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Blade steels

vance

January 22, 2013 15:34

Alright, we know what we want to play with but we want to hear from you.

What steels (or even non-ferrous metals) would you like to see us play with? Why? What is it about that material that you're interested in for use in a knife?

Pete's itching to start testing some new materials in the Laboratory; so let's hear it!

Comments

169 comments

otacon

January 22, 2013 15:38
s90v, I love how long it holds and edge and its corrosion resistance. I feel there are many here that agree.

Please and thank you.
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dj

January 22, 2013 15:51
quote:

Originally posted by Korzs30v:
s90v, I love how long it holds and edge and its corrosion resistance. I feel there are many here that agree.

Please and thank you.

Ditto ....and or S110V
It would be nice (very) to start using it in at least a few LE,s ......
Preferably a 740 Lum LE
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presser

January 22, 2013 16:21
+1 on the S110V
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joekarp

January 22, 2013 16:23
I'd like some play time and feedback on S35V as a replacement for S30V, and yes, also for S90V please.
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dingo

January 22, 2013 17:28
How about SM-100? No other production companies offer it, it's seriously high performance stuff.
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sharpener1969

January 22, 2013 17:29
be unique , although all the steels mention are highly desirable.To Me. I want Benchmade to come up with something they can say they collaborated to create. I told a friend recently who was buying a harley model some people don't like having harley on a knife. I then explained my take on it, it doesn't matter whether benchmade is on the knife. As long as its in the knife. Honestly these new forums are the smartest things you guys could have done to improve your customer bases loyalty. Now get Les to say hi once in a while and I for 1 will get a tear in my eye. I want to see you guys keep moving forwards. Increase production and lower cost > J/K
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theoneandonly

January 22, 2013 17:40
Have you ever considered coming up with a "proprietary" steel? Something that would be unique to the BM brand, that would be cool. Other than that, how about talonite?
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chaz90

January 22, 2013 17:52
I know there have been some warping issues with M390, and a possible alternative I've loved on another knife may be CTS204P. I'm certain you've considered it, but I've been very pleased with it's performance.
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deathofallthings

January 22, 2013 18:36
I like the s90v idea, on say a 940...
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deathofallthings

January 22, 2013 21:35
Also, what was that really hard stuff? CPM REX-121? Might be cool for something.
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skimo

January 22, 2013 22:32
The new heat treat M4 is great, I guess I get to thank you lab guys for that!
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po

January 22, 2013 23:18
There have been a number of Ti/composite blades on production knives now, and of course most of us knife nuts here are familiar with the work of Warren Thomas. Any interest at Benchmade in exploring Ti or Ti/composite blades?

Seems that a lot can be done to enhance the edge performance with carbidizing the edge and so forth. Perhaps there are other processes that might even enhance edge holding further that aren't commonly used in knife making yet...

I have a couple a Ti/composite blades for special applications (hideouts), but I've always thought a small Ti neck knife would be ideal to carry hiking, cycling, or during any active persuit.

Thank you!
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something

January 22, 2013 23:28
S90V would be at the top of my list.

I'd also like to see CTS-XHP and some of the other Carpenter steels.
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geocyclist

January 23, 2013 00:35
+10 to S90V

I would be interested in a common test knife (like the Spyderco Mule series). I would like a fixed blade always the same geometry in different steel types to have a consistent blade shape for testing sharpness, etc. If you do this please include an option to buy scales for it. The standard Griptilian would also be a great vehicle for this.
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David Lerman Contractor

January 23, 2013 01:18
I think we need a run of M4 grips...un coated...just to shut us up.
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different

January 23, 2013 01:29
I want some high end stainless steel on a full sized griptilian with g10 scales. m390 would work or even better would be s90v. I really like s90v. s110v would be nice too but might price it out of my budget.

I really like some of the Carpenter steels, too.
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different

January 23, 2013 01:29
Also, I have zero interest in composite blades. they look silly to me, and I know they cost way more to make than just using the good steel for the whole thing.
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something

January 23, 2013 01:46
quote:

Originally posted by w30hammer:
I think we need a run of M4 grips...un coated...just to shut us up.

I like this idea!
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sonnyc 2

January 23, 2013 02:56
I'd like to see Benchmade come up with a laminated steel blade using M390 sandwiched in between something like 420C or another soft stainless steel; that would be competitive with ZDP-189 with 420C.
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vance

January 23, 2013 15:27
Great stuff here. Keep it up!
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bchan77

January 24, 2013 01:08
I support and applaud:

(1) the higher hardness of the new M4 blades and would like to express my thanks to the production folks;
(2) the idea of a common test knife model similar to the Spyderco Mule project for steel performance comparison;
(3) the production of an uncoated M4 knife (even if as a limited run/special forum knife 2013?) for the knife nuts and
(4) the patience and enthusiasm the Benchmade crew have shown in this subforum.
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geocyclist

January 24, 2013 01:22
M4 in the custom Grip shop. With black cerakote and/or other coating options. I think M4 would out sell S30V and D2 as the high end steel.
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taxesblow

January 24, 2013 01:43
I have always wondered why Benchmade has not done some gold class knives in ZDP-189 Super Steel, the so called Ferrari of blade steels.

Rockwell 67 is awesome.

Edge retention and corrosion resistance are off the charts.

Polished out it will do push cuts through phone books. Saw that demo at blade last year. They handed me the knife and I pushed it through a phone book myself.

http://www.shinsakuto.net/ZDP.pdf
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skimo

January 24, 2013 03:59
I was hoping that would be a video of you making the cut!
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presser

January 24, 2013 05:18
Rockwell 67 ??? !!!

(this is just a knee jerk reaction but)... wouldn't that be brittle as hell and unsharpenable by common means? of course it might never lose its edge anyway, lol.

don't mind me.
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skimo

January 24, 2013 05:30
ZDP is good stuff.
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loonybin

January 24, 2013 06:14
Elmax makes a great knife steel!

You could also bring more business to American companies such as... oh, I don't know... Carpenter?
CTS-204P instead of M390 (or Latrobe Duratech 20CV)
CTS-XHP
CTS-20CP
CTS-BD1 could be used in the Lone Wolf line.

Maybe a nitrogen-strengthened steel of some kind?
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vance

January 24, 2013 15:57
quote:

Originally posted by loonybin:
You could also bring more business to American companies such as... oh, I don't know... Carpenter?

Exactly my thought.
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loonybin

January 24, 2013 17:08
quote:

Originally posted by Vance:

quote:

Originally posted by loonybin:
You could also bring more business to American companies such as... oh, I don't know... Carpenter?

Exactly my thought.

Good to hear! If you can't get the warping issues with M390 resolved and don't switch to Carpenter or Latrobe versions of it, switching to Elmax won't be much of a loss...
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bchan77

January 24, 2013 17:22
While we are at it, Vance, perhaps you can confirm/clarify (if you are allowed to do so) whether the rumor that BM are having warping issues with M390 is true or not, and whether BM are dropping this steel for good. Thanks.
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