Rex 45 vs K390?
Rex 45 vs K390?
I’ve seen threads about each of these, but I haven’t seen a direct comparison of the two. What are your thoughts? I have a para 3 and a pm2 in K390 and I’m wondering whether Rex 45 is different enough to be worth picking up or whether it’d be somewhat redundant.
Thanks,
Aaron
Thanks,
Aaron
Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
In the most simple terms, Rex45 is tougher and K390 will hold an edge longer.
Both are excellent and both sharpen easily, relative to other "super" steels. Neither will disappoint with edge retention or edge stability.
Both are excellent and both sharpen easily, relative to other "super" steels. Neither will disappoint with edge retention or edge stability.
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Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
Rex45 is not going to outlast k390 at comparable hardnesses.
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Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
K390 will hold edge longestAwayFromMySpydieHole wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:24 pm
Rex45 is not going to outlast k390 at comparable hardnesses.
S30V, VG10, M4, XHP, BD1, Cruwear, Elmax, Maxamet, 204P, H1, K390, A11, Rex45, LC200N, M390, 20CV, BD1N, S45VN waiting to afford MagnaCut
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Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
K390 is a rust bucket had it in Police4 and will never buy it again.
If REX45 is worse, really why this discussion?
If REX45 is worse, really why this discussion?
Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
Because extremely effective rust preventatives like eezox exist. So long as you don’t use your non-stainless folders for food prep, there is zero reason to care about corrosion resistance. If using folders to cut food is something you do, the salt series has you covered at reasonable prices.Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:41 pmK390 is a rust bucket had it in Police4 and will never buy it again.
If REX45 is worse, really why this discussion?
BRING ON THE MANIX XL SPRINTS AND EXCLUSIVES! And 10v or K390ify the Golden lineup, please.
Top 5 folders I’ve owned: Serrated Caribbean Leaf, Shaman, Manix XL, ZDP-189/CF Caly 3.5, Native LW.
Top 5 steels I’ve owned: LC200N, K390, CPM S90V, M390, CPM REX45.
Top 3 steels I want more of: M390 class, A11 class (including K390), CPM REX45.
Top 5 folders I’ve owned: Serrated Caribbean Leaf, Shaman, Manix XL, ZDP-189/CF Caly 3.5, Native LW.
Top 5 steels I’ve owned: LC200N, K390, CPM S90V, M390, CPM REX45.
Top 3 steels I want more of: M390 class, A11 class (including K390), CPM REX45.
Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
If salt is avoided and the blades are kept dry, the worst you'll see is a patina. I haven't been afraid to get the blades wet or really use them, I just make sure they don't stay dirty for long and clean them after each use.Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:41 pmK390 is a rust bucket had it in Police4 and will never buy it again.
If REX45 is worse, really why this discussion?
I don't sweat heavily, or live in an area with airborne salinity, so that definitely helps, but neither my Rex45 Military or K390 Police have anything more than a very mild patina. I've actually been hoping for more, but the knives generally only cut dry materials, as that's what my cutting needs entail. I don't have any food prep or otherwise potentially corrosive cutting tasks to put the knives through, so this is my chance to work on being patient.
Given the differences in sweat, location, and possibly blade maintenance, your experiences can vary quite a bit.
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Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
I'm guessing the edge strength would be similar, maybe a slight nod to REX 45 on that since they ran that around 66 to 67 HRC, and the K390 PM2 closer to 63.
On wear resistance (such as with cutting cardboard) I'd expect the K390 to win out since it has twice the carbide volume as REX 45, and harder carbide to boot.
I own both steels and can't tell a difference in corrosion resistance. Neither are stainless obviously, but I've never had any rust issues or anything, and I have used both for food prep.
On wear resistance (such as with cutting cardboard) I'd expect the K390 to win out since it has twice the carbide volume as REX 45, and harder carbide to boot.
I own both steels and can't tell a difference in corrosion resistance. Neither are stainless obviously, but I've never had any rust issues or anything, and I have used both for food prep.
- Connor
"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
Can't say I agree with these thoughts at all.Mattysc42 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:57 pmBecause extremely effective rust preventatives like eezox exist. So long as you don’t use your non-stainless folders for food prep, there is zero reason to care about corrosion resistance. If using folders to cut food is something you do, the salt series has you covered at reasonable prices.Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:41 pmK390 is a rust bucket had it in Police4 and will never buy it again.
If REX45 is worse, really why this discussion?
Coating a blade does nothing to stop liners, hardware, lock parts etc. from rusting. And coating can be worn off.
Notice the blade is fine, despite being used to cut food many times.
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Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
I have both and the Rex 45 is noticeably more rust resistant. Even used it for food prep and carried it in sweaty shorts without issue.Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:41 pmK390 is a rust bucket had it in Police4 and will never buy it again.
If REX45 is worse, really why this discussion?
Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
Eezox penetrates the steel and doesn’t rub off if soaked for a few hours a single time. I soak all the metal parts of a knife for a single afternoon and I never see any rust or patina, ever, even on 1095 with years of use. I’ve put my pma11 mule and stripped becker bk5 in the dishwasher a couple dozen times and haven’t patinad either, even under the scales.Vivi wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:12 pmCan't say I agree with these thoughts at all.Mattysc42 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:57 pmBecause extremely effective rust preventatives like eezox exist. So long as you don’t use your non-stainless folders for food prep, there is zero reason to care about corrosion resistance. If using folders to cut food is something you do, the salt series has you covered at reasonable prices.Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:41 pmK390 is a rust bucket had it in Police4 and will never buy it again.
If REX45 is worse, really why this discussion?
Coating a blade does nothing to stop liners, hardware, lock parts etc. from rusting. And coating can be worn off.
Notice the blade is fine, despite being used to cut food many times.
BRING ON THE MANIX XL SPRINTS AND EXCLUSIVES! And 10v or K390ify the Golden lineup, please.
Top 5 folders I’ve owned: Serrated Caribbean Leaf, Shaman, Manix XL, ZDP-189/CF Caly 3.5, Native LW.
Top 5 steels I’ve owned: LC200N, K390, CPM S90V, M390, CPM REX45.
Top 3 steels I want more of: M390 class, A11 class (including K390), CPM REX45.
Top 5 folders I’ve owned: Serrated Caribbean Leaf, Shaman, Manix XL, ZDP-189/CF Caly 3.5, Native LW.
Top 5 steels I’ve owned: LC200N, K390, CPM S90V, M390, CPM REX45.
Top 3 steels I want more of: M390 class, A11 class (including K390), CPM REX45.
Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/eez ... e.1142828/Mattysc42 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:25 amEezox penetrates the steel and doesn’t rub off if soaked for a few hours a single time. I soak all the metal parts of a knife for a single afternoon and I never see any rust or patina, ever, even on 1095 with years of use. I’ve put my pma11 mule and stripped becker bk5 in the dishwasher a couple dozen times and haven’t patinad either, even under the scales.Vivi wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:12 pmCan't say I agree with these thoughts at all.Mattysc42 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:57 pmBecause extremely effective rust preventatives like eezox exist. So long as you don’t use your non-stainless folders for food prep, there is zero reason to care about corrosion resistance. If using folders to cut food is something you do, the salt series has you covered at reasonable prices.Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:41 pmK390 is a rust bucket had it in Police4 and will never buy it again.
If REX45 is worse, really why this discussion?
Coating a blade does nothing to stop liners, hardware, lock parts etc. from rusting. And coating can be worn off.
Notice the blade is fine, despite being used to cut food many times.
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Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
Because they are excellent steels and we like them. In fact I prefer them over any stainless. Now is it OK to discuss them? :)If REX45 is worse, really why this discussion?
Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
For 15 years I carried the same non stainless blade, and like Vivi's P4 example, the only thing that ever rusted were the stainless liners. I eventually figured out how to minimize that.
Too bad the fear of rust keeps so many away from the better steels.
It's hard to compare two excellent steels like k390 and rex45, but I'll go along with the opinion that in a nutshell, rex45 is a little more resistant to edge fracture and k390 will stay sharp longer most of the time.
Too bad the fear of rust keeps so many away from the better steels.
It's hard to compare two excellent steels like k390 and rex45, but I'll go along with the opinion that in a nutshell, rex45 is a little more resistant to edge fracture and k390 will stay sharp longer most of the time.
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Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
That’s neat, Thanks, say is it food safe? All I see on Amazon is that people like using it on their firearms.Mattysc42 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:57 pmBecause extremely effective rust preventatives like eezox exist. So long as you don’t use your non-stainless folders for food prep, there is zero reason to care about corrosion resistance. If using folders to cut food is something you do, the salt series has you covered at reasonable prices.Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:41 pmK390 is a rust bucket had it in Police4 and will never buy it again.
If REX45 is worse, really why this discussion?
Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
EEZOX is not considered food safe.Thanks, say is it food safe? All I see on Amazon is that people like using it on their firearms.
Section VI — Health Hazard Data
Route of Entry: Inhalation? YES — Skin? YES — Ingestion? YES
Carcinogenicity: NTP? NO — IARC Monographs? NO — OSHA Regulated? NO
Signs and Symptons of Exposure: Drying of skin, eye irritation, headache, dizziness, nausea
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Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
DLC would be great for both these steels. Just sayin :)
Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
I'll have to look for the video(s) later, but BBB did testing on both and those were his results. He found Rex45 to be more stable at the edge than M4.
Re: Rex 45 vs K390?
I remember this. He tested them by intentionally biting into a brass bar I believe? M4 chipped or rolled, yet Rex45 suffered no damage. It was painful to watch and hear, but nice to see the strength of these steels really put to work.
15 's in 10 different steels
1 - Bradford Guardian 3 / Vanadis 4E Wharnie
1 - Monterey Bay Knives Slayback Flipper / ZDP 189
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31/Macassar Ebony Inlays
1 - CRK Large Inkosi Insingo/ Black Micarta Inlays
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31 Insingo/Magnacut
-Rick
1 - Bradford Guardian 3 / Vanadis 4E Wharnie
1 - Monterey Bay Knives Slayback Flipper / ZDP 189
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31/Macassar Ebony Inlays
1 - CRK Large Inkosi Insingo/ Black Micarta Inlays
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31 Insingo/Magnacut
-Rick