New review posted after a long break. Spending most of the free time on the knife steel chart upgrades development. Had the Muscle for a while now, finally got around to my notes and put together a review. I'll try to organize time better, but damn there's still a lot to do for the steel chart. Anyway, cool knife, a real brute of a folder, but I like it quite a bit. Details in the review.
Sunday, July 19, 2020 21:43:32
Hopefully this goes through quickly, will post details once it's approved and in the app store for DL.
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 21:29:40
Not exactly a new steel, but it is Shun exclusive alloy, and as it happens with exclusives and proprietary stuff, composition remained a mystery for a while. TO be precise, VG-max first appeared in 2013, and I just received the composition from a reader, who in turn got it from Shun themselves. For the details head for the link.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 10:04:24
It's been a few years since I've added the original entry, things have changes, new developments occurred. Specifically, Spyderco produces several folders using Maxamet, at 67-68HRFC, I do plan to get my hands on one for sure.
Monday, July 29, 2019 21:13:17
new steel, by VBN components, introduced in 2017. Very high working hardness, 70-72HRC range. One of the very few alloys that can do achiever that level, e.g. Crucible CPM Rex 121 steel. Overall, very interesting and promising alloy, though as I see main obstacle in making knives out of it is the 3d printing technology used by VBN to make anything out of it. Unless they accept orders on knife blanks, or makers get suitable 3d printers.
Wednesday, July 24, 2019 16:51:55
Finally, after a long break, back to knife reviewing, at least to some extent. Backlog is like 40 knives already, but site migration and mobile apps maintenance took all the free time I had. Anyway, Tojiro DP F-807 Gyuto, a little, cute, 180mm(7.09") blade, from well known and respected for its exceptional price/performance ratio, DP line. Run full set of tests, the knife performed superbly. Sure, on many occasions I'd rather have a longer gyuto, but that's just me :) Read on for details.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 21:48:12
Dug up one more unreleased steel from Larrin's knifesteelnerds.com, see reference article - New Steel Bohler M398 The New King of Edge Retention?. Looks like Elmax steel on steroids. More Carbon, More Vanadium, More Chromium and Molybdenum. Very high carbide volume steel, which apparently was the design goal. Patented alloy, except the patent is 10 years old and the steel still has not been released. We don't know whether or not it will be released either...
Monday, June 24, 2019 22:01:05
When entering Vasco Die steel composition I've made a mistake, missed Molybdenum to be precise. After Larrin reviewed the entry he pointed out the mistake, which I fixed now. That makes Vasco Die a direct predecessor of the Crucible CPM 3V steel, which is just a PM version of the Vasco Die, and I've grouped them together.
Friday, June 21, 2019 20:42:30
While browsing Larrin's knifesteelnerds.com found an unreleased alloy - Crucible CPM S145V steel. Composition is borderline insane, 3.20% Carbon, 14.50% Vanadium and 14% Chromium. That thing sure would hold the edge for abrasive wear resistance. Well, unreleased sadly, so we might never know, but who knows, might get released too.
Thursday, June 20, 2019 19:15:47
Zapp's own alloy, confirming to AISI A11 tool steel specification. Actual composition is identical to Crucible CPM 10V steel. Very high wear resistance steel, used in light/medium cutters. I did have a chance to use and review couple blades made from that alloy group, both by Phil Wilson by the way. They can be found here: K294 steel - Phil Wilson Bow River knife review and CPM 10V steel - Phil Wilson Utility Hunter knife review
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 22:45:45