Spyderco Forums

cjk wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 28, 2025 1:23 pm

In repsonse to @Evil D , I rather like Sandvik 14c28n as an entry level steel. It's simple, easy to sharpen, tough, and I would probably have to work very hard to get it to rust. I'd love to try serrated 14c28n too! It would make a great alternative entry level steel, assuming it has relatively low cost. Some of the bigger online knife shops have filters that allow one to narrow down search results based on steel, lock type, blade length, etc. ... and I'll sometimes go look specifically at 14c28N knives.
I'd love to have some Native 5 lightweights in 14c28n.

14c28n reminds me of a dollar store version of LC200N.

Yep.

I like 14C28N and have some fixed blade hunting knives in that steel. It is a one deer steel, maybe 1.5 deer, depending on how sharpened, but it is extremely tough and doesn't get damaged when I do stupid stuff, like cutting through a joint or bone. Plus, it is easy enough to sharpen in the field.

I remember when Buck used to advertize their edge retention and the toughness of their blades. That set off a comparison between knife companies and their steel offerings. Also, people did buy for looks. If it looked like a Buck it was likely as good as a Buck (they weren't always).

Anyway, I think Eric will one day be trying to figure out how to make knives of things we have not dreamed about.

sal wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 28, 2025 9:33 am

...what can we do to steel to alter the appearance? (besides teeth).

Kershaw makes these striking "composite" blades.

I assume these patterns are genuine "weld" or "braze" lines? Seems overly complicated and expensive to me. I'd much rather just buy a plain old satin or stone washed "mono" steel blade than pay more for the fancy looks.

Brock O Lee wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 29, 2025 4:22 am

sal wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 28, 2025 9:33 am

...what can we do to steel to alter the appearance? (besides teeth).

Kershaw makes these striking "composite" blades.

I assume these patterns are genuine "weld" or "braze" lines? Seems overly complicated and expensive to me. I'd much rather just buy a plain old satin or stone washed "mono" steel blade than pay more for the fancy looks.

IMG_1038.jpeg

IMG_1037.jpeg

They also have an unfortunate habit of using CPM-D2 as the edge steel in most models, other than some of the older high-end, limited edition models (Tilt, Volt, Speedform, etc.) that would get Vanax, M390, Elmax. S110V on at least one ZT 0560 variant once the high-end stuff went more under the ZT brand than Kershaw.

Some very cool designs with the various patterns between the two steels, and the blade join line design would often flow nicely into the handle design.


But most of the mass market models were/are a CPM-D2 cutting edge joined to a 14C28N or similar spine. From a strictly cost:performance standpoint I'd rather just have a solid piece of S30V.

Brock O Lee wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 29, 2025 4:22 am

sal wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 28, 2025 9:33 am

...what can we do to steel to alter the appearance? (besides teeth).

Kershaw makes these striking "composite" blades.

I assume these patterns are genuine "weld" or "braze" lines? Seems overly complicated and expensive to me. I'd much rather just buy a plain old satin or stone washed "mono" steel blade than pay more for the fancy looks.

IMG_1038.jpeg

IMG_1037.jpeg

Yes, it is very cool technology. I believe there is copper between the steels and you can actually see it if you look close. It has something to do with the melding process; at least on some of them.

Brock O Lee wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 29, 2025 4:22 am

I'd much rather just buy a plain old satin or stone washed "mono" steel blade than pay more for the fancy looks.

I'd gladly pay more for a knife without the gaudy looks.

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 28, 2025 11:29 pm

Anyway, I think Eric will one day be trying to figure out how to make knives of things we have not dreamed about.

Sprint run Unobtainium you say?

cjk wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 28, 2025 1:23 pm

14c28n reminds me of a dollar store version of LC200N.

14c28n can get significantly harder though, which is a huge benefit when lc200n is only at roughly 59hrc.


My theory is that Spyderco knows if they made a Magnacut or Cruwear Stretch 2 all other knife sales would stop. Cant say I blame them.

I don’t think the golden age is over. Larin is only getting started. It will be over when all knives have serrations! MAXIMUS CUTIOUS

My dream would be a steel that is pretty much corrosion proof; takes and holds an amazing edge, yet is simple to resharpen if and when it needs it; is easy to manufacture and grind, and therefore affordable; and is virtually unbreakable, even with an extra fine tip like that on the Native Chief.

This IS a fantasy steel for me. Is it even within the realm of possibility? I don't know. There are many qualities in my wish list for such a steel that contradict each other. It may very well be an impossibility. But it will definitely never happen if someone doesn't conceive of it in the first place.

Jim

Hi James,

Easy to sharpen = easy to dull. Hard to sharpen = hard to dull. The steel does not know what the abrasive is trying to do

Easier to sharpen can be done with very good edge geometry, but not within the steel, in my opinion.

sal

We need a voodoo dual state steel where in normal opperating conditions it's very hard with excellent edge retention but when it's time to sharpen you clip on a feature that uses chemicals or temperature or electricity to alter the state of the steel so it becomes easy to sharpen. Then when you're done you unclip the gadget and go back to hammering the knife through pennies.

That would be pretty super. Possibly even superb.

RustyIron wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 29, 2025 8:45 am

I'd gladly pay more for a knife without the gaudy looks.

Touché!

I think @sal was looking for steel ideas?

For colors, design or artwork I usually look at images in Instagram(Ferrari, various bicycle manufacturers, audio components), Architectural Digest or Stereophile Magazine. I subscribe to a few digital magazines through ZINO.

Another magazine to look at it:
https://www.multihulls-world.com

At the 5:40min and 7:47min mark the hull has a neat paint job. Could laser etch and sell to sailors.
https://www.multihulls-world.com/videos ... -avel-vaez

The Boulder 1151 Monoblock amps had a neat design on the side of their chassis. Makes the chassis look like molten metal.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/bou ... -amplifier

In the new Stereophile there is an SME turntable ad inside the cover on page 2 that had a honeycomb background image that might make for a different blade face or blade handle.

There are many ideas.

These are cutting edge advertisements, homes, audiophile components.

zhyla wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 24, 2025 6:43 pm

Evil D wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 24, 2025 11:02 am

I guess the demand starts with manufacturers like Spyderco?

I’ve always been under the impression that knives don’t really drive the industry. There are exceptions but I think it’s usually industrial needs that lead to new steels. Tool steels, ball bearing steels, etc.

If knives were to drive steel creation it would be cheaper brands that do it. Eg the Civivi type companies, not high priced American brands.

Yes, my friend. Think about the new steel we will see once human expansion into space seriously happens and we are building star bases and colonizing extra solar planets.

Magnacut and Spy27 will be to those alloys as cast copper and gravel is to those.

A space elevator engineer told me metal rich asteroids are mostly nickel iron with cobalt. Sounds almost like natural VG10 to me! Excited? I sure am.

Imagine entire space stations made of Magnacut, H2, and ATS34 but more advanced.

It's interesting to read this thread. I use knives as accessories. I don't cut much. However, I want to try out unusual steels like endura on zdp or military on maxamet. Recently, I've been thinking about getting a 52100. But if I'm only cutting food packaging or occasionally a piece of meat, will I be able to tell the difference between the steels?