Spyderco Forums

Bolster wrote: ↑

Wed May 24, 2023 10:42 pm

Any interest in Bohler K294? 2.5% carbon, 9.5% vanadium. Over on BF, Ankerson says for edge retention, "K390 is close to K294" but that nothing he's aware of, beats K294 or 10V yet (that was posted in 2012). "K294 steel is the steel when one needs the absolute maximum in edge holding... K294 beat S110V in edge retention by 17%" (posted in 2011). Apparently Phil Wilson works with K294, producing it around 64 Rc.

Yes, READ the whole thread you found this week. Seems that K294 is quite the steel. I will be sure to GRAB ONE when available to be sold. Thanks for this old thread herein as I was looking for some insight on K294 ALSO. I would BUY this over 90V right now...

Infact I would BUY a Paramilitary 2 or Manix 2 in K294 right now... But, of course, the MULE TEAM example is an excellent starting point...

Definitely interested in this one. I really like the 10V that I got from Kizer, but never experienced it in something that I could be a little more confident in with regard to heat treat.

I will get one of these, yes. Interested to see how seki does K294

Reviewing my "blue list" (viewtopic.php?f=15&t=89168&p=1722505#p1717677) it looks like the K294 mule (at $95) is/was/will be outpriced by just the Maximet mule (which was $110).

And no, the prices on the "blue list" are not adjusted for inflation. Ah, remember the good old days, when you could get a Damascus mule for $85?

I’m interested!

I hear good things about Bohler’s manufacturing processes. True or not, I have no clue.

Shame about the price, of course. But that’s just the way it is…

Phil Wilson fixed blade design produced in K294 in seki would be amazing.

I imagine that this will be the "K390 Mule" that many folks wanted out the gate, being that Seki is seemingly the favorite factory producing (heat treating) K390 knives, thus far. The two steels are regarded as being extremely similar in use. I'm much looking forward to this one.

So does K294 have same corrosion resistance rating as 10V ? Sorry dumb question . MG2

weeping minora wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 10, 2023 4:37 pm

I imagine that this will be the "K390 Mule" that many folks wanted out the gate, being that Seki is seemingly the favorite factory producing (heat treating) K390 knives, thus far. The two steels are regarded as being extremely similar in use. I'm much looking forward to this one.

I've had the chance to score a K390 Mule last year and a K390 PM2 recently. The difference in heat treat is pretty clear once you're on the stones. Seki's K390 definitely sharpens easier !

Manixguy@1994 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 10, 2023 6:00 pm

So does K294 have same corrosion resistance rating as 10V ? Sorry dumb question . MG2

They are quite practically the exact same steel, just produced by different foundries. I couldn't find out how to copy the graph image and paste it here in my post, so I've added the link below comparing CPM 10V, 15V, K294 and K390:

http://zknives.com/knives/steels/steelg ... hrn=1&gm=0

Ramonade wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 11, 2023 6:09 am

weeping minora wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 10, 2023 4:37 pm

I imagine that this will be the "K390 Mule" that many folks wanted out the gate, being that Seki is seemingly the favorite factory producing (heat treating) K390 knives, thus far. The two steels are regarded as being extremely similar in use. I'm much looking forward to this one.

I've had the chance to score a K390 Mule last year and a K390 PM2 recently. The difference in heat treat is pretty clear once you're on the stones. Seki's K390 definitely sharpens easier !

I only have experience with Seki's treatment of K390, but it has been all good to me, once dialing in how it likes to be sharpened.

weeping minora wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 11, 2023 9:08 am

Manixguy@1994 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 10, 2023 6:00 pm

So does K294 have same corrosion resistance rating as 10V ? Sorry dumb question . MG2

They are quite practically the exact same steel, just produced by different foundries. I couldn't find out how to copy the graph image and paste it here in my post, so I've added the link below comparing CPM 10V, 15V, K294 and K390:

http://zknives.com/knives/steels/steelg ... hrn=1&gm=0

Thank you ! MG2

weeping minora wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 11, 2023 9:10 am

Ramonade wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 11, 2023 6:09 am

weeping minora wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 10, 2023 4:37 pm

I imagine that this will be the "K390 Mule" that many folks wanted out the gate, being that Seki is seemingly the favorite factory producing (heat treating) K390 knives, thus far. The two steels are regarded as being extremely similar in use. I'm much looking forward to this one.

I've had the chance to score a K390 Mule last year and a K390 PM2 recently. The difference in heat treat is pretty clear once you're on the stones. Seki's K390 definitely sharpens easier !

I only have experience with Seki's treatment of K390, but it has been all good to me, once dialing in how it likes to be sharpened.

I had to find my favorite kind of edge with K390, like with every steels! Right now i've been rocking a F240 edge straight off the stone then 9 micron diamond emulsion, 2 very gentle passes on each side.

Golden K390 might have been the "first" times Spyderco had to heat treat K390, maybe it helped them develop the processus that is used in Seki now.
I don't know if the PM2 came in after the first Seki K390 models, but it seems like the heat treat isn't in its final form when you sharpen and use the knife.

Ramonade wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 11, 2023 9:55 am

weeping minora wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 11, 2023 9:10 am

Ramonade wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 11, 2023 6:09 am

weeping minora wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 10, 2023 4:37 pm

I imagine that this will be the "K390 Mule" that many folks wanted out the gate, being that Seki is seemingly the favorite factory producing (heat treating) K390 knives, thus far. The two steels are regarded as being extremely similar in use. I'm much looking forward to this one.

I've had the chance to score a K390 Mule last year and a K390 PM2 recently. The difference in heat treat is pretty clear once you're on the stones. Seki's K390 definitely sharpens easier !

I only have experience with Seki's treatment of K390, but it has been all good to me, once dialing in how it likes to be sharpened.

I had to find my favorite kind of edge with K390, like with every steels! Right now i've been rocking a F240 edge straight off the stone then 9 micron diamond emulsion, 2 very gentle passes on each side.

Golden K390 might have been the "first" times Spyderco had to heat treat K390, maybe it helped them develop the processus that is used in Seki now.
I don't know if the PM2 came in after the first Seki K390 models, but it seems like the heat treat isn't in its final form when you sharpen and use the knife.

I've been enjoying the edges from the Venev diamond stones (I have their "Dragon Series" stones). The 400 grit, straight to 3 and 1 micron (Stroppy Stuff diamond compound) on leather gives a really aggressive edge, whilst still being much more refined when compared other stones of "similar grit" (like DMT stones). The Spyderco CBN bench stone also gave great results, from what I can remember. Silicon Carbide didn't seem to give the edge the longevity I get from those Venev stones (even when running it up to the Venev 1200 grit versus any finish from SiC). I "deburr" (I try to only form an incredibly light burr, before flipping sides) as well as I can on each stone progression, before I strop. I tend to strop for a decent amount of time, before my edge is "complete". I've never found that a few passes on a strop did anything of note to my edges. I don't know what it looks like under loupe/microscope, but the only real thing that has gotten it to dull to any noticeable degree is from corrosion (my sweat does not play well with these low Cr steels).

I believe the Golden K390 was first and then Seki joined the pipeline. sal mentions that it took years for Seki to work with the steel, so I'm sure the refinement from all of those years is what we get delivered, now.