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mtburt
Join Date: 5/15/2008
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6/1/2008 7:03:23 PM Knife Metals
I have a question about the various types of steel available for outdoor/survival/tactical knifes. I've seen many different types of steel blades (carbon, tool, stainless) and variation within those categories (AUS-8 stainless, D2 tool, 1095 carbon, etc). Can anyone fill me in as to what the benefits and pitfalls of the various steels are? What would you recommend for a general purpose survival knife, say one to keep in your tier 1 equipment?
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Combat Medic
Join Date: 4/4/2008
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6/1/2008 10:55:14 PM CARBON STEEL
Bottom line carbon steel is easier to sharpen and makes sparks great for primitive fire starting. Your stainless steels are hard to sharpen and are harder if not impossible to make sparks with. In a survival situation a knife that you cant sharpen with whats at hand or use to make a fire may have limited utility.
I would recommend the Cold Steel SRK but the older version in carbon V not the new version the new one is in AUS 8 Stainless so be advised. Also the RAT series of knives by Ontario I believe come in 1095 carbon steel. I particularly like the RAT 5 which like the old carbon V SRK you can still find on ebay
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Urban Medic
Join Date: 3/21/2008
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6/2/2008 5:37:00 AM
How are Damascus knives in the sparking area?
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Dan
Join Date: 3/14/2008
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6/2/2008 8:17:13 AM Stainless are Brittle
Stainless knives are more brittle than carbon steel. I bought a really nice stainless buck that snapped with a bit of hard use the first week I had it.
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Combat Medic
Join Date: 4/4/2008
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6/2/2008 11:10:35 AM FOLLOW UP
I imagine it would depend upon what steel is used in making the folds for the Damascus. More stainless less spark. Bottom line go with carbon.
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mtburt
Join Date: 5/15/2008
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6/2/2008 9:43:20 PM Carbon it is
So it looks like carbon it is. Thanks for your recommendations.
Out of curiosity, I can understand why some people would trade some toughness for rust resistance when using stainless steel but what is the benefit of having a tool steel blade?
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Combat Medic
Join Date: 4/4/2008
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6/3/2008 5:22:14 PM STEEL
Tool Steel is very hard and resistant to abrasion check out this link for more information. What makes a different steel is basically what is mixed with to form an alloy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_steel
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Jeff
Join Date: 2/28/2008
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6/3/2008 7:30:25 PM
Mine is the kershaw blade, with 1580 S30V.
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Join Date: 6/24/2008
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3/10/2010 8:24:36 AM Nameless
Anybody have any experience with the Cold Steel Trailmaster in Sk-5 steel specifically? It looks like I can get a very good deal on one but my paranoid side is suggesting that too good a deal means thats something wrong with the thing. It is brand new-never used too by the way. Thanks for your input (if any) ahead of time. I appreciate it.
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Backwoodsman
Join Date: 12/11/2008
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3/10/2010 9:41:22 AM
I had a carbon 5 years ago and no troubles. Coldsteel is one of the better knife makers out there, can't see any problems with a newer blade from them. Maybe check over the web site and see what Cold Steel says. I have the G.I. Tanto and that thing is a beast. I have cut through a treated 4X$ with one in a couple minutes, so I think their high end knives would be built as good or better.
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Trackerdoc
Join Date: 3/15/2008
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3/10/2010 12:50:20 PM
I have a trailmaster in Carbon V and it is great. it was a factory second and not an error I could see. I have used it to shop saplings and to cut up dinner and the like. Sheath is ok. good edge holding. Slight curve to belly that makes it cut a little better by drawing than most. For the weight it is a great knife. Its not a machete or a Kukri, but is a nice balance between those to knives and a shorted hunting knife. would be great as backwoodman says with a mallet approach to splitting wood.
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Backwoodsman
Join Date: 12/11/2008
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3/10/2010 6:02:49 PM
Trackerdoc,
I used the G.I Tanto free hand, no mallet. Every Cold Steel knife I have had has been great. I lost my Trail Master and it also was a second. I had considered replacing the handle since it was stamped with the number 2 on it but lost it over the years. I have one of the warrior line swords too but had to redo the handle. The guard was loose so a bit of JB weld and now I have yet to re-wrap it. Plan to use para-cord and make a Kydex sheath.
Every post I have seen on knives talks about how personal they are. I have a TOPS Tracker and it is okay, just got caught up from watching The Hunted too many times and had to have it. I wish I could make it to the knife making class but can't this time around. I want to make a very personal knife. There seem to be something very personal about the knife you carry making one seems the best way to go if you have the tools, time and skills.
One thing about some knives, the sheath are often not the best, like the Trailmaster. Kydex it alright and very easy to work with. Your kitchen oven will heat it enough to mold it to shape. I still like leather and have made many sheaths over the years.
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Join Date: 6/24/2008
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3/16/2010 6:18:24 AM Nameless
Thanks for the input guys. I bought it (The Cold Steel Trailmaster in Sk-5 steel) and can't wait to get my grubby paws on it to play with a little. I'll let you know how it goes in case anyone else is interested in purchasing one.
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