t1mpani
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2002
- Messages
- 5,527
I really can't remember the details of that demonstration---it was a LONG time ago. I do recall that there were a few "names" within the knife industry (not from Wauseon) standing by watching who were fairly floored.
Once again we have an oversimplification of the phrase, "edge retention." Through what use is the edge being retained? Slicing is not push cutting is not chopping, and yet all are cutting. With its large carbides, D2 will slice aggressively in abrasive cutting tasks like skinning longer than INFI with the same grind/geometry. Then again, the INFI knife will plane wood or make fuzz sticks long after the D2 version has ceased being able to do so due the edge damage the latter will incur from its much lower ability to resist damage from lateral and torsional forces. INFI's finer carbide formation as well as its high ductility despite high hardness will also allow it to support a much thinner edge than D2 can. All of that said, rating either steel as unilaterally average, inferior or superior is decidedly stupid as I see it, because the use to which they're being put has to be taken into consideration. Someone could make a large ABS competition knife out of ZDP-189, start whacking away with it and declare it "obviously inferior" to L6, 5160 and O1 as the competitor knives made from those steels kicked its ass in impact cutting tests--and they would. However, I would take such a conclusion about as seriously as I would that of a person who claims that a corvette is nothing remarkable because it can't pull a 10,000 pound U-Haul. INFI can be tested in ways that will demonstrate its strengths and weaknesses just like any other steel. Unlike many other steels, its strengths greatly outnumber its weaknesses. In my experience, it resists impact damage right along with (or even slightly better than) properly done L6 or 3V, resists staining to about the same level as D2 although INFI is less willing to pit when it does corrode than D2 is, and holds its edge in skinning about as well as A2 at the same hardness. It's also my experience that SR-101 surpasses INFI in long term slicing tasks, although only slightly. I have many knives is different steels that will outshine INFI in one category of use or another. I have never found another steel so capable in ALL types of knife use, however. Not even close.
Once again we have an oversimplification of the phrase, "edge retention." Through what use is the edge being retained? Slicing is not push cutting is not chopping, and yet all are cutting. With its large carbides, D2 will slice aggressively in abrasive cutting tasks like skinning longer than INFI with the same grind/geometry. Then again, the INFI knife will plane wood or make fuzz sticks long after the D2 version has ceased being able to do so due the edge damage the latter will incur from its much lower ability to resist damage from lateral and torsional forces. INFI's finer carbide formation as well as its high ductility despite high hardness will also allow it to support a much thinner edge than D2 can. All of that said, rating either steel as unilaterally average, inferior or superior is decidedly stupid as I see it, because the use to which they're being put has to be taken into consideration. Someone could make a large ABS competition knife out of ZDP-189, start whacking away with it and declare it "obviously inferior" to L6, 5160 and O1 as the competitor knives made from those steels kicked its ass in impact cutting tests--and they would. However, I would take such a conclusion about as seriously as I would that of a person who claims that a corvette is nothing remarkable because it can't pull a 10,000 pound U-Haul. INFI can be tested in ways that will demonstrate its strengths and weaknesses just like any other steel. Unlike many other steels, its strengths greatly outnumber its weaknesses. In my experience, it resists impact damage right along with (or even slightly better than) properly done L6 or 3V, resists staining to about the same level as D2 although INFI is less willing to pit when it does corrode than D2 is, and holds its edge in skinning about as well as A2 at the same hardness. It's also my experience that SR-101 surpasses INFI in long term slicing tasks, although only slightly. I have many knives is different steels that will outshine INFI in one category of use or another. I have never found another steel so capable in ALL types of knife use, however. Not even close.
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