School me on super blue...

[ero2]

Just got what I think is a smoking deal on a Stretch in super blue. This knife feels like it was made for my hand, and in, from everything I've read, an amazing steel, but...sounds like it is a "needy" steel as well. Any recommendations on upkeep/care for it from people with them? Worth it, or prefer a steel that needs less care?

[farnorthdan]

Not sure how much schooling I can do but can say its one of my favorite steels and the Stretch is a great platform to enjoy it. I carry my SB manbug every day. Pobably my favorite piece done is the Caly, both the 3 and 3.5.

Super easy to sharpen and gets wicked sharp, of course being a high carbon steel it patina's fast so there is that. I dig a nice patina so it doesn't bother me at all, they look great with some miles on.

[Bloke]

What Dan said! :)

Wish I had a SuperBlue Stretch! :rolleyes:

[awa54]

As mentioned above, Hitachi Blue Super is easy to sharpen to a fantastic polished edge, but it *will* rust with little provocation.

I Like the *idea* of the Stretch, but it has never clicked with me, even in SB The SB Manbug is another story :D

I came to the Sprint run game just a few months too late to score a Delica or D'fly and I can't really justify getting one at current asking prices, when I have both those knives in HAP40 *and* ZDP-189...

[Doc Dan]

I use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly on my Super Blue. It protects it very, very well, and it is food safe.

[The Mastiff]

I agree with the above remarks on Super Blue. It makes great knives IMO. It does take a bit more work than stainless steels but it's worth it. The tungsten in it gives it a bunch more wear resistance than a plain carbon steel has and it has a nice bite to the edge.

I make sure the knife is clean of anything acidic/corrosive, dry it then use a layer of paste wax. That pretty much keeps it looking like new . When I need to I can repeat in under 2 minutes now and it stores in the box without any fear of corrosion. It's well worth the extra minutes I give it . It's also wonderful to sharpen and does well with whatever type edge you care to put on it.

The Stretch is laminated/clad with a stainless steel IIRC so the blade only has super blue from the lamination line down. The rest acts like stainless steel with greater corrosion resistance. If I'm wrong about the lamination please correct me somebody.

Joe

[ChrisinHove]

My SB Manbug is like a folding scalpel - unbeleeeeeeivably sharp!

[Cujobob]

I've never found Super Blue to have surface rust in my uses or in pictures I've seen. It will patina, but that's not harmful to the knife. I don't use anything on my SB knives as far as a coating and they have zero issues here in Michigan. I really don't believe it's a high maintenance steel unless you're surrounded by conditions that are corrosive. 1095, 52100, even M4...they can rust in a harmful way in some conditions. I'm not sure that SB gets to that point unless in extreme conditions.

[ZrowsN1s]

They should bring Super Blue back for a sprint of something, I think it's one of Spyderco's best Japanese steels. It sits with Hap 40 and ZDP-189 as one of my favorite steels with high retention of initial sharpness. It stays hair popping sharp with occasional very light touch ups on strops. It can handle a thin apex just fine(20-25 degree inclusive edge for example) and takes a dark patina. I've got a Dfly and recently picked up a Delica in SB. You've got yourself a good knife there with the stretch.

[anagarika]

I have Endura in SB and can relate to the sharpness, and patina comment. Good buy I’d say.

Old thread on Stretch SB. Unfortunately the pics are not loading anymore. Still good reading though:
//forum.spyderco.com/viewtopic.php?t=64455

[ero2]

Wow, thanks all! Sounds like $100 for a brand new one I could probably not have gotten a better new spydie! I guess I need to find a matching manbug now huh?

Going to keep reading a bit on it, but sounds like the upkeep is both worth it, and no where near as bad or tedious as I read!

[GarageBoy]

Clean your pivots if you get them wet!

[thewoodpecker]

Super blue is great. As you can see my Caly 3.5 has seen some use and has a nice, full patina. The laminated SB will be more protected from corrosion but I like the full SB. Nice score!

[Ryno]

I've noticed with my SB Delica that the edge seems extremely hard. The RC that I've read Spyderco attained for this steel is consistent with my experience, but the edge feels harder than any other knife I own, even at the same RC. It's really a wonderful knife steel.

[archangel]

They should bring Super Blue back for a sprint of something, I think it's one of Spyderco's best Japanese steels.

I wish I could say that I agree. But I don‘t own any SB knife, cause when I got :spyder: bit, all SB :spyder:s were already sold out or available only at unreasonably high prices. So I very much second the first half of the above quoted statement!!

[ZrowsN1s]

They should bring Super Blue back for a sprint of something, I think it's one of Spyderco's best Japanese steels.

I wish I could say that I agree. But I don‘t own any SB knife, cause when I got :spyder: bit, all SB :spyder:s were already sold out or available only at unreasonably high prices. So I very much second the first half of the above quoted statement!!

I too missed out on the Super Blue when it first dropped. I was fortunate enough to get my SB delica for what I think was a very fair price from a private seller, but I paid an absolutely ridiculous amount for my SB dragonfly (had to have it). It would be awesome to pick up another Super Blue knife of some sort at actual MAP prices. It's great steel, and it's got a cool name too

[ero2]

They should bring Super Blue back for a sprint of something, I think it's one of Spyderco's best Japanese steels.

I wish I could say that I agree. But I don‘t own any SB knife, cause when I got :spyder: bit, all SB :spyder:s were already sold out or available only at unreasonably high prices. So I very much second the first half of the above quoted statement!!

I too missed out on the Super Blue when it first dropped. I was fortunate enough to get my SB delica for what I think was a very fair price from a private seller, but I paid an absolutely ridiculous amount for my SB dragonfly (had to have it). It would be awesome to pick up another Super Blue knife of some sort at actual MAP prices. It's great steel, and it's got a cool name too

Would 100 for the stretch in super blue be a pretty solid deal? I see them on ebay from 200-300 as well, but no idea if they truly sell for that...

[Nate]

Would 100 for the stretch in super blue be a pretty solid deal? I see them on ebay from 200-300 as well, but no idea if they truly sell for that...

$100 is probably as good as it's gonna get, unless it's been beat to ****. :eek:

MSRP was $174.95, so current MAP would be $104.97.

[farnorthdan]

They should bring Super Blue back for a sprint of something, I think it's one of Spyderco's best Japanese steels.

I wish I could say that I agree. But I don‘t own any SB knife, cause when I got :spyder: bit, all SB :spyder:s were already sold out or available only at unreasonably high prices. So I very much second the first half of the above quoted statement!!

I too missed out on the Super Blue when it first dropped. I was fortunate enough to get my SB delica for what I think was a very fair price from a private seller, but I paid an absolutely ridiculous amount for my SB dragonfly (had to have it). It would be awesome to pick up another Super Blue knife of some sort at actual MAP prices. It's great steel, and it's got a cool name too

Would 100 for the stretch in super blue be a pretty solid deal? I see them on ebay from 200-300 as well, but no idea if they truly sell for that...

$100 is a good price depending on condition, I picked up a back up SB Stretch here a few months back NIB for $120ish.

[ero2]

100 BNIB :)