|
October 11, 2002, 10:39 PM
|
#1 |
|
Member
Join Date: February 17, 2002
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Posts: 59
|
Good Steel?
I am looking for new knives for many different applications. One knife for everyday carry and another to add to my combat load. Anyway, I have bought many knives but not an expert on steel. Please list for me types of good steel for a knife like 420 hd or ATS 34. Why is one any better than another? Thanks for your help.
AIRBORNE! |
|
|
October 11, 2002, 11:55 PM
|
#2 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: November 22, 1999
Location: Germantown, MD
Posts: 2,349
|
I'm a big fan of ordinary high-carbon tool steels. O1 is my favorite, although good blades can be easily made from A2, 1095, and 5160 (the #1 steel for swords.) I also hear good things about Crucible CPM-3V.
Damn few stainless steels will even come close to the toughness and edgeholding of a good carbon steel blade. They stay shiny, though. I've made a few knives from O1 (Starrett No. 496, if you care) and found it very easy to work and forgiving to heat treat. I heat treat my knives almost glass-hard along the edge (Rc 62) and draw the temper down towards the spine (around Rc 56-57.) This makes for a very tough knife that can handle a lot of prying, poking, and chopping, but which has an edge that gets scary sharp and stays this way a long time. Short version - look for a knife made of a high-carbon steel (not a high-carbon stainless steel) and query the manufacturer about their heat-treat process. - Chris
__________________
"There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him." – Robert Heinlein "Contrary to popular belief, your vote does not matter, and you cannot make a difference." - Bob Murphy, "Picking Neither of Two Evils" My PGP Public Key |
|
|
|
October 12, 2002, 06:31 AM
|
#3 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: February 16, 1999
Location: Brandon, FL USA
Posts: 102
|
__________________
"Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."--Ronald Reagan |
|
|
|
October 12, 2002, 01:36 PM
|
#4 |
|
Member
Join Date: October 12, 2002
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 26
|
If you like swords, check out www.atar.com. The smith, Jim Hrisoulas, is a good friend of mine and has writted a few books on the subject. If you talk to him directly, get him to talk about historical sword designs. The guy is a fountain of information once you get him going.
__________________
Cheers, Joe Gonzalez |
|
|
|
October 12, 2002, 05:30 PM
|
#5 |
|
Member
Join Date: August 21, 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 82
|
go post this on www.bladeforums.com you will get all the info you need. Personally i would go with S30V for stainless and either L6 or D2 for carbon steel.
|
|
|
|
October 13, 2002, 11:02 PM
|
#6 |
|
Member
Join Date: February 17, 2002
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Posts: 59
|
Thank you for your replies. Great info.
AIRBORNE! |
|
|
|
October 13, 2002, 11:07 PM
|
#7 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: August 30, 2002
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 219
|
I'm selling a knife posted in the gear forum made of 52-100 steel. It's a high-carbon steel (not stainless) that is very tough and easy to sharpen.
__________________
I like guns. |
|
|
|
October 15, 2002, 09:07 AM
|
#8 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: July 27, 2000
Location: Over the Hills and Through the Woods, Tennessee
Posts: 1,207
|
Check out this link. http://www.agrussell.com/rec.knives/steel.html
My favorites? I'm partial to stainless just because of less maintenance and better appearance IMO. I like the following: VG-10 ATS-34/154 CM CPM 440V I've also been impressed by Cold Steel's Carbon V (whatever it is). I would like to try a knife in D2.
__________________
Gun control should just be about hitting your target. |
|
|
 |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
