Might want to add some more detail there about what you mean by "stainless". Some of the new blade steels fit the criteria and perform as well or better than 1095.
Ka-Bar overrated?
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Might want to add some more detail there about what you mean by "stainless". Some of the new blade steels fit the criteria and perform as well or better than 1095.
alaskanativeson
Member
True. CPM S30V, CPM154, VG10, there are a few stainless steels out there that do a very good job these days. I guess I was mainly thinking about the popularity during the 80s and 90s to make everything stainless which resulted in most things being made from some cheap 400 series stainless that was as near as useless as could be. I still say many of the stainless steels used today (440C, AUS 8A, 420HC) are not as good as the carbon tool steels such as D2, A2, 01, and Busse's Infi. At least they're not Pakistani stainless.
I do have a number of stainless blades I like, they're all the premium stainless I listed above. My EDC is a Mini-Griptilian with an S30V blade, but I also have the Cabela's version with D2. I had Valkman make me a Landshark with a CPM154 blade, but I also had him make me a B&T with a CPM D2.
I do have a number of stainless blades I like, they're all the premium stainless I listed above. My EDC is a Mini-Griptilian with an S30V blade, but I also have the Cabela's version with D2. I had Valkman make me a Landshark with a CPM154 blade, but I also had him make me a B&T with a CPM D2.
JR47
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On Cold Steel's web-site, Lynn Thompson states that Carbon V was dropped due to the single manufacturer in the United States ceasing to manufacture it. That's a far different story, from the man who bought most of it, that some tale about Chinese Cutlery. FYI, Thompson has long had knives for Cold Steel made in Taiwan. So does SOG, and even Al-Mar.
An EDC knife requires exotic steels ONLY if the owner wants the satisfaction of saying the "my blade is made of". The older, high-carbon steels serve quite well, as do the various stainless steels. D2, and O1 are machine tool steels, and are expensive to purchase, work, and heat treat. For what? To cut paper and cardboard, and plastic tape?
MY EDC is Fire/EMS is and was a Spyderco Standard Model, with the Spyder edge. It has done everything asked of it, from cutting wiring bundles on cars, to seat-belts, and being used to break glass. It has also cut busted hose on a fireground (dirty and full of sand), cut the metal safety wire on meters, and cut limbs and brush. It's not anything exotic in the blade, just a solid performer.
An EDC knife requires exotic steels ONLY if the owner wants the satisfaction of saying the "my blade is made of". The older, high-carbon steels serve quite well, as do the various stainless steels. D2, and O1 are machine tool steels, and are expensive to purchase, work, and heat treat. For what? To cut paper and cardboard, and plastic tape?
MY EDC is Fire/EMS is and was a Spyderco Standard Model, with the Spyder edge. It has done everything asked of it, from cutting wiring bundles on cars, to seat-belts, and being used to break glass. It has also cut busted hose on a fireground (dirty and full of sand), cut the metal safety wire on meters, and cut limbs and brush. It's not anything exotic in the blade, just a solid performer.
bernie
Member
I do not know about it's use as a "Combat" knife, but I love them. I keep one in my pickup all the time, and have used it for all kinds of things, many of which you are not supposed to do with knives. It is small enough to be handy, but rugged enough to not break for any reasonable job that is asked of it.
BHP FAN
Member
The K-Bar is no more over rated than the M1 Garand,or Colt .45.
Stainless steel can be a very good choice for knives, the trick is getting good stainless steel.
All surgical insturments are now made of high quality stainless steel and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Mentioning 'Chinese made' and 'stainless steel' in the same sentence tends to make me cringe.
Chinese metallurgy, even in this the modern world, leaves a lot to be desired.
All surgical insturments are now made of high quality stainless steel and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Mentioning 'Chinese made' and 'stainless steel' in the same sentence tends to make me cringe.
Chinese metallurgy, even in this the modern world, leaves a lot to be desired.
alaskanativeson
Member
That really says it best. It's truly a beautiful analogy. There are certainly "improved" versions that have come along in the intervening years, but often the improvements turn out to be less than one would hope for. Sometimes MUCH less.BHP FAN said:
theotherwaldo
Member
My big problem with the Ka-Bar fighting knife is that I keep shearing the pin that holds the pommel in place - and always at a very inconvenient time.
There's nothing like trying to cut up what will be my supper with a knife that is shedding little leather washers... .
There's nothing like trying to cut up what will be my supper with a knife that is shedding little leather washers... .
First of all, the "KaBar" company did not even exist during WW2. An enterprising businessman (maybe a vet, maybe not, I don't know) named his knife company Kabar to traffic on the popularity of the original Ontario made KA-BAR. Which stands for Knife, Accessory- Browning Automatic Rifle. The Bowie style blade was adopted for field use by those automatic Riflemen, since a BAR won't take a bayonet. There were nearly as many carried by Soldiers in the European theater, as by Marines in the Pacific, but the soldiers had the option of carrying a M3 trench knife instead. That's how it became synonymous with the Marine Corps. The Ontario company continued to manufacture them for issue, just making them all black, to Machine Gunners right up to the modern day. Every marine worth his salt carried one, and as such, they continued in popularity w/ the civilian world. I myself have 3 of them. All with the best edge I can give them. In my opinion, keeping that razor edge relies on a good stropping after each sharpening.
krs
Member
Well, there are other versions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KA-BAR
KBintheSLC
Member
Ka-Bar makes very useful tool/fighting knives at a very affordable price. If anything, they are under rated. I have 2 and love em.
ThrottleJockey
member
I'm not a fan. I like SOG and the old usa gerber. But I use knifes strictly as utilitarian, and don't enjoy sharpening in the field. In combat, a dull knife is just as effective as a sharp one, perfect for stabbing, rough edge rips flesh rather than cutting it. Ever been cut with a razor? didn't even know you were cut till you saw blood right? How about a dull knife? Bet you noticed that cut!!!
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