They brag about being made of stainless steel.
However stainless alloys are NOT the best thing
for ultra-sharp knives. Too soft.
Now something like 1% carbon steel - THAT'S what
you want for the best knives ... if tempered
properly. O2, or some of the air-hardened alloys.
Yes, it CAN rust - so you have to maintain it
properly. Gain goes along with some pain.
These commercials remind me of the old old
"Ginsu Knives" ... where they showed them
cutting aluminum cans and then thin-slicing
tomatoes and such. Yea, maybe ONCE.
I actually HAVE a few of the old 'Ginsu'
knives. They stay in the drawer, haven't
used them in 30+ years. No way to decently
sharpen them.
Camp knives and such - try Randall Knives
(Orlando, FL). THE Best - and you'll PAY
for it. Fav of commandos and astronauts
and anyone else who has to do real stuff
in the field. No, they don't do folders.
Le 2023-07-23 à 23:52, 36J.256 a écrit :
They brag about being made of stainless steel.
However stainless alloys are NOT the best thing
for ultra-sharp knives. Too soft.
Now something like 1% carbon steel - THAT'S what
you want for the best knives ... if tempered
properly. O2, or some of the air-hardened alloys.
Yes, it CAN rust - so you have to maintain it
properly. Gain goes along with some pain.
These commercials remind me of the old old
"Ginsu Knives" ... where they showed them
cutting aluminum cans and then thin-slicing
tomatoes and such. Yea, maybe ONCE.
I actually HAVE a few of the old 'Ginsu'
knives. They stay in the drawer, haven't
used them in 30+ years. No way to decently
sharpen them.
Camp knives and such - try Randall Knives
(Orlando, FL). THE Best - and you'll PAY
for it. Fav of commandos and astronauts
and anyone else who has to do real stuff
in the field. No, they don't do folders.
Quite right. Actually carbon steel knives are making a comeback. Some
brands offer for a given model, the possibility for buying it in a
stainless steel version and a carbon steel version. Case in point
Morakniv. I had a talk recently with a guy in the military at the local
gun shop as he was getting ready to buy a knife. When I observed he was looking over carbon steel knives he said most of his buddies were going
for carbon steel for their personal knives. Anyone who has had to
sharpen a stainless steel knife in the field will tell you no stainless
steel knife comes close to a good carbon steel blade.
On 7/24/23 8:49 AM, Chasseur wrote:
Le 2023-07-23 à 23:52, 36J.256 a écrit :
They brag about being made of stainless steel.
However stainless alloys are NOT the best thing
for ultra-sharp knives. Too soft.
Now something like 1% carbon steel - THAT'S what
you want for the best knives ... if tempered
properly. O2, or some of the air-hardened alloys.
Yes, it CAN rust - so you have to maintain it
properly. Gain goes along with some pain.
These commercials remind me of the old old
"Ginsu Knives" ... where they showed them
cutting aluminum cans and then thin-slicing
tomatoes and such. Yea, maybe ONCE.
I actually HAVE a few of the old 'Ginsu'
knives. They stay in the drawer, haven't
used them in 30+ years. No way to decently
sharpen them.
Camp knives and such - try Randall Knives
(Orlando, FL). THE Best - and you'll PAY
for it. Fav of commandos and astronauts
and anyone else who has to do real stuff
in the field. No, they don't do folders.
Quite right. Actually carbon steel knives are making a comeback. Some
brands offer for a given model, the possibility for buying it in a
stainless steel version and a carbon steel version. Case in point
Morakniv. I had a talk recently with a guy in the military at the
local gun shop as he was getting ready to buy a knife. When I observed
he was looking over carbon steel knives he said most of his buddies
were going for carbon steel for their personal knives. Anyone who has
had to sharpen a stainless steel knife in the field will tell you no
stainless steel knife comes close to a good carbon steel blade.
Yep, no comparison, "real steel" rules.
Actually I wrote Randall-Made and asked if they still
do "real steel" but never got back a reply. Their SS
is very good - and you'll pay about $500 for it - but
still, I'd rather have the good old stuff. Just wipe
it with an oil cloth once in a while ...
The TRICK is finding those who actually know how to
properly heat-treat tool steels. Knives are tricky,
esp near the tip. The common under $100 knives are
usually either gonna snap or be too soft. Modern
methods using induction heating can theoretically
yield superior results, IF .....
And no, can't afford a 1000-times-folded Samurai-style
blade forged by a master ... can't be many of those
around :-)
Actually I wrote Randall-Made and asked if they still do "real steel"
but never got back a reply. Their SS is very good - and you'll pay
about $500 for it - but still, I'd rather have the good old stuff.
Just wipe it with an oil cloth once in a while ...
On Mon, 24 Jul 2023 22:06:15 -0400, 36J.256 wrote:
Actually I wrote Randall-Made and asked if they still do "real steel"
but never got back a reply. Their SS is very good - and you'll pay
about $500 for it - but still, I'd rather have the good old stuff.
Just wipe it with an oil cloth once in a while ...
My Model 5 is 'real steel'. Stainless is an extra cost option on many of
the models. Some of the models like the carving knife and the dive knife
are SS.
You'll pay around $500 for most of the models and see it sometime in 2027
if you order now.
On 7/24/23 11:57 PM, rbowman wrote:
On Mon, 24 Jul 2023 22:06:15 -0400, 36J.256 wrote:
Actually I wrote Randall-Made and asked if they still do "real
steel"
but never got back a reply. Their SS is very good - and you'll pay >>> about $500 for it - but still, I'd rather have the good old stuff. >>> Just wipe it with an oil cloth once in a while ...
My Model 5 is 'real steel'. Stainless is an extra cost option on many of
the models. Some of the models like the carving knife and the dive knife
are SS.
You'll pay around $500 for most of the models and see it sometime in 2027
if you order now.
Looking over their site today, it REALLY looks like
they've gone 100% SS. Long back they offered O-1
blades, an oldie but goodie (if done right), but I
think that's just no more.
SS alloys HAVE improved ... but they're STILL not
the equal of some old carbon-steel alloys for blades.
(I do not claim to be an expert. Metallurgy gets DEEP
pretty damned quick. However I do try to keep up a
little)
As for 2027 ... mostly right - though the 'camp'
models are most popular and you can often get them
in just a year or two. Randall-Made is HAND-MADE,
not stamped-out and robot-processed. Takes TIME.
As they say, you get what you pay for. If you
ever imagine some disaster/Mad-Max possibility
then you'd want a Randall-Made on your belt.
1/4" well-tempered stock - it's NOT gonna break
on you during the Zombie Apocalypse.
Now the $19.95 stuff on TV ..... :-)
Looking over their site today, it REALLY looks like they've gone 100%
SS. Long back they offered O-1 blades, an oldie but goodie (if done
right), but I think that's just no more.
On Tue, 25 Jul 2023 01:35:48 -0400, 36J.256 wrote:100%
Looking over their site today, it REALLY looks like they've gone
easier toSS. Long back they offered O-1 blades, an oldie but goodie (if done
right), but I think that's just no more.
https://www.randallknives.com/faqs/
01 Carbon Tool or Stainless Steel – Should I order my knife with a carbon or a stainless steel blade?
This is one of the most common questions we get. We feel that high carbon tool steel holds a better edge by about 10 percent and it’s much
hone. Stainless, however, is more resistant to corrosion and staining, so it’s generally the better choice for use in humid or saltwaterconditions.
Consider how frequently you’ll use and hone your knife–and where you’llhttps://www.randallknives.com/extra-features/
use it–then decide which material is best for you.>
STAINLESS STEEL BLADE
A special high carbon (1.00%) stainless steel not obtainable in ordinary knives. The same stainless steel specified by NASA for knives used by
Gemini astronauts. Immune to the effects of saltwater. Designated with an
S. Standard on Models 6, 10, 16, #16-7 SP#1, 17, 22, 24 and 28. Available
on Models 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 (6") (8"), 13 (6"), 14, 15, 18,
19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26 and 27.
3" - 5 1/2" blade and Model 9 -- $65.00
5 3/4" - 8" blade -- $75.00
#12-9" #14GR -- $85.00
https://www.randallknives.com/catalog-models/
If it doesn't say stainless it ain't.
Boy - they buried THAT deep !
Every picture I looked at was clearly SS.
But, it's great they haven't given up on O1.
Alas three+ years IS a long time to wait ...
On Tue, 25 Jul 2023 20:55:19 -0400, 36J.256 wrote:
Boy - they buried THAT deep !
Every picture I looked at was clearly SS.
But, it's great they haven't given up on O1.
Alas three+ years IS a long time to wait ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY5MOUO464Q
I think it was closer to 4 for mine and I blame it all on Guy Clark. I've
got enough knives to open a cutlery store so it's not like I was chewing
my way through tree limbs in the meantime.
It's not like it's an EDC knife. Right now a Cold Steel Recon 1 is in my pocket. It's a little closer to my usual budget and I don't worry about
wear and tear.
On Tue, 25 Jul 2023 01:35:48 -0400, 36J.256 wrote:
Looking over their site today, it REALLY looks like they've gone 100%
SS. Long back they offered O-1 blades, an oldie but goodie (if done
right), but I think that's just no more.
https://www.randallknives.com/faqs/
01 Carbon Tool or Stainless Steel – Should I order my knife with a carbon or a stainless steel blade?
This is one of the most common questions we get. We feel that high carbon tool steel holds a better edge by about 10 percent and it’s much easier to hone. Stainless, however, is more resistant to corrosion and staining, so it’s generally the better choice for use in humid or saltwater conditions. Consider how frequently you’ll use and hone your knife–and where you’ll use it–then decide which material is best for you.
https://www.randallknives.com/extra-features/
STAINLESS STEEL BLADE
A special high carbon (1.00%) stainless steel not obtainable in ordinary knives. The same stainless steel specified by NASA for knives used by
Gemini astronauts. Immune to the effects of saltwater. Designated with an
S. Standard on Models 6, 10, 16, #16-7 SP#1, 17, 22, 24 and 28. Available
on Models 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 (6") (8"), 13 (6"), 14, 15, 18,
19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26 and 27.
3" - 5 1/2" blade and Model 9 -- $65.00
5 3/4" - 8" blade -- $75.00
#12-9" #14GR -- $85.00
https://www.randallknives.com/catalog-models/
If it doesn't say stainless it ain't.
The Buck steel is NOT very great. Indeed I wore out a couple of 110's
(older 425M steel) over the years, sharpening until the hard
edge-steel was worn back to the softer stuff. The skinny tip was
always a worry too. These days the 110's seem to make people nervous,
a bit too big and scary. The slightly smaller ones go unnoticed. IMHO
the Browning is a bit "better".
On Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:53:46 -0400, 36J.256 wrote:
The Buck steel is NOT very great. Indeed I wore out a couple of 110's
(older 425M steel) over the years, sharpening until the hard
edge-steel was worn back to the softer stuff. The skinny tip was
always a worry too. These days the 110's seem to make people nervous,
a bit too big and scary. The slightly smaller ones go unnoticed. IMHO
the Browning is a bit "better".
I've got a 110 that's about 40 years old and I bought a 50th anniversary model just because. The old one is a little short and has a different
profile after I snapped the tip off trying to pry a staple out of a fence post.
For scary, try a Spyderco Police > https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details/C07/Police-Model-trade-Stainless/
2
Spyderco was one of the first knives to incorporate a pocket clip. The problem with the Bucks was catching the sheath on stuff and the clip idea sounded good. Spyderco had a number of smaller models but the problem is
I'm left handed and they weren't ambidextrous. Since the Police has the
clip screwed on rather than molded I could order a left handed model.
Now everybody has clips but I still have to be careful. Most can be
switched for point up or point down carry but not all are ambi. For
example:
https://kershaw.kaiusa.com/leek.html
I thought I could drill and tap it myself but the frame lock steel is
tough.
Anyway, the Browning I mentioned DOES seem to have better steel and
the tip isn't so delicate. Alas it does not have a pommel good for
hammering stuff - though it's pointy enough to seriously hurt if you
whammed it into someone's skull. Hmm ... maybe I could make a
'hammer' end ...
On Wed, 26 Jul 2023 22:19:39 -0400, 36J.256 wrote:
Anyway, the Browning I mentioned DOES seem to have better steel and
the tip isn't so delicate. Alas it does not have a pommel good for
hammering stuff - though it's pointy enough to seriously hurt if you
whammed it into someone's skull. Hmm ... maybe I could make a
'hammer' end ...
https://www.kabar.com/products/product.jsp?item=BK2
I've got one of those for light trail clearing. Delicate ain't in its vocabulary. There are bigger ones in the Becker family but this is a good compromise.
What seems harder to find is an actual super-decent
FOLDER - something you can wear without the cops getting upset. Yea,
there's the b110/112 and even that Browning, but they're just FAIR
folders. The steel is not top grade and the mechanisms are a bit
balky sometimes. As I said, I really like the "traditional" design,
not those 'skeleton' all-metal knives. The Bucks also DO make fair
hammers, and sometimes you need a hammer as much as a blade
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