Would you par $500+ for a Millie in CPM Rex 121? I would!

Too pricey, too brittle, too rust prone. But I'm 100% sure that they could sell a very limited run of them for that price. I'd love to read the reviews if they did make them.
 
when CTS and hitachi have come up with similar steels and it becomes the new standard, the price will fall to $200, even before "no way" turns to "yes way."
 
FARID here did a run of mules from this steel, a few ppl here can talk about it, clay alison from wicked edge got one to test. don't know if anyone reported some infos/test/impressions yet.
 
pwet said:
FARID here did a run of mules from this steel, a few ppl here can talk about it, clay alison from wicked edge got one to test. don't know if anyone reported some infos/test/impressions yet.
Click to expand...

Mad Rookie posted some results.
 
I've used my Rex 121 mule on cardboard (not the best knife for the job), some food prep and pushed the edge into some very dry oak. I was surprised to see now problems with chipping even when twisting the blade in the oak. I don't use enough to report on wear resistance.
 
I remember what Farid was saying about it, all I can say is good luck grinding it. :D
 
hank_rearden said:
should be easy with a diamond wheel. grinders might have to say goodbye to their belt grinders.
Click to expand...

Not that steel, the wheel wear would be high enough to add a lot to the cost of the blades in a production setting.... That's if they wanted to try and work with it.

Likely not even possible once the steel is hardened, or worth the effort given the alloy content.

Carbon 3.40 %
Chromium 4.00 %
Vanadium 9.50 %
Tungsten 10.00 %
Cobalt 9.00 %
Molybdenum 5.00 %
 
that tungsten and cobalt content is mind-blowing. it's basically a rock drill bit with a "little" iron in it. well, we used to sharpen and re-profile worn tungsten carbide bits. just takes a different kind of machine. and no, we didn't need diamond abrasives.
 
hank_rearden said:
that tungsten and cobalt content is mind-blowing. it's basically a rock drill bit with a "little" iron in it. well, we used to sharpen and re-profile worn tungsten carbide bits. just takes a different kind of machine. and no, we didn't need diamond abrasives.
Click to expand...


And on top of that the Vanadium content... ;)

Just trying to get makers to work with Steels like S110V, 10V and others in that range is difficult, REX 121 is a whole different ballpark.
 
I think the steel implement development had reach it peek since the steel like m390, elmax, xhp are available.

Any steel that surpassed this level would be too complicate and difficult to be worthy done as knife blade.

While ordinary knife people still cutting robe and cardboard i don't see any reason to achieve any freaking marvelous steel like Rex 121.
 
It's not about reason or need. We want this stuff. There's no need for 200+ mph supercars either. Folks just want to push the limits in their hobbies & will pay money to do so.
 
I couldn't see paying the price it would take for this steel to become a mule. It might be amazing but in my opinion it's not practical for a knife company to use. S125 would be bad enough. S110V at high hardness, or 10V/A11 at same would be the max anyone would want to take a knife. Even a mule team knife in the unique Spyderco program. Leave it to the brave custom artisans like Farid.

I'd rather have a mule in W2, or A2, PD-1, or Z-wear. W2 is an old, almost boring steel to some but it sure makes good knives with sharp, strong edges.

Joe
 
technology marches on and is quite unforgiving. it takes some genius to recognize a real collectible; often discovered only in hindsight when it's gone forever. not all riflemen thought the pre-64 model 70 winchester would be missed more than 50 years after it was discontinued. some were smart and bought as many as five more, in the same caliber, just before it was discontinued. but during its introduction? a good rifle, they thought. a bit on the pricey side but nothing too great.
 
The Mastiff said:
I couldn't see paying the price it would take for this steel to become a mule. It might be amazing but in my opinion it's not practical for a knife company to use. S125 would be bad enough. S110V at high hardness, or 10V/A11 at same would be the max anyone would want to take a knife. Even a mule team knife in the unique Spyderco program. Leave it to the brave custom artisans like Farid.

I'd rather have a mule in W2, or A2, PD-1, or Z-wear. W2 is an old, almost boring steel to some but it sure makes good knives with sharp, strong edges.

Joe
Click to expand...


I agree, the S110V, A11/10V range is about the limit of what would be cost effective in a production setting I think and even then that's pushing equipment wear to the limit as we are talking about extreme wear resistance at high hardness ranges in the Mid 60's. S110V and 10V/A11 at high hardness holds an edge and just keeps cutting forever as some that have had 1st hand experiences with those steels and really use their knives.

Once we get beyond that point into the S125V/15V range and up things start to get questionable.

It's different for the Custom guys who can make one knife at a time.
 
Last edited:
Sal Glesser said:
Have any of you tested this steel?

sal
Click to expand...

Recently, I was fortunate enough to find, and acquire a Mule that Farid made. I haven't performed extensive testing yet, but it's not been excessively difficult to sharpen up the existing bevel with a 1200 grit ATOMA diamond plate on the EP Pro.

I haven't tried to reprofile it yet, (and probably won't) but I now know that I can keep it sharp. I've had no chipping issues with it.

Perhaps if it was pushed to HRC 72, it would be too brittle, but Farid keeps it down to 68-70, and that seems to be a good compromise between hardness and toughness.

Since I use folders 95 percent of the time, I would very much like a 121 folder in order to gain more experience with the steel in day to day usage. That was why I asked about paying whatever was necessary to get a Millie in this steel.

Progress always continues. Perhaps 121 is still in the experimental stage as a cutlery steel today, but in 15-20 years, I truly believe that "truck stop" knives will use it.

And from Spyderco's history, I feel certain that when the first production 121 knife hits the dealer's shelves, it will be a Spyderco.:thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top