Exotic Japanese steels

[Philo Beddoe]

It went from S30V to S90V and finally S110V. Hap40 has been popular so maybe the same thing could be done with the Hap series of steels? Hap40, Hap50 and then maybe Hap72? Here's all 3 compared to one another..

[ZrowsN1s]

How about a solid slab of HAP-40 on a dragonfly with g10 scales, and the stretch with g10 scales? The Hap 40 should be in standard production, my hap 40 Dfly is one of my favorite knifes already and i haven't even had it a year yet.

Also I carry knives for self defense, there aren't many of those with exotic steel (pm2 and a few other obvious exceptions), I would be happy beyond words if the civilian or the matriarch 2 with emerson opener got a steel upgrade .
*edit for that matter the emerson opening delica and endura too.

[bearfacedkiller]

It went from S30V to S90V and finally S110V. Hap40 has been popular so maybe the same thing could be done with the Hap series of steels? Hap40, Hap50 and then maybe Hap72? Here's all 3 compared to one another..

I would be interested in seeing all of them brought to market. Don't forget HAP5R and HAP10 which are in a similar class as 3V, 4V and Cruwear. I agree with you 100% but just want to make sure that we expand in both directions.

[Bloke]

I wonder, are the HAP and SB blades, for example laminated with regard to structural integrity or corrosion resistance? Both and cost?

[ZrowsN1s]

I wonder, are the HAP and SB blades, for example laminated with regard to structural integrity or corrosion resistance? Both and cost?

I had always assumed corrosion resistance. Not sure how much cheaper it is to produce a laminated steel vs. a solid piece. I would love to see unlaminated versions of both super blue and hap40. That being said the laminated versions work great.

[awa54]

I wonder, are the HAP and SB blades, for example laminated with regard to structural integrity or corrosion resistance? Both and cost?

I'd guess it's a little bit of all of the above, plus the tradition/mystique of laminate blades.

[PayneTrain]

The original plan for the blue G10 sprints was SG2 so that would still be cool.

Agreed. I'm not at all concerned what steel is next, just as long as it's in a blue G10 Delica!

[ZrowsN1s]

I wonder, are the HAP and SB blades, for example laminated with regard to structural integrity or corrosion resistance? Both and cost?

I'd guess it's a little bit of all of the above, plus the tradition/mystique of laminate blades.

Lamination lines do look cool.

[PaleMoon]

I believe Sal once mentioned it had more to do with manufacturer's preference, hence why the Caly SB weren't laminated, but the Seki run was.

[Evil D]

I wonder, are the HAP and SB blades, for example laminated with regard to structural integrity or corrosion resistance? Both and cost?

I have read that part of it has to do with the maker's ability to machine solid slabs of a particular steel, for example I believe the laminate ZDP blades where done this way because that maker wasn't able to machine solid ZDP but when you do it in a laminate it becomes much easier to work with. I'm sure cost and corrosion resistance and even to some degree toughness all come in as a bonus. When I first got my ZDP Caly 3, I thought the laminate blade was the coolest thing I had ever seen, but with the sometimes uneven laminate lines you get and especially with carbon steel, I'd just assume have solid blades 99.99% of the time.

[Bloke]

Many thanks fellows,

I too was thinking all the points you make, I just wondered why is it so?

Evil, I think you make a very valid point I certainly didn't take into account. Ease of machinability and reduced tool wear etc may well out weigh the cost of lamination. I went mad (as I sometimes do) on laminated blades a while back and bought every laminated blade Mora make. Fair to say I like laminated blades. Having said that, I couldn't live with say a Big M or PM2 that had noticeably different or wavy grind lines and the SUS410 on my Delica scratched from caring it (legally) :cool: around the house for a day when I first got it. It's not a biggie and didn't stop me buying a HAP Bug as well, but I could live without it. I too would much prefer a solid blade! :)

[The Deacon]

Not trying to derail, but did Spyderco bend that blade, or is it from the Salt that David Lowry accidentally ran over with a Bobcat?

Here Paul. This is the thread.

This might help too. This of course was on purpose by our R&D team. This was done in our custom built Bender Buster which is normally used to test lock strength.

viewtopic.php?t=38563

Ah, that one slipped my mind. :o For some reason David's accidental field test with the Bobcat was far more memorable. Unfortunately, the pics in that thread seem to have disappeared.

[Jazz]

The original plan for the blue G10 sprints was SG2 so that would still be cool.

Agreed. I'm not at all concerned what steel is next, just as long as it's in a blue G10 Delica!

...and if it was solid G10 without liners, it would be great. The G10 one I have is nice, but heavy, in my opinion.

[awa54]

Many thanks fellows,

I too was thinking all the points you make, I just wondered why is it so?

Evil, I think you make a very valid point I certainly didn't take into account. Ease of machinability and reduced tool wear etc may well out weigh the cost of lamination. I went mad (as I sometimes do) on laminated blades a while back and bought every laminated blade Mora make. Fair to say I like laminated blades. Having said that, I couldn't live with say a Big M or PM2 that had noticeably different or wavy grind lines and the SUS410 on my Delica scratched from caring it (legally) :cool: around the house for a day when I first got it. It's not a biggie and didn't stop me buying a HAP Bug as well, but I could live without it. I too would much prefer a solid blade! :)

I've been a bit underwhelmed by Mora (and Frost/Ericsson before them) laminate blades, they're hard enough to be brittle and don't really deliver much of an increase in performance over the mono-steel HC blades. Have you checked out Helle? There are also many Scandinavian laminate blades available for hobbyists who want to make their own handles and sheaths.

[bh49]

I'd just assume have solid blades 99.99% of the time.

Not for me. I hate rust on the blades. I do not like patina either. Blade with patina looks like dirty to me. So laminating carbon steels giving me a chance to try them.

[Able Dog]

I wonder, are the HAP and SB blades, for example laminated with regard to structural integrity or corrosion resistance? Both and cost?

I had always assumed corrosion resistance. Not sure how much cheaper it is to produce a laminated steel vs. a solid piece. I would love to see unlaminated versions of both super blue and hap40. That being said the laminated versions work great.

Corrosion resistance is part of it. The cost saving doesn't really come in when manufacturing the steel, but in working the steel. 420J2 is a lot easier to grind in a FFG knife than solid HAP40.

[Bloke]

Many thanks fellows,

I too was thinking all the points you make, I just wondered why is it so?

Evil, I think you make a very valid point I certainly didn't take into account. Ease of machinability and reduced tool wear etc may well out weigh the cost of lamination. I went mad (as I sometimes do) on laminated blades a while back and bought every laminated blade Mora make. Fair to say I like laminated blades. Having said that, I couldn't live with say a Big M or PM2 that had noticeably different or wavy grind lines and the SUS410 on my Delica scratched from caring it (legally) :cool: around the house for a day when I first got it. It's not a biggie and didn't stop me buying a HAP Bug as well, but I could live without it. I too would much prefer a solid blade! :)

I've been a bit underwhelmed by Mora (and Frost/Ericsson before them) laminate blades, they're hard enough to be brittle and don't really deliver much of an increase in performance over the mono-steel HC blades. Have you checked out Helle? There are also many Scandinavian laminate blades available for hobbyists who want to make their own handles and sheaths.

awa54,

I won't bore you with the details and I think we may be OT, but I have a fair assortment of Scani knives and blades. I offen carry a little Kellam Woods knife, because sticks without points really annoy me! :)

[awa54]

Many thanks fellows,

I too was thinking all the points you make, I just wondered why is it so?

Evil, I think you make a very valid point I certainly didn't take into account. Ease of machinability and reduced tool wear etc may well out weigh the cost of lamination. I went mad (as I sometimes do) on laminated blades a while back and bought every laminated blade Mora make. Fair to say I like laminated blades. Having said that, I couldn't live with say a Big M or PM2 that had noticeably different or wavy grind lines and the SUS410 on my Delica scratched from caring it (legally) :cool: around the house for a day when I first got it. It's not a biggie and didn't stop me buying a HAP Bug as well, but I could live without it. I too would much prefer a solid blade! :)

I've been a bit underwhelmed by Mora (and Frost/Ericsson before them) laminate blades, they're hard enough to be brittle and don't really deliver much of an increase in performance over the mono-steel HC blades. Have you checked out Helle? There are also many Scandinavian laminate blades available for hobbyists who want to make their own handles and sheaths.

awa54,

I won't bore you with the details and I think we may be OT, but I have a fair assortment of Scani knives and blades. I offen carry a little Kellam Woods knife, because sticks without points really annoy me! :)

Scandi knife discussions are *never* boring!

[Mohawkjk2]

Super gold Caly 3.5 in nishijin glass! And a lum tanto in super Blue G10!!

[tripscheck'em]

Hi all,

It seems that there is interest in more Japanese steels? I've read some recent posts showing this. (Like Killer on the Delica steel thread [blade forums] ) So I would be interested in knowing what steels made in Japan you would like to see / use and in what models?

sal

Hitachi white steel clad with 420j1 in the stretch