AEB-L vs 14C28N

[Doc Dan]

14C28N was developed to be a more stainless version of AEB-L, which is a tough steel. Any of you have direct experience with both?

I have both. What I can say is that maybe 14C28N has a little better edge retention, especially with a very sharp edge. They both seem to roll rather than chip, if I recall rightly.

[prndltech]

I don’t have anything with AEB-L, but before I learned about the magic of the thumb hole, like many, really only knew of Kershaw. Since I can’t really compare the 2, I’ll say I had really good experiences with the 14c28n in my kershaws and I loved it. I’m a big fan of 14c28n as well as 12c27n. Good corrosion resistance, easy to sharpen, good edge holding, good toughness... I have nothing bad to say about it.
They put it in a lot (or used to) of their knives for a reason, but I would even go a little further and say I’d rank it above the budget steel category. 14c28n is up there with vg-10 in my book. Not saying their the same... just that I love them both and I’d put them in the same category. It’s simply a great steel, more than adequate for regular EDC tasks, I saw many get abused in shops because the tool dealers used to sell kershaw blades. They held up just fine.

[JuPaul]

Same here - no experience with AEB-l, but I had a Kershaw Blur with 14c28n, and my husband still carries a Kershaw in that steel. Neither of us managed to chip those knives - and I'm really good at chipping stainless knives. 14c28n was easy to sharpen and held a decent edge compared to the other mostly budget steels I had at the time.

[TomAiello]

My only AEB-L experience is the Urban. I have several Kershaw Leeks in 14c28n, and Moras in 12c27 (which is supposed to be the same as AEB-L, isn't it?).

I'd say that 14c28n has improved edge retention over 12c27 or AEB-L, but I'm not comparing apples to apples, so it's really hard to say anything for sure.

[prndltech]

I'd say that 14c28n has improved edge retention over 12c27 or AEB-L, but I'm not comparing apples to apples, so it's really hard to say anything for sure.

Exactly. All my examples were so different from blade shape, to grind, to thickness behind the edge, totally different knives and sizes.... hard to say really.

[Doc Dan]

I should have noted that AEB-L and Sandvik 13C26 are the same steels some may have Kershaws in that steel.

[prndltech]

I should have noted that AEB-L and Sandvik 13C26 are the same steels some may have Kershaws in that steel.

Some here might. But that steel is in the hands (or pockets rather) of MANY people that aren’t on knife forums, aren’t knife people and have probably never sharpened it in the year or 2 they’ve been carrying it.

[Ez556]

No experience with AEB-L, but I love 14C28N, I’ve been nothing but impressed with it in the couple knives I have in it. I also like 12C27N in my Mora, and finding out that the Grasshopper has the same steel makes me want to give that model a try!

[prndltech]

I also like 12C27N in my Mora, and finding out that the Grasshopper has the same steel makes me want to give that model a try!

I see on the spyderco site that it says that. I can’t remember what mine says, I have the whole family of the small SS handled slippys. I’ll have to take a peak but I could have sworn they were marked with the 8cr or 3cr stamps

[TomAiello]

No experience with AEB-L, but I love 14C28N,

For sure.

The 14C28N Leeks are a great bargain at their $40-$50 price point. I've picked them up on sale down closer to $30 before.

[Ez556]

I also like 12C27N in my Mora, and finding out that the Grasshopper has the same steel makes me want to give that model a try!

I see on the spyderco site that it says that. I can’t remember what mine says, I have the whole family of the small SS handled slippys. I’ll have to take a peak but I could have sworn they were marked with the 8cr or 3cr stamps

I was going back and forth with someone in a different thread a while ago about that, in both 2018 and 2019 physical catalogs it lists 3cr as the steel for all 3 little SS bugs, but on Spyderco’s website as well as SOME retailers it lists the Grasshopper alone as 12c27, while a few retailers also listed 3cr like the catalogs. From a few that chimed it seemed like we determined that the Bug and Honeybee are 3cr, but the Grasshopper is indeed 12c27.

[prndltech]

I’ll have to pull them out and take a look. I haven’t used them, a local store had a price mix up and sold me all 3 for super cheap. I just added them to the collection and they’ve been sitting there.

[Doc Dan]

I also like 12C27N in my Mora, and finding out that the Grasshopper has the same steel makes me want to give that model a try!

I see on the spyderco site that it says that. I can’t remember what mine says, I have the whole family of the small SS handled slippys. I’ll have to take a peak but I could have sworn they were marked with the 8cr or 3cr stamps

I was going back and forth with someone in a different thread a while ago about that, in both 2018 and 2019 physical catalogs it lists 3cr as the steel for all 3 little SS bugs, but on Spyderco’s website as well as SOME retailers it lists the Grasshopper alone as 12c27, while a few retailers also listed 3cr like the catalogs. From a few that chimed it seemed like we determined that the Bug and Honeybee are 3cr, but the Grasshopper is indeed 12c27.

I think it is a typo on the website.

[Doc Dan]

I have two fixed blade knives in 14c28n and for my uses I have no complaints about this steel. It has been a while since I have used them so my memory may not be totally accurate, but I seem to remember that it holds an extreme sharp edge longer than D2 or S30V, but S30v holds a working edge far longer.

[Ez556]

I also like 12C27N in my Mora, and finding out that the Grasshopper has the same steel makes me want to give that model a try!

I see on the spyderco site that it says that. I can’t remember what mine says, I have the whole family of the small SS handled slippys. I’ll have to take a peak but I could have sworn they were marked with the 8cr or 3cr stamps

I was going back and forth with someone in a different thread a while ago about that, in both 2018 and 2019 physical catalogs it lists 3cr as the steel for all 3 little SS bugs, but on Spyderco’s website as well as SOME retailers it lists the Grasshopper alone as 12c27, while a few retailers also listed 3cr like the catalogs. From a few that chimed it seemed like we determined that the Bug and Honeybee are 3cr, but the Grasshopper is indeed 12c27.

I think it is a typo on the website.

I think it’s more than a typo, because it names the steel in the description on Spyderco’s website as well: “Its PlainEdge Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel blade stays open when you're cutting, held by resistant pressure at the knife's pivot area.“
Also...

This one definitely says 12C before it’s cut off by the handle. Some older pictures show 3 or 8cr on the blade, but this is a newer picture that I found with the markings readable. I hope they transition all the little SS bugs over to 12C27.

[prndltech]

This one definitely says 12C before it’s cut off by the handle. Some older pictures show 3 or 8cr on the blade, but this is a newer picture that I found with the markings readable. I hope they transition all the little SS bugs over to 12C27.

I fly to Florida tomorrow morning, so I gotta pack and get the house ready to go. I’ll be putting things in the safe, I’ll try to remember to pull all 3 and get back with you!

[Doc Dan]

I’d like to see how Spyderco would do 14c28n in a UKPK.but I think BD1N will out perform it. I don’t know because I don’t have that steel yet.

[TomAiello]

I'd love to see a 14c28n Urban or UKPK as a "mule-ish" knife. It would be great to get it in the Urban to do a straight across comparison with the AEB-L Urban.

[Kyle8734]

I haven't used the knife very much yet to figure out how it performs but I did just have Kurt test my AEB-L Urban and first hit was 59.1, second was 59.3