ZT 550 with Vanax 35 questions...

T

termiteslayer

Joined
Dec 18, 2009
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How easy is it to sharpen and maintain this steel? Similar to INFI, Elmax, D2... ?
It should outperform M390 - correct?
ZT 301 or 551 for hiking/backpacking stuff... which is it (weight isn't an issue to me)?
Break down and rebuild - easy/pain in the butt?
My 301 is pretty freakin' stout, should it fear the 551?

Any testimonials?
 
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Yep, I saw the megathreads. I started to get lost with the distractions in the threads, sorry... it's genetic.
Just hoping for a few cut to the chase comments.
 
The 0551 has an ELMAX blade. The future full production release called the 0550 will have a Vanax 35 blade.

The 0551's ELMAX steel is pretty impressive. I can't really tell you if ELMAX outperforms Boehler M390. I've found them to both pretty much perform the same with some of the mundane tasks I've put them both through. Hiking/backpacking I would prefer the 0551. Breakdown and rebuild doesn't get much easier unless you're breaking down a Sebenza. In my honest opinion.... All "tough" production folders need to fear the ZT0551.
 
Just got an email from knifeworks...
"The ZT0551 folding knife features a bullet-tough blade of Uddeholm Vanax 35 stainless steel."

I earlier claimed that I was done buying knives.
Not sure why I said that...
 
termiteslayer said:
Just got an email from knifeworks...
"The ZT0551 folding knife features a bullet-tough blade of Uddeholm Vanax 35 stainless steel."

I earlier claimed that I was done buying knives.
Not sure why I said that...
Click to expand...

Negative. The 0550 will have the Vanax 35. the 0551 was the sprint with ELMAX.
 
termiteslayer said:
Just got an email from knifeworks...
"The ZT0551 folding knife features a bullet-tough blade of Uddeholm Vanax 35 stainless steel."

I earlier claimed that I was done buying knives.
Not sure why I said that...
Click to expand...

Knifeworks is wrong. The sprint run ZT0551 has an ELMAX blade and the upcoming full production ZT0550 will have a Vanax 35 blade.

Is there an echo in here? :D
 
Tony8179 said:
The 0551's ELMAX steel is pretty impressive. I can't really tell you if ELMAX outperforms Boehler M390. I've found them to both pretty much perform the same with some of the mundane tasks I've put them both through. Hiking/backpacking I would prefer the 0551. Breakdown and rebuild doesn't get much easier unless you're breaking down a Sebenza. In my honest opinion.... All "tough" production folders need to fear the ZT0551.
Click to expand...

M390 will out perform ELMAX by about 25% at the same RC hardness.

M390 is Bohler's high end steel.
 
Ankerson said:
M390 will out perform ELMAX by about 25% at the same RC hardness.

M390 is Bohler's high end steel.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you can take this man's word for it. I would. :thumbup: With my limited experience with both steels they have held up beautifully.
 
I agree with tony concerning Ankerson. Ankerson has tested steels enough to know what he is talking about, plus, he is a N.C. boy!!:thumbup::)
 
Ankerson said:
M390 will out perform ELMAX by about 25% at the same RC hardness.
Click to expand...

Can you explain this please? I'm not saying your wrong, I just wonder what this means.

When you quantify something to the point of saying it's x% better, I take that to mean you put the two materials through the same tests while eliminating as many variables as possible, and then compared the results of the two tests.

Again, I'm not saying you're wrong. I would just like details.
Thanks
 
Mr .44 Spl said:
Can you explain this please? I'm not saying your wrong, I just wonder what this means.

When you quantify something to the point of saying it's x% better, I take that to mean you put the two materials through the same tests while eliminating as many variables as possible, and then compared the results of the two tests.

Again, I'm not saying you're wrong. I would just like details.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Yep, that's what I did. ;)

Thread is in the Testing section, raw data will never be released to the public.

That wasn't what the thread was about, but my data tells me there is a ~ 25% difference between the 2 steels.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=793185
 
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Ankerson said:
M390 will out perform ELMAX by about 25% at the same RC hardness.
Click to expand...
Out perform (edge retention) at "max" hardness... It should be mentioned that Phil likes to bring/test steel at Rc levels that push to the peak of each individual steels hardness.

I don't know any production company max hardening either steel, or any steel. Since the OP was specifically identifying steels in a production folder, you may have considered making a disclaimer in this thread vs. the results of your specific testing of the two steels (ELMAX - M390) within the link. Your statement above may be a tad broad here, and could lead one to think it is actual fact under every circumstance. Additionally, I didn't see the trade offs when max hardening mentioned which seems responsible considering the statement. .

If you have done testing on both steels at multiple Rc levels and edge geometries with the same 25% increased "performance", I'll go ahead and apologize in advance, although we all have opinions on not only the validity of specific tests, but how the results transfer vs real world applications. :) Perhaps that's for another thread though...no wait, sorry, I guess that's been"discussed" too many times as it is.
 
termiteslayer you should edit the title of this thread from 0551 to 0550.It's misleading.
 
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