Whats the deal with Elmax steel

[TacticalBlade]

Hey Guys,

I've had my ZT 551 for about 2 months or more now and I guess curiosity has bitten me. Most of my knives are s-30V, VG-10, D2,M390, or BG-42. What makes the Elmax used in the 551 such a good steel? How is it to sharpen? Anybody have long term use experience? Seems to be fairly new but I could be wrong. Overall I really like it, but i'm sure there are reasons behind as to why.

I'm sorry if its already been talked about the search kept getting me nowhere.

 

[Ankerson]

Hey Guys,

I've had my ZT 551 for about 2 months or more now and I guess curiosity has bitten me. Most of my knives are s-30V, VG-10, D2,M390, or BG-42. What makes the Elmax used in the 551 such a good steel? How is it to sharpen? Anybody have long term use experience? Seems to be fairly new but I could be wrong. Overall I really like it, but i'm sure there are reasons behind as to why.

I'm sorry if its already been talked about the search kept getting me nowhere.

ELMAX has been around for a pretty long time, it was developed for the plastics industry, injection molding where the solvents are very corrosive so it's very corrosive resistant and has good wear resistance.

It's a 3rd generation PM steel to it's very fine grained and very tough and will take a very fine edge and has enough carbide forming alloys to give it very good wear resistance so it's great for knife blades in a varity of uses.

I have done a lot of testing with M390 and ELMAX in production and customs and they are both excellent knife steels.

 

[Thingus995]

I got a Speedform for Christmas and I think the edge holding is great, that knife has been in my pocket 80% of the time since Christmas and 60% since I got my 551 in late Feb... I can still cut paper with the original edge on both blades (and I've dissected guinness cans with the 551). I love this steel!!