Spyderco Forums

Hi everyone.

I just saw that the Benchmade model 100SH20 uses X15 T.N according to Benchmades website it is a "French steel was developed for the aircraft industry for jet ball bearings, as well as the medical industry for scalpels. It has the ability to resist rust in the worst of conditions while maintaining ample edge retention. The capability behind this steel is in the way it is manufactured, resulting in the finest steel for use in harsh environments such as salt water. The edge on an X15 T.N blade is easier to maintain."

I was just wondering if anyone has some experience with this steel compared to H1? We know H1 cant rust just curious of this steel. Plain edge is 58-60 HRC which is not that bad.

Maybe Sal can give some input on if there might be a sprint run in this steel as a plain edge Salt1? Just a thought.

H1 is great at what it does. I don't see any logic for a Salt sprint in another steel.

We have tested X-15TN, for our purposes, H1 met our standards better.

Kristi

Thank you Kristi

Zenith wrote:Hi everyone.

I just saw that the Benchmade model 100SH20 uses X15 T.N according to Benchmades website it is a "French steel was developed for the aircraft industry for jet ball bearings, as well as the medical industry for scalpels. It has the ability to resist rust in the worst of conditions while maintaining ample edge retention. The capability behind this steel is in the way it is manufactured, resulting in the finest steel for use in harsh environments such as salt water. The edge on an X15 T.N blade is easier to maintain."

I was just wondering if anyone has some experience with this steel compared to H1? We know H1 cant rust just curious of this steel. Plain edge is 58-60 HRC which is not that bad.

Maybe Sal can give some input on if there might be a sprint run in this steel as a plain edge Salt1? Just a thought.

Zenith it's kind of funny in a way that you would mention that older model Benchmade dive knife being made with X-15 TN stainless. Because that particular model when it first came out back in 2002 it was introduced in H-1 blade steel. I know that for a fact because I purchased one shortly after it was released and the one I bought had H-1 blade steel. That was the first I had ever heard of H-1. It wasn't until about late 05 when they quit making that knife with H-1 and started making it with X-15 TN stainless.

I even went over to the Benchmade forum to inquire as to why they ceased using H-1 blade steel in the model 100SH20 and no one seemed to know why or even cared why :confused.

I'm willing to bet that it was a money saving move. But no one is talking about it for whatever reason.

I seem to recall a footnote from that time that H-1 was deemed too expensive and X15T.N was corrosion resistent enough for the application.

Hi Zenith,

Spyderco had been seeking an ideal material for a knife blade in Salt water conditions. As Sailors and a divers, we began looking in the early 80's. We tested many steels, even made a few "probes" (7) in Zirconia ceramic.

A Japanese trading company broughts us samples of H1 for testing. We tested the material extensively and decided that it would do what we wanted.

Rust is a serious problem for a knife because the edge wil rust twice as fast as any other part of the knife because the thin edge is exposed on both sides. Once the edge urst away, resharpening is necessry to turn it back into a cutting tool. Not a good scenario where a knife is necessary.

We then worked on making the rest of the knife corrosion resistant. Locks, pins, springs, clips, etc, all had to be researched and tested.

We introduced the Salt 1 as our first H1 knife. making a rust proof folder is a challenge. We are pleased with our results.

We are intensive about Corrosion resistant knives, and willing to make the investment in time, research and material. I should add that H1 is a a very expensive raw material.

Our new "Jumpmaster" was created by and for the "Jumpmasters" at the 82nd. An H1 Sheepfoot/warncliffe hybrid, serrated.

Another model created for our Military is a modern variation of the Echanis Warrior created by Guy Rafaeli.

sal

^ Thank You Sal for the information.

JD Spydo wrote:Zenith it's kind of funny in a way that you would mention that older model Benchmade dive knife being made with X-15 TN stainless. Because that particular model when it first came out back in 2002 it was introduced in H-1 blade steel. I know that for a fact because I purchased one shortly after it was released and the one I bought had H-1 blade steel. That was the first I had ever heard of H-1. It wasn't until about late 05 when they quit making that knife with H-1 and started making it with X-15 TN stainless.

I even went over to the Benchmade forum to inquire as to why they ceased using H-1 blade steel in the model 100SH20 and no one seemed to know why or even cared why :confused.

I'm willing to bet that it was a money saving move. But no one is talking about it for whatever reason.

X-15 TN is a European steel, used e.g. by some german knives companies. H-1 is a japanese steel. BM tends to avoid japanese steels. That might be a reason?

On the other hand it seems to me that H-1 is, as Sal said, far superior. X-15 TN still rusts although slow.

Anybody knows something about

the Echanis Warrior created by Guy Rafaeli

,

mentioned by Sal?

Franco

I think Boker was the first to use X15TN , have a Orca Hunter in this steel , tank of a FB great steel , but prefer H1 . Regards MG2

speaking about H1

sal wrote:

Another model created for our Military is a modern variation of the Echanis Warrior created by Guy Rafaeli.

sal

yeah what is this????

edit..i did a lil search and found this
http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35755

a quote from the thread

sal wrote:The knife is a variation of the original Warrior design that has been re-designed by Guy Rafaeli for an Israeli Military group.

We are currently working on the sheath. The knife is H1, double edged.

sal

Manix Guy 2 wrote:I think Boker was the first to use X15TN , have a Orca Hunter in this steel , tank of a FB great steel , but prefer H1 . Regards MG2

I think you're right about that Manix Guy. I had a Boker Gemini model with X-15 TN back in 2000/2001. I ended up with 2 of those blades. I really kind of liked X-15 TN on a thin hollow ground blade.

I used to take my yellow handled Gemini snorkling in the Gulf ( Ft. Walton Beach) and I never had any rust on it. However I used to immediately rinse it and my other stuff with fresh water as soon as I was finshed.

To the one brother "Franco G" who was trying to educate me>> I'm already aware of where X-15 TN came from and have been for years. And the fact that a few knife companies ( namely Boker) were already using it.

My question is why did Benchmade change blade steels in a relatively good selling model dive knife like they did? It seems strange because 90% of the people who buy Spyderco blades with H-1 are more than satisfied with them. I seriously doubt if it had anything to do with the origin of the steel>> I'm fairly sure it was money related unless they had trouble with their supplier.

Because if it was a question about their disliking of Japanese Steel they wouldn't have used it to begin with ( at least I wouldn't think so anyway). And I find it equally as odd that they would replace it with X-15 TN. Because there are a lot of American blade steels that are known for corrosion resistance.

And what's more of a riddle is that was about the time when Spyderco started their H-1 Salt series>> and that has at least been a moderate to good success for some time now. It's a head-scratcher to say the least because Benchmade ran a lot magazine articles bragging about H-1's rust resistant properties and they were the first to use it in a dive knife. That is why bought one. I guess it's really not important but it does seem to be counter-productive for them when that knife was well liked with H-1? JD

X15-TN,i have no experience with. i know H1 is from Japan-if its Japanese,its good enough for me,ive got H1 and its real good to me,meets my needs realy good,but in serrated though.

MANIXWORLD wrote:Where is X-15TN made-Japan? i know H1 is from Japan-if its Japanese,its good enough for me,but ive got H1 and its real good to me,meets my needs realy good,but in serrated though.

X-15 TN from what I've heard from 3 different sources is a French made steel. However it was first used by 2 German knife companies that I'm aware of. I have no idea where it is currently being manufactured. I had heard that Boker had some licensing agreement in it's use and manufacture.

Benchmade is the only knife company here in the USA that I'm aware of that is using it in their line. I had heard that William Henry had dabbled with it but I'm not sure. Boker sells quite a few blades here in the USA that are made with that steel. Corrosion resistance is it's claim to fame whereas H-1 has the best of both worlds with the corrosion resistance and edge holding ability

Very, very interesting thread.

Hey, JD, would you happen to know which magazines those Benchmade/H-1 articles were in? Better yet, do you have any links?

I think I read somewhere that X.15 holds it's edge a bit longer than H1 but H1 is much more rust resistent. That's all I know.