those very knives but it has never been from the H1 rusting. After a day or two of exposure, the logo etching will show slight corrosion (maybe from the tools that etched it?) but that goes away within a few days and the issue never returns. Another issue you will observe if you really abuse the knives in a high corrosion environment is the hardware will eventually show some minor corrosion that will bleed out of the pivot. The hardware is HIGHLY stainless, but it is not H1. It takes a couple of months of 24/7 saltwater exposure without any cleaning (what kind of kook would do that?? :rolleyes::D) but it will eventually show some minor corrosion. This corrosion though is NOT on the H1 and you can wipe the H1 clean and examine it with a loupe and you will see no signs of corrosion.

Given that level of corrosion resistance and the high performance of serrated H1, I would definitely classify it as a "super steel". Maybe not by the same metrics that we usually label steels as "super" around here, but super nonetheless.
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What about the lockbar? It is also a highly corrosion resistant steel I assume. It is not h1 though I would assume. I know the clip is titanium.

Rusted screws = red loctite.
 
NJBillK said:
Judging by this post, you should do yourself a favor and get in touch with Luong at Bluntcut Metalworks. One of my favorite alloys of his was a Parer that was made of CPM 10V @68hrc.



Great guy to work with and he has some impressive results.

I have not tried N77, but it sounds like might be seeking it out.
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Wow, 10v at 68 hrc? I didn't know that you can go that high on 10v, I thought 65 hrc was the limit. I bet it's a PITA to sharpen but once you do you're good for a long time. I wonder if he can get Vanax and see what he can do with it.
 
I used my DMT diafolds (coarse, fine, xfine, xxfine) and it wasn't that bad. They are Very thin BTE since it was designed for kitchen work, but still Very strong for its hardness. Luong liked it brought up to the extra-extra-fine, but I liked the edge left behind after the extra-fine. Slightly toothier, nothing significant but enough to notice a bit better bite on tomato skin and it wasn't as prone to gliding on the pork skin.

I used it to break down a raw pork shoulder, and it did remarkably well. After all of the contact with bone and cutting it in between the knuckle, there was no rolling or chipping.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Alpha Knife Supply has Rex 121 bar stock available :O

Longest cutting steel
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How brittel is it?

Also can anyone explain crystal weaving that bluntcut does? Thread was too long and broken English for the first 10 pages. Like how do you even do the heat treatment in his way?
 
Mo2 said:
How brittel is it?

Also can anyone explain crystal weaving that bluntcut does? Thread was too long and broken English for the first 10 pages. Like how do you even do the heat treatment in his way?
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I'd imagine it would make a bad cold chisel :D

Idk, I've never used it before
 
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Mo2 said:
How brittel is it?

Also can anyone explain crystal weaving that bluntcut does? Thread was too long and broken English for the first 10 pages. Like how do you even do the heat treatment in his way?
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There have been a few other knifemakers and metallurgists far more educated than I speculate on the process.
From what I recall, They have mentioned that he was performing something akin to Martempering, or that itself. Around that time it started to get Very technical, and I was quickly over my head.
I have planned on going back and rereading through the thread. I don't know how far I will get with it this time, especially since he was recently talking about HT versions 2.1, 2.2, etc.

All I know is that I have had three of his knives pass through my hands, and two are still here. The 10V was used in a trade that I could not pass up.
 
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Talked to John and Jessica at Blade and they mentioned REX121 sheet at the shop, but have not cut it down yet to bar...

I would love to try some REX 121, but am concned with the rust resistance since I will be in a wet and salty/swampy environment.
 
navman said:
Talked to John and Jessica at Blade and they mentioned REX121 sheet at the shop, but have not cut it down yet to bar...

I would love to try some REX 121, but am concned with the rust resistance since I will be in a wet and salty/swampy environment.
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Well, it's for sale on there website now :D
 
Sweet! Thanks for the heads up.


I am PCSing back to the US, but wanted to order a piece before they are all gone, so I just did. :)
 
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Cpmd3v said:
This makes me wonder for how long will steels be manipulated and improved ?
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Till steel it's self is obsolete.

Seriously, think about it like this; since the beginning of the metal age humans have been working together, even across empires (tho not always collaborating directly) to improve our understanding and ability to work/make metals better. That won't stop till metal is no longer needed.
 
DeadboxHero said:
You should check out the blade sports competitions.

They use HSS for choppers
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Those are completely different as those also have perfect heat treat and edge geometry. A HSS by someone who isn't an expert will NOT provide the results as a Blade sports champion unless they are one or they're close to one.
 
HowAmI said:
Those are completely different as those also have perfect heat treat and edge geometry. A HSS by someone who isn't an expert will NOT provide the results as a Blade sports champion unless they are one or they're close to one.
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Don't forget they have to be a level 70+ Wizard :D

Haha nah, no magic to it.

I think across the board a bad heat treatment is a bad heat treatment. It doesn't require a blade sports championship to be competent.
No need to put HSS on a pedestal :D
 
navman said:
Sweet! Thanks for the heads up.


I am PCSing back to the US, but wanted to order a piece before they are all gone, so I just did. :)
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Hi Navman! It was fun to meet you at the Blade show! :D

You know, some of the stuff that I think of as the most "exotic" are laminated steels from a singular person, such as @nighthaxan "oh-mai" or something really insane like j.louis' stainless steel wootz. Now those examples are truly rare and bonkers.

The "super" part is a lot harder to define, as we all know the best blade depends a lot on what jobs a particular blade must do. I think a "super" steel would be one that pretty much does ALL blade jobs better than most or all others, whatever the circumstances or blade design. A material that is simply better than the pack in any blade form.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Don't forget they have to be a level 70+ Wizard :D

Haha nah, no magic to it.

I think across the board a bad heat treatment is a bad heat treatment. It doesn't require a blade sports championship to be competent.
No need to put HSS on a pedestal :D
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Not putting HSS on a pedestal, but to have a perfect heat treat for the extremes such as BS is a bit different than the uses for HSS. Besides Rex 121 would never be a wise choice for chopping (unless you want some shrapnel). Having the perfect heat treat isn't easy with more alloyed steels versus a clean alloy.
 
HowAmI said:
Not putting HSS on a pedestal, but to have a perfect heat treat for the extremes such as BS is a bit different than the uses for HSS. Besides Rex 121 would never be a wise choice for chopping (unless you want some shrapnel). Having the perfect heat treat isn't easy with more alloyed steels versus a clean alloy.
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Perfect heat treatment?

Tell us what that is.
 
I'm not telling what the perfect HT is ! :D
I'd like to see some info about steels chosen by big makers . It is complex as there are many variables .Customers might appreciate makers when they know the facts ! All perverted by customers who want the very, very best !!
Try explaining a Titanium gladius ,as I have , and ask if it's good for hunting feral chipmunks. That I haven't done yet but it will happen as there are more and more Snowflakes in the world who want to know. And you will know what a BLANK LOOK is !
 
All this H1 talk finally broke me. I just purchased a yellow serrated Salt 2.
 
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