Bow River steel upgrade please

[jmj3esq]

Just buy a S90V Southfork.

[barnaclesonaboat]

S90V? Probably too much to ask for but hey, this is a pie in the sky moment. AEB-L at, say, 63-64Rc?

A lot of knives should get the SPY27 treatment, this one included. Make it the new VG-10 so to speak.

I think these ideas would be excellent for the Bow River. S90V may be out of reach, but AEB-L and SPY27 would both make very compelling choices. I love my Bow River as a fishing and camp food/chore knife, and as others have noted when you get to really using it the lack of edge retention presents itself pretty quick. Doesn't keep me from loving it, but AEB-L even remotely like what we got in the MuleTeam blade would be just awesome; that high hardness AEB-L holds thin stable edges really well for the grade and would mate well to a thin blade like the Bow River. I haven't tried SPY27 outside of the Manix2 LW, but in general I would agree that steel would be well-received in this model - it has been quite easy to sharpen.

[electro-static]

Being as it’s made in china, an S35VN or M4 upgrade would be most feasable

[iacchus]

Being as it’s made in china, an S35VN or M4 upgrade would be most feasable

I would spring for one in M4. I think that would make a pretty useful knife. I'm less concerned w/ corrosion on a fixie, no pivot to worry about.

[zhyla]

D2 is a more practical request than M4, S35VN, or AEB-L. It’s dirt cheap, has much better edge retention. You give up a bit of corrosion resistance.

But is it really worth it? The Bow River is great because it’s a really well done blade at a very affordable price point. Why try to make it something it isn’t?

[Flash]

Bow River in M4 please.

I’d be willing to forego a few extra beer tokens (but not too many) over the generic alphabet steel version to get one in M4. It’s the perfect match for a fixed blade like this.

HT it to 63/64 HRC, give it some plain brown G-10, Price it at circa $120… and watch it fly out the door.

[zhyla]

Price it at circa $120…

lol, $120 for a Spyderco fixie with a premium steel? You dreaming buddy.

[Flash]

Price it at circa $120…

lol, $120 for a Spyderco fixie with a premium steel? You dreaming buddy.

Nope, no dreaming pal!
M4 Tenacious is roughly twice the price of the standard Tenacious… so why not here?

[iacchus]

Price it at circa $120…

lol, $120 for a Spyderco fixie with a premium steel? You dreaming buddy.

Nope, no dreaming pal!
M4 Tenacious is roughly twice the price of the standard Tenacious… so why not here?

Exactly what I was thinking.
The Tenacious always intrigued me, being basically a folding Mule pattern, but I never picked one up until they offered it in M4 at a reasonable price point for its origin.
It makes a great, capable work knife. I expect the Bow River could be offered the same way. The only thing really keeping it off my radar is the steel.

[Albertaboyscott]

Aus10a sounds like a good upgrade

[zhyla]

Nope, no dreaming pal!
M4 Tenacious is roughly twice the price of the standard Tenacious… so why not here?

(Spyderco) Fixed blade prices don’t follow folder pricing. It’s always surprisingly expensive.

[horzuff]

Aus10a sounds like a good upgrade

There's almost no difference between 8Cr and Aus10A, what would that achieve? I'd love either a decent stainless or tool steel. And as S35VN and CPM-M4 are already used in the chinese spydercos I'd bet on those and be happy with either

[Albertaboyscott]

Aus10a sounds like a good upgrade

There's almost no difference between 8Cr and Aus10A, what would that achieve? I'd love either a decent stainless or tool steel. And as S35VN and CPM-M4 are already used in the chinese spydercos I'd bet on those and be happy with either

I was thinking aus8 not 8cr.

[kennethsime]

There was another thread on this recently, but I'm 100% here for an M4 Bow River.

[horzuff]

Aus10a sounds like a good upgrade

There's almost no difference between 8Cr and Aus10A, what would that achieve? I'd love either a decent stainless or tool steel. And as S35VN and CPM-M4 are already used in the chinese spydercos I'd bet on those and be happy with either

I was thinking aus8 not 8cr.

But the Bow River is made of 8Cr and there was no mention of AUS8 here?

[weeping minora]

Aus10a sounds like a good upgrade

There's almost no difference between 8Cr and Aus10A, what would that achieve? I'd love either a decent stainless or tool steel. And as S35VN and CPM-M4 are already used in the chinese spydercos I'd bet on those and be happy with either

I was thinking aus8 not 8cr.

But the Bow River is made of 8Cr and there was no mention of AUS8 here?

8Cr13MoV and Aus8 are nearly "proprietary equivalents" in chemical composition. This is like the synonymous nature of the M390/204P/20CV comparison that we all see referenced, nearly everywhere.

Aus10A is indeed an upgrade to 8Cr/Aus8, with an increase in Carbon content to .95-1.1%, versus the lesser .7-.8%. This will allow Aus10A to be hardened much higher, giving greater strength and achievable sharpness. The downside would be a loss in toughness and stain resistance. Whether you value this as an upgrade is a personal matter.

Most folks seem to value toughness over cutting ability within this pricepoint of steel, so I see Aus10A as quite a moot option. Something about a lesser pricepoint instills a "hard use" molecule within many buyers minds, so misuse runs rampant. Those who value what higher hardness can offer to this class/pricepoint of steel offered are sadly ousted because of this.

M4 would be the most logical upgrade for the Bow River. I'd like to see something other than smooth G-10 for the handle material, which I believe is a bigger detriment over the steel type chosen for this knife and its intended purpose.

[horzuff]

Aus10A is indeed an upgrade to 8Cr/Aus8, with an increase in Carbon content to .95-1.1%, versus the lesser .7-.8%. This will allow Aus10A to be hardened much higher, giving greater strength and achievable sharpness. The downside would be a loss in toughness and stain resistance. Whether you value this as an upgrade is a personal matter.

The difference between 8Cr and Aus10A is so minuscule in my experiences so far, that it wouldn't be an upgrade, just a tweak, not worth this discussion ^^.

Maybe if we were talking about extreme custom heat treatments the bump in carbon would translate to something more tangible, but in the production environment I don't see much improvement from something like a Spyderco 8Cr to CS AUS10A

[Coastal]

I'd like to see something other than smooth G-10 for the handle material, which I believe is a bigger detriment over the steel type chosen for this knife and its intended purpose.

I feel exactly the same. The broomstick-like feel of the handle combined with its slipperiness is not what I prefer on an outdoor knife. Something closer to the Waterway's handle would turn the Bow River into a much nicer knife.

8Cr if fine, but 14Cr or SV35N would be a nice bonus. A tool steel would be fun but, again, for an outdoor knife, I like stainless better.

[Bolster]

8Cr13MoV and Aus8 are nearly "proprietary equivalents" ...

Thanks for explaining AUS-8, 8Cr, and AUS-10. I enjoy these informative "get to know your steels" posts!