CPM Spy27 in a Post-Crucible World

[Sterling454]

I haven't seen this addressed anywhere (please link me the thread if I missed it), but what is going to happen with CPM SPY27 steel after Crucible's collapse? Is this among the steels that we'll eventually see as a Niagara/Erasteel/Carpenter product once on-hand stock runs out?

[Brock O Lee]

Good question, but I don't believe anyone knows the answer yet...

[Guts]

Unfortunately per Sal (unless anything has changed since he made the thread), it's likely going away in addition to the exotic stuff like REX 121 and 15V. viewtopic.php?t=98121

[PaperKnife]

What a bummer (if true)
Perhaps some licensing deals can be made?

[Fastidiotus]

Time to start hording my favorite EDC steel I guess.

[WilliamMunny]

From Sal’s comments it is my understanding that it won’t be made anymore. On the plus side they bought a ton of it and should be good for awhile.

[PaperKnife]

From they bought a ton of it and should be good for awhile.

[PaperKnife]

…they bought a ton of it and should be good for awhile.

[PaperKnife]

double-post

[spydergoat]

I would imagine that some Spy27 models will be much sought after in the future once no longer in production. The fewer made the more collectible.

[WilliamMunny]

I would imagine that some Spy27 models will be much sought after in the future once no longer in production. The fewer made the more collectible.

I only have one knife in it, a Bodacious and it’s been a really good steel. I would have no problem getting other knives in it. It is a big step ahead on S30V in real world use IMO.

[Spyderbot_matrix]

Might as well grab a manix 2 spy27 LW in both the Aquamarine and Cobalt blue- but why no NSM
“Spywear“ or “Spycut” or “Spyedge”? Does it have a PITA process like 15V?

I’m not in the know

[horzuff]

Might as well grab a manix 2 spy27 LW in both the Aquamarine and Cobalt blue- but why no NSM
“Spywear“ or “Spycut” or “Spyedge”? Does it have a PITA process like 15V?

I’m not in the know

My guess is more that it's a proprietary, cutlery-only steel rather than it being hard to process.

[Manixguy@1994]

Might as well grab a manix 2 spy27 LW in both the Aquamarine and Cobalt blue- but why no NSM
“Spywear“ or “Spycut” or “Spyedge”? Does it have a PITA process like 15V?

I’m not in the know

The Mini Dyad will have a serrated blade that will be coming out , so at least we will have an example though small . MG2

[cjk]

I like SPY27 a lot, so I'm really interested in this topic. I mostly just have thoughts, questions, and sorta educated guesses.

SPY27 is only used by Spyderco. Spyderco owns the trademark on SPY27. I don't recall being able to locate a patent on the specific composition. It seems like it probably could be made by someone other than Crucible. I doubt it has extreme temperature requirements like 15V does. I am assuming that the reason it might go away is probably some other reason than the different capabilities of equipment.

There's only one customer for SPY27, so Spyderco would probably have to buy entire heats at a time.
With Crucible, that was like 6,500 pounds. With Erasteel, I hear that's 21,500 pounds. I don't know if this larger amount makes it unfeasible. I don't know how much steel Spyderco would go through in a year or how many heats of SPY27 Crucible produced (which would be data that could be used to guess the first thing). I don't expect Spyderco will want to share any of this either, so it's something I won't be able to know.

Maybe Erasteel doesn't want to make a custom grade which is only sellable to one customer?

Maybe with Niagara Specialty Metals having to figure out from whom they're going to source all the grades the knife industry is used to using, maybe SPY27 is on the back burner or even at the end of that line? Maybe it's just not a part of the plan at all at present? Maybe SPY27 goes on hiatus for awhile then possibly comes back when supply chains are more settled?

Maybe it could become a grade used by more companies than Spyderco but would have to be called something else by other vendors kinda like Cronidur 30 / Z-Finit / LC200N / N360 ?

[elena86]

I don’t accept the idea that SPY27 will become extinct. I like this steel quite a lot. It’s a joy to sharpen and use. Maybe Sal will find a way. It’s time to purchase a Yojimbo, waiting for the Dyad jr. I dream of a cobalt blue G10 Smock.