Para3 and PM2 in Maxamet - stonewash or satin ?

[elena86]

I am a Cruwear guy but all this hype about Maxamet made me curious.I am very tempted to purchase a Para3 or PM2 in Maxamet but the alleged stonewash finish might be a deal-breaker for me.Any idea if those two are going to be realeased in, hopefully, satin finish :confused:

Marius

[Ruudr]

As Eric Glesser said in a Shot Show video that the Maxamet steel is to hard for using the regular machines to produce the satin finish. The crisp lines are also very difficult to make because of the high hardness. On the Maxamet steel the edges are more round. Thats why they made the discision to give the blade a stonewash finish. I really like it on my Manix2 Maxamet.

[abbazaba]

Good info. I love the stonewashed finish on mine and theorized that the smoother finish helps with corrosion resistance, though maybe only in theory. Also like the rounded edges, gives it a nice feel.

[bdblue]

I don't like the thought of a manufacturer using a stonewash finish to hide problems with their grind, but if Spyderco is using it because it is necessary then I am fine with it. I have an older Manix 2 154CM hollow ground that has a stonewash/polished finish that is somewhat unique, the finish hasn't bothered me. I've been on the fence about the Manix 2 Maxamet due to its price. I will be a lot more interested in the PM2 version but the price will still be a big factor.

[curlyhairedboy]

I'm super pumped to know if the PM2 in maxamet will be stonewashed...

[Bloke]

I'm pretty exited about a PM2 Maxamet and thinking about the brass scales they sell at KC.

I reckon a natural patina and brass scales will make for a spiffy knife! :rolleyes:

[JRinFL]

I'm pretty exited about a PM2 Maxamet and thinking about the brass scales they sell at KC.

I reckon a natural patina and brass scales will make for a spiffy knife! :rolleyes:

Now you have me thinking about a special PM3 if they start to offer brass scales for the PM3!

[Bloke]

I'm pretty exited about a PM2 Maxamet and thinking about the brass scales they sell at KC.

I reckon a natural patina and brass scales will make for a spiffy knife! :rolleyes:

Now you have me thinking about a special PM3 if they start to offer brass scales for the PM3!

Overall undoubtedly it will add some weight but I don't think it will be too bad. The titanium lanyard tubes look interesting also. :)

[Popsickle]

As Eric Glesser said in a Shot Show video that the Maxamet steel is to hard for using the regular machines to produce the satin finish. The crisp lines are also very difficult to make because of the high hardness. On the Maxamet steel the edges are more round. Thats why they made the discision to give the blade a stonewash finish. I really like it on my Manix2 Maxamet.

Looks to me like EVERYTHING is rounded.... spydie hole, jimping, spine. Not exactly a bad thing

[PayneTrain]

I don't like the thought of a manufacturer using a stonewash finish to hide problems with their grind, but if Spyderco is using it because it is necessary then I am fine with it. ... I've been on the fence about the Manix 2 Maxamet due to its price. I will be a lot more interested in the PM2 version but the price will still be a big factor.

Hey bdblue, I think you find yourself facing quite a conundrum here. They could produce a Maxamet blade with the familiar satin finish, but the labor and abrasives they'd have to burn through would significantly raise the cost. You can see the level of difficulty in producing a fine satin finish just by looking at the knives you may already own. VG-10 comes with a near polish while S110V, at least on my Manix, has a finish visibly coarser than most anything else I own. It just takes longer on these high carbide steels and they wear down belts faster, and these costs will be reflected in the price we see. Stonewashing is clearly the more cost effective option for such a hard steel with so much abrasive wear resistance, but I happen to find it super attractive and if it keeps the price lower, even better!

[Koop]

[quote="bdblue"

Hey bdblue, I think you find yourself facing quite a conundrum here. They could produce a Maxamet blade with the familiar satin finish, but the labor and abrasives they'd have to burn through would significantly raise the cost. You can see the level of difficulty in producing a fine satin finish just by looking at the knives you may already own. VG-10 comes with a near polish while S110V, at least on my Manix, has a finish visibly coarser than most anything else I own. It just takes longer on these high carbide steels and they wear down belts faster, and these costs will be reflected in the price we see. Stonewashing is clearly the more cost effective option for such a hard steel with so much abrasive wear resistance, but I happen to find it super attractive and if it keeps the price lower, even better!

This is right on the mark. Not only does the price of the raw material - the steel used - affect the final cost. The cost of manufacturing must be factored in. It's not just the wear of grinding, but also the down time for maintenance when you're working high strength steels.