Oddball blade steels

[sal]

I've seen a few questions regarding the availability of some of the exotic steels that we've been using. Maybe Shawn, or even Bob from Niagara will chime in?

It does appear that we will not be able to get some of the more exotic blade steels that we've been using We did purchase quite a bit and Bob at Niagara has also purchased quite a bit, (Thank you Bob) but in time, they might be no more.

The steels in question, at this time are; REX-121, CPM 15V (Shawn's) and SPY-27. If there are others in question, please mention them here?

So if you have interest in these steels, you may want to pay attention to the availability and the market?

sal

[WilliamMunny]

Sal, you’re awesome. Thank you for the heads up, way more than other companies would do.

Sorry to hear those steels might be in limited stock, some of the best out there.

[Mrj]

So am I reading that right. Maybe Spy-27 will be no more?

[Wallach]

What about CruWear? I've been wondering what happened to those CruCarta Natives that were announced last year.

[sal]

Hi Wallach,

I don't there will be any more CPM-Cruwear, but there are other foundries that make similar grades.

Which is actually a shame, because Crucible made powdered Cruwear for Spyderco. I asked them about the steel. (What was Vascowear). They said they made it in ingot I ordered some for the Mule Team and they surprised me by powdering it for us. We're going to miss Crucible.

sal

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Thank you for this information, sal. My next question to this: Is there a way for other foundries to lawfully reproduce alloys like Spy-27 to increase available supply, or that is a very difficult thing to do?

[abbazaba]

Crucible closing still feels like a bad dream. I'm stuck in disbelief.

[WilliamMunny]

Hi Wallach,

I don't there will be any more CPM-Cruwear, but there are other foundries that make similar grades.

Which is actually a shame, because Crucible made powdered Cruwear for Spyderco. I asked them about the steel. (What was Vascowear). They said they made it in ingot I ordered some for the Mule Team and they surprised me by powdering it for us. We're going to miss Crucible.

sal

Sal,

Do you think Z-Wear will be a substitute for Cruwear? I have a mule made in it and it has preformed well.

[sal]

Hi SEF,

Erasteel purchased the IP so It's possible that they are the only company legally permitted to make it. Bob at Niagara said he will try to purchase it and if he could get it, we would still have our exclusive.

Hey WilliamMunny,

Z-Wear and PD1 are very similar grades. I don't know if they're powdered?

sal

[Danke]

No specific requests but I for sure like the less common tool steels. REX 121 in my pocket today.

[Guts]

Dang this is what I was wondering/worried about. Cruwear has been favorite steel of mine but PD#1 has been a great analog admittedly. It is a powdered steel as well from what I remember reading on the description of the recent sprints. Could that possibly end up replacing Cruwear on the Micarta models?

I'm guessing stuff like the REX steels, 10V on the REC exclusives, M4, etc might be off the table too eventually unless Erasteel makes them? Dang shame about Crucuble.

[Evil D]

Seems my hopes of a 15V Bodacious may have just died on the vine. Such a bummer.

[wrdwrght]

So I don’t hijaak your question, Sal, can we just assume that you’ve already confident about what Spyderco’ bread-and-butter steels will be, and are polling us here for the odd stuff you hope to find among diminished sources?

[Naperville]

Too bad on the 15V. I have at least 3 - 15V knives and everything that I've read says it's stellar. They are rare now, but I'll keep them and buy more if they are offered.

[wrdwrght]

Seems my hopes of a 15V Bodacious may have just died on the vine. Such a bummer.

I’d take a Bodacious in Zapp Z-Wear PM. It was good enough for that weird two-phase Shaman sprint-run. The current tariffing insanity can’t go on forever.

[Synov]

So is Shawn's folder design dead? This is crazy. I knew there was a reason I bought two 15V PM2s...

[sal]

So is Shawn's folder design dead? This is crazy. I knew there was a reason I bought two 15V PM2s...

Hi Synov,

Actually Eric purchased enough of the 15V for Shawn's folder to be made in Golden.

sal

[apollo]

So is Shawn's folder design dead? This is crazy. I knew there was a reason I bought two 15V PM2s...

Hi Synov,

Actually Eric purchased enough of the 15V for Shawn's folder to be made in Golden.

sal

Hi Sal.
Do you perhapse have any knowledge about the stocks or if there are similar steels for S90V and S110V ? There maybe not so rare as 15V but i still like those allot. I was hoping to have some Manix XL versions of those one day.

[sal]

Hi Apollo,

That's part of the reason for this thread, I'm trying to gather information from wherever we might be able to get it on what the future may hold for these steels.

sal

[Deadboxhero]

I believe we are waiting for Bob Shabala at NSM to make a public announcement about the "new world order" of steel as the still settles from Crucible Industries LLC closing. Keep in mind there are deals being made with Erasteel and others that we waiting to see finalized and announced publicly.

I don't want to misspeak about things that are developing so I'll wait for the announcement.

I guess the timing of the CPM 15V sprint run was at the perfect place and time, I suppose that answers some folks questions about why CPM 15V was a sprint and not a standard production steel.


3.5% Carbon
14.5% Vanadium
5.25% Chromium
1.25% Molybdenum


We forget that's a pretty extreme grade that has serious challenges to make into a bar of PM steel let alone make knives out of.


It's quite remarkable we got a chance to get this stuff out there with a fine tuned heat treatment to enjoy such an extreme flavor of edge performance.


I was happy to see the CPM 15V become a proven performer.


I think in the future, we'll look back on it with fondness and treasure these Spyderco CPM 15V knives.

I am very excited that my Golden collaboration folder will give CPM 15V the proper send off.