MT46S MagnaMax SE Testing Thread

[Evil D]

Can't leave well enough alone so I took it straight out of the box and batonned it into a log


Well actually first things first, the nub gets neutered and the edges of the handle get beveled and then on go the Hapstone scales. I also blended in that last wee bit of unsharpened edge at the plunge line into the first serration. I markered the edge and ran it over the Sharpmaker to see what angle the serrations are ground at and they're practically dead on 15 degrees. The plain edge tip however is going to need reprofile down to 15 to match.




It came screaming sharp out of the box so I tested the edge on some phone book paper and then went out to cut up some overgrowth in my back yard.

This is the last time it'll look this pretty



I cut some green saplings which was no problem at all..




So I got some dried branches to carve and that's when the bad news came

This branch carved just fine. The serrations slice really well



This one though which I think might be off my sycamore tree chipped the edge a bit.



At least I'm assuming it was that branch, I didn't notice at the time and only noticed the chips when I was finished, then scrolled through my pics and that was the first pic to show chips.

Anyway, tried and failed to split this log. Mules are not quite long enough to split one this big around. I gave it all kinds of heck though, until my hand got tired of the impact shock.








Remember, the chips actually came before the batoning.

Here's the aftermath. Not too bad really, considering this apex is something lower than 20 degrees inclusive with no micro bevel (15 degrees on the front and whatever the blade grind angle is on the back).





My initial impression is that this steel is very easy to grind, I noticed it just in how easy it was to grind off the nub, but sharpening seems to be a piece of cake so far. I've not quite honed out those chips completely yet and since the bevel is very close to being 15 degrees and I'm working on the 15 slots I'm removing steel from the entire bevel as I go, so it's a bit slower than if I tried to fix this with a micro/secondary bevel.

Also I decided I'm going to maintain the thin factory apex so I'm sharpening the back side flat on a brown rods (freehand) so if a scratched up blade scares you maybe don't look at the last pic






Anyway, more testing to come. Feel free to share your experiences here as well if you like.

[Jeb]

I got my MagnaMax - PE - Mule in today and if it turns out like how I had it on the hone, this will be one more impressive steel.

I took mine from the very nice factory bevel to my preferred 15 dps bevel. It's certainly hard, really hard. Not like my HIC Mule by any means which I have on the back burner for when I have more time lol.

The MagnaMax honed out really impressive, you could even hear this blade as I honed it. I honed this edge all the way out to a polished edge. This Mule is a Razor right now, this weekend it goes through its paces of cutting away some jungle that I need cleared out lol.

The finish on the MagnaMax is really great though, they had to work this steel guys, to get this finish on these Mules... here are a few pix of mine.

Thanks ED for letting me tack on your thread too!!! Your SE looks awesome, sure wish I could have snagged one for myself. The MagnaMax in SE if it's like my PE on the hone, that SE will be one Tuff blade.

[Red Leader]

Whoa, you go hard!

I was zipping through cardboard and strapping and gigantic zipties, and I might have gotten a micro chip in one of the tips of the teeth on the serrations, but it is so small I can't really tell. Some of yours are already gone lol. Good stuff.

I think we are going to have fun with this steel.

[Jeb]

Guys after looking more closely at my PE MagnaMax, and keep in mind here it was honed out to 3000 grit diamond then stopped, I can see myself in the edge of the bevels; but mine is a SE if you look close enough.

[Makunochimaster]

when will we know the composition of this steel ?

[Sterling454]

when will we know the composition of this steel ?

The composition was included in the introductory letter that came in the box. I'm on the road at the moment and don't have it handy, otherwise I'd post it.

[sal]

when will we know the composition of this steel ?

We removed the composition of the steel from the website. Larrin said that; 1) our listing did not include all of the elements, and 2) We should wait to list the composition of the steel until a formal listing in published publicly.

sal

[Naperville]

Tracking says my Spyderco MT46S SE and PE will arrive today.

I promise not to baton mine through any logs, but it will be used, and I look forward to having many knives in this steel.

[Skylark427]

when will we know the composition of this steel ?

We removed the composition of the steel from the website. Larrin said that; 1) our listing did not include all of the elements, and 2) We should wait to list the composition of the steel until a formal listing in published publicly.

sal

Thank you for informing me of this, I have removed everything that included the composition from the post I made, only about 50 people saw it. I apologize for this, I wasn't aware.

On the Mule, thank you for getting these into our hands to try this new steel. I'm getting ready to test this against wood like EvilD has, though I don't have a handle yet and mine is plain edge.




Thank you again for getting this steel to us so early. I greatly appreciate it.

[Sterling454]

when will we know the composition of this steel ?

We removed the composition of the steel from the website. Larrin said that; 1) our listing did not include all of the elements, and 2) We should wait to list the composition of the steel until a formal listing in published publicly.

sal

Sal, does that mean you would prefer that I not share the composition contained in the insert included with my MT46P?

[Skylark427]

when will we know the composition of this steel ?

We removed the composition of the steel from the website. Larrin said that; 1) our listing did not include all of the elements, and 2) We should wait to list the composition of the steel until a formal listing in published publicly.

sal

Sal, does that mean you would prefer that I not share the composition contained in the insert included with my MT46P?

I would assume so, considering the context of the comment. I removed my composition picture of the paperwork on my post on another forum. It's also important to keep in mind, going by Larrin's Patreon exclusive article, these Mules are made from the second batch from Crucible prior to their bankruptcy, so the composition may be not 100% correct, and just what the actual composition of the batch ended up at, not necessarily what the target was, but this is only a theory. I know the second batch was a bit off from target on carbon.

Larrin does say that the Mule team blades being released are from the second Crucible batch though, so that part is safe to assume as true.

[mooniesdl3]

when will we know the composition of this steel ?

We removed the composition of the steel from the website. Larrin said that; 1) our listing did not include all of the elements, and 2) We should wait to list the composition of the steel until a formal listing in published publicly.

sal

Sal, does that mean you would prefer that I not share the composition contained in the insert included with my MT46P?

I would assume so, considering the context of the comment. I removed my composition picture of the paperwork on my post on another forum. It's also important to keep in mind, going by Larrin's Patreon exclusive article, these Mules are made from the second batch from Crucible prior to their bankruptcy, so the composition may be not 100% correct, and just what the actual composition of the batch ended up at, not necessarily what the target was, but this is only a theory. I know the second batch was a bit off from target on carbon.

Larrin does say that the Mule team blades being released are from the second Crucible batch though, so that part is safe to assume as true.

Larrin also said that the second heat was out of spec, not what the steel was supposed to contain. I believe he said it had more chromium when he had asked for less chromium. I think everything else was within spec but the chromium was to be reduced after testing the initial heat and the second heat tested out with MORE instead of less, even more than was spec originally. He believes it is because of the impending closure of Crucible, he had never seen them make that kind of mistake before.

So that would make this batch unrepeatable due to it being out of spec.

[Shasha]

We removed the composition of the steel from the website. Larrin said that; 1) our listing did not include all of the elements, and 2) We should wait to list the composition of the steel until a formal listing in published publicly.

sal

Sal, does that mean you would prefer that I not share the composition contained in the insert included with my MT46P?

I would assume so, considering the context of the comment. I removed my composition picture of the paperwork on my post on another forum. It's also important to keep in mind, going by Larrin's Patreon exclusive article, these Mules are made from the second batch from Crucible prior to their bankruptcy, so the composition may be not 100% correct, and just what the actual composition of the batch ended up at, not necessarily what the target was, but this is only a theory. I know the second batch was a bit off from target on carbon.

Larrin does say that the Mule team blades being released are from the second Crucible batch though, so that part is safe to assume as true.

Larrin also said that the second heat was out of spec, not what the steel was supposed to contain. I believe he said it had more chromium when he had asked for less chromium. I think everything else was within spec but the chromium was to be reduced after testing the initial heat and the second heat tested out with MORE instead of less, even more than was spec originally. He believes it is because of the impending closure of Crucible, he had never seen them make that kind of mistake before.

So that would make this batch unrepeatable due to it being out of spec.

So the mules are from this second heat with extra chromium?

[sage047]

@mooniesdl3 Are you saying these mules don't have the correct amount of chromium?
If so, could you post the source? Not because I doubt you, just because I'd like to read more on this, hoping it doesn't affect them too much if that's the case

[Emerson]

Where are you guys finding the information about the differences between the first and second batch?

[TimButterfield]

If this MT has MagnaMax that is out of spec, is the testing still valid if the batch cannot be repeated? Or, would this necessitate another MT with an in-spec MagnaMax for more accurate testing?

[idrisdroid]

If this MT has MagnaMax that is out of spec, is the testing still valid if the batch cannot be repeated? Or, would this necessitate another MT with an in-spec MagnaMax for more accurate testing?

that's what i was thinking,
add to that, more chromium mean less thoroughness, and less wear resistance, right? more stain resistant tho
we got magnacut guys

[Sterling454]

Earlier this year, I was privileged with the opportunity to tour the Benchmade factory in Oregon City. I noticed a pallet steel labeled " CPM MagnaMax" and just about lost my mind. At the end of the tour, I asked once of the lead engineers/product designers when I could anticipate Benchmade to release a production model with MagnaMax steel and he told me that Larrin had called several days earlier to inform them that the melt which produced the steel they had on hand was an incorrect composition and was being recalled in some capacity. Because of this problem, and release they expected this would push back went plans by several months if not into next year. Phooey!!

I couldn't help but notice that the laser engraving on my MT46P says "MagnaMax", not "CPM MagnaMax" so I would postulate this is either because 1) this batch was produced by Carpenter or Erasteel instead of Crucible, or 2) the engraving was applied well sl after the trademark for "CPM MagnaMax" was bought up preventing Spyderco from using it on these blades. Regardless, I'm super thirsty for any details anyone official can provide!!!

Whether or not it would be frowned upon to publicly reveal the composition stated in the letter accompanying the MagnaMax Mules, all I will say is that the performance makes perfect sense.

I eagerly await the full production release of any properly heat treated MagnaMax products. Is it unsportsmanlike for me to say that won't include Benchmade products? What the heck are they doing with MagnaCut in the 60-62 HRC range?

Okay back to my cardboard murder spree......

[Emerson]

Whatever the composition my Magnamax mule was super easy to put a new edge on. The edge was ok out of the box. It was super toothy with a slight burr and a multi angle bevel on both sides. I was lazy and didn't completely clean up the old edge bevel but set it to 17 degrees top to bottom. I was able to get a great burr at 400 grit quickly and finished it off with 800 grit diamond plate. The burr came off quickly with both grits and I was left with one of if not the sharpest spydercos I own. I'll be interested to see how long it lasts compared to my 15v mule.

[sal]

when will we know the composition of this steel ?

We removed the composition of the steel from the website. Larrin said that; 1) our listing did not include all of the elements, and 2) We should wait to list the composition of the steel until a formal listing in published publicly.

sal

Sal, does that mean you would prefer that I not share the composition contained in the insert included with my MT46P?

Hi Sterling,

That is correct. Larrin said that the chemical composition listed earlier was not correct. We've been asked to remove the listings until we can get the correct formula from Larrin.

sal