Salt 2 LC200 questions

[awa54]

It seems like the knife is a linerless Delica, with slight blade shape differences and (practically) rust proof blade/hardware.

My question is this: if I have a Delica parts kit (for the liners), can I use aftermarket scales and back spacer to create a non-acid green version of this knife, or is the hardware (or pivot diameter) dimensionally different enough that it won't work?

Obviously it wouldn't be to full Salt spec, since the liners will be standard Delica parts, but that's not a concern for me.

TIA!

[Wartstein]

It seems like the knife is a linerless Delica, with slight blade shape differences and (practically) rust proof blade/hardware.

My question is this: if I have a Delica parts kit (for the liners), can I use aftermarket scales and back spacer to create a non-acid green version of this knife, or is the hardware (or pivot diameter) dimensionally different enough that it won't work?

Obviously it wouldn't be to full Salt spec, since the liners will be standard Delica parts, but that's not a concern for me.

TIA!

I can´t answer most of your questions since I don´t have a Salt 2 yet.

But to understand you rightly: You actually plan to transfer a Salt blade and lockbar into a regular Delica 4 handle, right?

I would expect problems tbh, due to possible (more or less) slight differences in the Delica and Salt 2 blade and lockbar, but can´t be sure of course. At least all the screws look to be in the exact same places on Delica and Salt 2

[awa54]

Right, I like LC200 but don't need the full Salt corrosion resistance and I'm not a fan of the green scales.

The potential for a pivot that's designed to work in a linerless scale to be different from one meant to fit a steel lined scale is the thing I was most concerned about, but any dimensional differences could kill the project

Ideally all the hardware from the Salt would be transplanted to the new scales/liners/back spacer.

[ladybug93]

even if it all fits together, you may run into issues with the liners not playing nice with the lc200n. there have been issues with galvanic corrosion, which happens when lc200n is left in contact with other steels. just by using liners with it, you may develop rust issues. i'm not sure if, or how much, this would be affected by the addition of washers. have you considered just dyeing the green handles? frn takes dye easily and a lot of people do it to salt knives because they don't care for the bright colors.

[awa54]

After looking at Nick Shabaz's PacSalt 2 disassembly vid, I'm pretty sure that it could be made to work if all parts aside from the blade and lock bar are sourced from a Delica parts kit or donor knife, the only *mechanical* question that still keeps me from moving forward is pivot diameter (in the vid the pivot hole in the blade looked as if it might be larger than the stock Delica/Endura).

Has LC200N been found to *cause* corrosion in other steels? I was under the impression that many of the cases of LC or H1 rust spots were simply microscopic particles of other less corrosion resistant steel that were transferred to the surface of the rust proof steels by grinding machinery that had previously been used for processing other steels ...and again, I won't be using this knife in demanding conditions, just EDC in the northeastern US.

[Doc Dan]

Just dye the scales.

[vivi]

Just dye the scales.

$2 in materials and 20 minutes of time and OP can have what he wants.

It is so easy. You can even save the dye for next time you have a project. The black dye I used on these two knives is from the same half of a bottle of liquid RIT that I paid $5 for at a craft store:

[TenGrainBread]

"Right, I like LC200 but don't need the full Salt corrosion resistance"

I guess I don't really understand this desire. From what I've seen, the only advantage of LC200N over even VG-10 is corrosion-resistance. Edge-holding is similar or better in VG-10, and definitely better with S30V. So why would you go through all this work of trying to convert a Delica when what you want already exists standard with the VG-10 and S30V models?

[ugaarguy]

"Right, I like LC200 but don't need the full Salt corrosion resistance"

I guess I don't really understand this desire. From what I've seen, the only advantage of LC200N over even VG-10 is corrosion-resistance. Edge-holding is similar or better in VG-10, and definitely better with S30V. So why would you go through all this work of trying to convert a Delica when what you want already exists standard with the VG-10 and S30V models?

I don't get it either. I like LC200N because it's a near rustproof steel that can be done in FFG blades, and it provides roughly VG-10 edge holding in PE. I also like that most of the Salts are liner-less, which is an even bigger corrosion concern than the blade, IME. If someone isn't concerned about extreme corrosion resistance and wants a Delica with liners, then I don't see any advantage of LC200N over VG-10.

[tonijedi]

I'm yet to try LC200N, but Cedric and Ada rate LC very high on their cut tests:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/ ... 1607644856

Yes, above Cruwear,S30V...

[Wartstein]

I'm yet to try LC200N, but Cedric and Ada rate LC very high on their cut tests:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/ ... 1607644856

Yes, above Cruwear,S30V...

Yes, this has been discussed in some "Larrins steel chart edge retention" thread.
As far as I recall, Larrin respectfully debunked this (or the results to other factors than the steels themselves).
I think he made pretty clear (and showed also in his charts) that LC is definitely below S30V and also VG 10 when it comes to edge retention.

But I´d have to search for that thread and the resp. post there to be 100 percent precise.

[Wartstein]

Added to my post above:

HERE is the chart by Larrin: https://i0.wp.com/knifesteelnerds.com/w ... =753&ssl=1
And HERE the related article https://knifesteelnerds.com/2020/05/01/ ... fe-steels/

LC is below VG10 and also BD1N in edge retention there.
I think I can recall that some rated it as about like 8CRMOV in that regard.
Might be that in a real salty marine environment the egde retention increases compared to non rustproof steels in the same environment cause in LC there is no edge degredation due to rust on the very edge

EDIT: Of course LC is run softer in that charts than VG10... so that will explain some of the lower edge retention. Question is, if it can be run harder (no idea)

[tonijedi]

I am aware of those tests, which I really value, as they are truly scientific.
But I can't close my eyes on the other tests, specially when LC200N has been tested several times.
I got to try it by myself and see what RWT says.

[vivi]

Going by my own use alone, I can't tell much of a difference between vg10 and lc200n in regards to edge holding.

[awa54]

Two points in favor of LC200N over VG-10:

Toughness (yes, I've had Spyderco VG-10 chip in several knives)

Sharpening response (VG-10 isn't a challenging steel to get good edges with, but LC200N is downright easy)

...and yes, dyeing the handles would be much easier, but you can't turn FRN into CF or Ti with Rit dye

[James Y]

I’ve seen results for LC200N edge-holding from below VG-10 to at or above S30V. TBH, edge-holding results are almost certain to vary in real-world use.

Jim

[ugaarguy]

Two points in favor of LC200N over VG-10:

Toughness

Sharpening response

...and yes, dyeing the handles would be much easier, but you can't turn FRN into CF or Ti with Rit dye

But Spyerco could put an LC200N blade and cermic ball detent into the Sage 2, which would give us a knife with the Salt features of the SpydieChef and the more traditional Spyderco ergos of the Sage series. :D I can hope, right? :o

[Doc Dan]

Two points in favor of LC200N over VG-10:

Toughness (yes, I've had Spyderco VG-10 chip in several knives)

Sharpening response (VG-10 isn't a challenging steel to get good edges with, but LC200N is downright easy)

...and yes, dyeing the handles would be much easier, but you can't turn FRN into CF or Ti with Rit dye

There are probably custom scale makers who could make linerless G10 scales for your knife like they do other linerless Spydercos.

[vivi]

I've always wanted to have someone custom make a one piece Ti handle for a Pacific Salt.

[skeeg11]

Yes!!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$