What is the deal with N690 steel?

3Guardsmen said:
In the latest issue of "Tactical Knives", Jerry Hossom is quoted as having said that "N690 behaves a lot like BG-42."
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Armin Stütz from Steirer Eisen (designer of the Monochrome) uses N690 for the most of his knives. I think this is enough reputation.

But, in wich respect does N690 behave like BG42? Edge retention, toughness, it is silver, it can rust, you can make a blade wich takes an edge out of it, it is stainless steel...

This quote means everything and nothing but enough to start a hype based on nothing.
 
Let's get back to what N690 is. It's made by Bohler Edelstahl in Austria. It is a 440C base alloy with additional Molybdenum and Cobalt. These additions allow for slighty better corrosion resistance than 440C (N685), high temperature tempering (bearing applications), and roughly 2 points higher attainable hardness than 440C. The slightly higher corrosion resistance and higher attainable hardness is why the world wide market likes this alloy for specialty cutting tools and cutlery over generic 440C. Bohler markets this alloy throughout the world but not currently in the US. This is why it is seen on a lot of knives produced overseas and not those produced domestically.
 
Blop said:
This quote means everything and nothing but enough to start a hype based on nothing.
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Indeed, most steels are like other steels in many respects, especially if you compare them to dissimilar metals. A2 for example behaves much like M2 in that both are air hardening, martensite tool steels which have a high maximum hardness. However in general you would never say A2 behaves ilke M2 as A2 is a cold work die steel and M2 a high speed steel. Similar with N690 and BG-42, as BG-42 is also a high speed steel. Some information on stainless steels from Bohler :

http://onet.tehonetti.fi/sten3/onet/data/attachments/N000DE.pdf

Including the AISI and DIN equvalents to their steels. N690 as noted previously would be similar to 440C.

-Cliff
 
Satrang said:
Let's get back to what N690 is. It's made by Bohler Edelstahl in Austria. It is a 440C base alloy with additional Molybdenum and Cobalt. These additions allow for slighty better corrosion resistance than 440C (N685), high temperature tempering (bearing applications), and roughly 2 points higher attainable hardness than 440C. The slightly higher corrosion resistance and higher attainable hardness is why the world wide market likes this alloy for specialty cutting tools and cutlery over generic 440C. Bohler markets this alloy throughout the world but not currently in the US. This is why it is seen on a lot of knives produced overseas and not those produced domestically.
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Thanks for this detailed, fact-based, unhyped summary. :thumbup:
 
I own the benchmade monochrome in combo edge. I will say that it's not the easiest to sharpen, but once you get there, it last for a while. I strop it with brasso wubbed into leather every couple a days, sometimes I give it a couple of passes and the fine stone then strop it again. If you touch up this blade, you will love it. If you dont, then it takes a while and you end up grinding more steel then you would just stropping it.
 
N690 & VG-10 are very alike & both are premium steels to me.

My Volpe is the sharpest & easiest to maintain knives I own.Not to mention the beautiful olive wood scales:thumbup:

Just cause it cost more doesn't necessarily mean it's better IMHO.
 
The only experience I have with N690 is with Extrema Ratio knives.

I have a few ERs and they are superb knives, I have had no problems with N690 and really have nothing but good things to say.

The Shrapnel is the most used knife I have in my ER collection.
That knife is tough as any other Iv used and takes a great edge.
My shrapnel has a fairly fine convexed edge, iv had no problems with chipping or premature edge loss and it cuts like a deamon.
Just a strop on a bit of 1200 and/or charged leather when it needs it keeps it singing.

I say its good stuff :thumbup:
 
I am old enough to remember a time when 440C was considered tres high end, and drew complaints of 'hard to sharpen.' The old Buck 110's were 440C. ATS-34 came along in the early 90's and ruled the roost for a while. S30V took over around 2000 and shows no signs of slowing down...it's about time for a new ne plus ultra.
 
I would imagine there are other factors - apart from the steel used - that determine the cost of a knife.

Economies of scale for example. The Benchmade is probably made in vastly greater quantities, and can therefore be produced at a lower price point.

The ER is a more specialised item, so therefore the price goes up.

Also, there is handle material to consider, how many man hours goes into making each knife, etc etc.

However, I do suspect the prices of some knives are artificially inflated, in order to convince people that they are, in fact, a premium product.

As in: "I paid a lot for it, therefore it must be good!"
 
wutitiz said:
I am old enough to remember a time when 440C was considered tres high end, and drew complaints of 'hard to sharpen.' The old Buck 110's were 440C. ATS-34 came along in the early 90's and ruled the roost for a while. S30V took over around 2000 and shows no signs of slowing down...it's about time for a new ne plus ultra.
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N690 is, as VG10, at the market for some time and not that new. It will certainly not be the next hype steel.

It fills a niche in the higher mid class market as VG10, 440C do.

That does not tell anything about its real quality and properties. It is just what ppl. are willing to pay considering what is told about a certain steel.

Personally i am pleased that different manufacturers use different steel grades. As quality standerds are growing you are able to get the right thing.

I need no new hype steel and guess, i am not that exotic.;)
 
I wonder how the N690 holds up in that new Spyderco Big Chopper I seen in Blade Mag?I love the Micarta in that knife.
 
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Mike Stewart once told me that N690 steel is very good steel.

It is. Properly ground and sharpened, it is.
 
I'll add to this 2-year old thread because I do not see a composition listed. And two years ago I did not own a monochrome. Now I do:D

____________440C___________N690
C%_______0.95 - 1.20________1.05
Cr________16.00-18.00_______17
Mo__________0.75___________1.1
V____________—____________0.1
Co___________—____________1.5

I really like the performance of N690 in my Monochrome (59HRC in mine). To me, it seems to take a finer edge than 440C, which is what you would expect with a trace of Vanadium to refine the grain structure. When I did side by side edge retention testing on manila rope, I found edge retention of N690 to be on the order of VG10, 154CM et. al. Really lovely stuff.

I wish it were available on more offerings.
 
WelcometothePast.jpg


Saw Cliff's name when I started reading and thought WHOA - what did I miss, then I looked at the date. :D Lots of good info later in the thread though.
 
Hmmm. That's a piece of info that's worth resurrecting an old thread over. Does that mean that Bohler is no longer the sole manufacturer of N690? Or are you importing it from them? :confused:

PS: Welcome to BF, Premiumsteel. :thumbup: :D By the way, if you haven't already shot Mike Stewart an e-mail over at Bark River Knife & Tool, I'd suggest you do so. I know he's a big fan of N690. You can find him on Knifeforums.com and Jerzeedevil.com.
 
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