K-294 is the Bohler equivalent of PMA11 and CPM 10V and is an outstanding steel in my opinion. A while back I submitted a letter to Sal and Eric specifically asking for K-294 in a Mule. They were way ahead of me and already had the PMA11 Mule in production but not yet released.Tucson Tom wrote:Thanks for giving your thoughts. They are interesting because you are moving in the direction I was/am moving in when I first started this thread. I have been impressed with M4 and my mule in PMA11 and those blades are making me rethink my views on knife steels.El Gato wrote: I am pretty much "odd man out" here I believe. I have no need for corrosion resistance, and as for my blades, I much prefer a good non-stainless steel like PMA11, K-390, and Maxamet, those being my current favorites. I fully appreciate that others have their own preferences and reasons for them, and that is as it should be.
Dave
From what I have read on K390, it is the European (Bohler?) take on PMA11 (and maybe 10V is another equivalent). Apart from the PMA11 mule, the only Spyderco using one of these steels that I know about is the new Police. This is a knife that I haven't felt an urge to have. The military seems plenty big enough, but this could wander into another topic. Hopefully we will see more blades with K390 or PMA11 in the lineup, or maybe Spyderco feels that Maxamet fills that niche (but if so, why the Police in K390 -- maybe it is better for such a big blade?).
We are both in southern Arizona, so that perhaps is part of why we don't feel a need for corrosion resistance. And like you, there is something about a skill like sharpening that challenges and interests me, so I am willing to fuss with my knives, and all the more so as my skills improve. However, M4 and PMA11 seem to do really well at holding an edge, so there is no crying need to fuss with these edges on a regular basis. I'll be trying Maxamet one of these days.
(I should have known!!)
I'm glad you like your PMA11 Mule. I sure like mine, but then my Mules are my usual edc knives most days.
Be careful about getting a Maxamet blade. That steel could spoil you ..... :)
Just for fun here's a link to Bohler K-294. Click on the Data Sheet link on the website for more info.
http://www.bucorp.com/k294_microclean_c.htm
Dave