Anyone else love BD1N?

[samdasnake]

Where's Wartstein on this one? He's been loving BD1N on the manix 2 lw lately.

Well, Wartstein has to sleep from time to time (you posted this at 3:59 am where I live) :p :p

Sleep? Who does that anymore??

Seriously, though, I'm interested to see what will happen in the future with spyderco's use of bd1n and spy27. It seems like people are having (mostly) great sharpening experiences with both steels, but spy27 is edging out bd1n in edge retention. I wonder if both will stick around, especially now that we're about to have a model come out in both steels (the Manix 2 lightweight).

Well you can get the para3 LW in both steels right now. I have one in BD1N and I think it's a great steel. I've had absolutely no problems with it. Just waiting for the Para3LW in Spy27 to come back in stock at the SFO and I'll grab one so I can compare side by side (tho someone has probably already done this).

[JuPaul]

Where's Wartstein on this one? He's been loving BD1N on the manix 2 lw lately.

Well, Wartstein has to sleep from time to time (you posted this at 3:59 am where I live) :p :p

Sleep? Who does that anymore??

Seriously, though, I'm interested to see what will happen in the future with spyderco's use of bd1n and spy27. It seems like people are having (mostly) great sharpening experiences with both steels, but spy27 is edging out bd1n in edge retention. I wonder if both will stick around, especially now that we're about to have a model come out in both steels (the Manix 2 lightweight).

Well you can get the para3 LW in both steels right now. I have one in BD1N and I think it's a great steel. I've had absolutely no problems with it. Just waiting for the Para3LW in Spy27 to come back in stock at the SFO and I'll grab one so I can compare side by side (tho someone has probably already done this).

Right! Not sure how I forgot about the para 3 lw since I've had the bd1n model, and I currently have the spy27 model. :o Hopefully we'll see some comparison reviews.

[JuPaul]

The price difference is large enough that BD1N definitely still has a place in the line up. The only way I could see dropping it is if Spyderco brought in another mid-low range stainless for Golden models. Something like 14c28n would work, but it's similar enough to BD1N (at least in my use, and certainly in market placement) that the only reason to do that would be cost or availability.

That's a good point. On models like the Manix lw there is currently the base model in BD1N, then higher end models with s110v or maxamet. So spy27 would definitely fill the mid-range gap in the lineup normally occupied by s30v.

[Baron Mind]

Anyone remember if Larrin included bd1n in his budget steel article? I know 14c28n came out out top, but i cant remember if bd1n was included, and bd1n seems like an upgraded 14c28n.

Yes, he did! https://knifesteelnerds.com/2020/06/15/ ... ife-steel/

When it comes to edge retention:

BD1N (at a hardness close to 61): About "400" TCC (mm)" (No idea if this is the correct term)
14c28n (at a hardness of about 62): About "430 TCC"
VG10 (at a hardness close to 62): About "480 TCC"

I wonder why 14c28n would outscore bd1n on CATRA? BD1N has higher levels of carbon and chromium. More chromium carbides = greater wear resistance.

But alas, blade steel metallurgy is not always so clear cut. Sometimes the ratio of elements is more important than the quantities.

Hopefully Larrin can weigh in.

[TomAiello]

I wonder why 14c28n would outscore bd1n on CATRA? BD1N has higher levels of carbon and chromium. More chromium carbides = greater wear resistance.

The 14c28n tested was at 62 HRC, where the BD1N was at roughly 60.5 HRC. At least that's what it looks like to me, just roughly from eyeballing the graph. I wonder if that 1.5 HRC difference impacts the TCC?

[Doc Dan]

I wonder why 14c28n would outscore bd1n on CATRA? BD1N has higher levels of carbon and chromium. More chromium carbides = greater wear resistance.

The 14c28n tested was at 62 HRC, where the BD1N was at roughly 60.5 HRC. At least that's what it looks like to me, just roughly from eyeballing the graph. I wonder if that 1.5 HRC difference impacts the TCC?

I would like to see these two, plus VG10, hardened the same, and the blades and edge angles the same, and then tested.

[Pokey]

I just picked up a Manix 2 FRCP Blue with BD1N today. I lightly ran the blade over the fine Tri-Angles to smooth the edge. Other than that it was extremely sharp right out of the box. I have a UKPK sporting BD1N, too. So far I like the steel.

[Wartstein]

I wonder why 14c28n would outscore bd1n on CATRA? BD1N has higher levels of carbon and chromium. More chromium carbides = greater wear resistance.

The 14c28n tested was at 62 HRC, where the BD1N was at roughly 60.5 HRC. At least that's what it looks like to me, just roughly from eyeballing the graph. I wonder if that 1.5 HRC difference impacts the TCC?

That´s about what I eyeballed too (see my post above), but I don´t know to what exact amount this higher hardness enhances edge retention...

[Wartstein]

Well, Wartstein has to sleep from time to time (you posted this at 3:59 am where I live) :p :p - but here I am! :)

Well, we are always glad when you roll out of bed and have a few things to say. At least I am certainly.

Tom, thanks for your kind words :)

[PineyBoy]

Good to go!

[Cambertree]

I've been enjoying the steel in a PE and SE pair of Z-Cuts I got for comparison purposes.