Hey everyone David C. Andersen here coming at you from the
KnifeCenter and welcome to KniFAQ episode 139 of the knife
series where I answer all your questions sharp or dull. This
week we're taking a look at steel and some blade materials
and asking ourselves if some of the old classics are still any
good. Let's get into it
alright, if you're new to this series, we take your questions
we pull them from the comments sections. Below these videos. If
you've got a question, and you think it might be worthy of a
future episode, just drop it in the comments below. First
question today comes from Austin Freiburger. It seems like we're
entering a new era of budget pocket knives. Let me just pause
and say, Yeah, budget knives these days are super good. In
fact, some of the best knives this year have been cheap ones
quite honestly, there's some good stuff out there. Do you
think old classics that feature budget Steel's such as 8CR, 9CR,
Aus8, et cetera and non finger safe locking mechanisms are
becoming obsolete to high performing Steel's and locking
mechanisms at a similar price. So it's kind of interesting what
to think about, I think your usage of the word obsolete leads
me a certain way. And I would say no, you know your 8CR steel
knives that you have your off site knives you know whatever
for even your 420J2 knives if you have them are not obsolete
because they still cut what you need to cut today just as well
as they cut what you needed to cut the day you bought them you
know, whenever that was whether it was five years ago 10, 20
whatever number of years ago because you know knives are you
know, they're more long lasting than some of the more temporal
things in our world today. Take a look at this this laptop here
for instance, or the even to an extent the camera that Thomas is
filming me on over there, hey Thomas. Nowadays, if you buy
like electronics nowadays, from the day you buy them every
single day after that, it's a little bit worse than it was the
day before. Because the world around those elements, those
those electronics, the world it interacts with, is constantly
changing. But the world of stuff you interact with, you know,
with the actual sharpened the business end of a blade, the
world it interacts with changes at a phenomenally slower pace,
then, you know, electronics, you know, chances are you're cutting
the same stuff with with a pocket knife today as you were
cutting 20 years ago with exceptions, of course on
anything. So no, they're not obsolete, but I would say maybe
they become less competitive. As you know competition pushes
performance into lower price points. I have some examples
here but let's talk about back up and talk about the locks here
for a minute I love in the budget arena especially this is
where things are really exciting. The proliferation of
new crossbar locks a lot more button locks I love finger safe
locking mechanisms. I've talked about that on this channel a
lot. But that doesn't mean a frame locks no good or a liner
lock or a back lock is no good. In fact, in the higher end
sphere of things those locks still reign supreme I mean take
the Carbon Alloy it's carbon with a que feel like I always
have to say that that just launched you know bolster sale
frame lock here be cool to see more more crossbar locks and
button locks in the higher end scheme of things we're seeing a
little bit but still like definitely not obsolete if a
higher end thing is still using them I would say but onto the
the thought about them being less competitive. This Al Mar
right here is a perfect example. This is the classic Falcon used
to be well it still is an Aus8 blade used to be these were made
in Japan. fair bit more expensive over $100. So I'm
trying to remember where they ended when they were fine with a
Japanese made versions were finally discontinued. I'm not
sure where but at a certain point, you know, they're no
longer competitive with the other stuff out there. So now we
have the newer versions they're made in China rather than Japan
still has oscillate but we're at $48 right here. So it's, you
know, it changed the product essentially. Doesn't mean it's a
better or worse knife. Other things may contribute to that.
But as a product, this is now more competitive. Maybe the
original product became obsolete, but really not that
it's more it not being competitive. It's like cars to
like the Model T is obsolete they'll still get you from A to
B. My cars are 20 years old, they still get me to work every
day. Yeah. Notice he said plural less because when one doesn't he
has another one that will get them to work. It's your every,
your EDC, your everyday car rotation. Is Thomas's EDC
rotation. So I hope that made sense. No, I don't think those
things are going to be obsolete are going to be obsolete, but
they are getting less competitive as performance
continues to push into lower price points. Which brings me to
a steel mentioned in this next question from Barocci 1224. What
happens to Steel's like S30V, which aren't premium materials
anymore? Will they replace D2 as a budget material D2 was what
I'm talking about when I started getting into knives. D2 was a
much more expensive material than it was today. Well, maybe
that's not necessarily true. But the knives that were equipped
with D2 steel are not budget knives, I wasn't until it might
not have been the first but like the Ontario RAT 2 in D2 really
kind of changed the game in bringing that steel to a more
affordable price point. And part of that is because anybody can
make it D2 is just a recipe where it's s 30 v is a crucible
industries product it's made here in the USA with particle
metallurgy processes. So there's some costs certainly baked in to
that structure. So I don't think it's never going to be as cheap
as D2 can be again, because literally anyone can make D2.
But I wanted to say yeah, no, I don't think we're gonna see us
30 V replacing, you know, stuff like D2 on the budget side of
things. But right around the margins, it's getting a little
different. I mean, this is the cheapest s 30 v folder we've got
on our site right now is a Spyderco dragonfly, it's like 50
bucks, tiny blade, but you can get you know, this ESEE Churp
for about 20 bucks with the D2 steel blade. And you know more
knife here with the s even though it's not as premium of
steel. So things are creeping down, you have to get maybe
closer like 75 to 80 bucks till you start seeing more like full
size knives in stuff like s 30 v. But what we might see this is
just conjecture, I don't know anything inside information or
anything. Stuff like the RPM nine steel on this CJRB Pyrite
Alt. This one happens to be one of the KnifeCenter exclusives
picked I don't even know if we have one of the any of these in
stock at the moment I just pulled it off my desk. The RPM
nine here is a proprietary budget powder metallurgy steel
from CJRB and ArtisanCutlery, the parent company there, maybe
we'll see some more things like this more formulations popping
up using particle metallurgy at a slightly lower price point.
Not Made in America. Unlike s 30 v, which is maybe we'll see some
stuff like that. So to answer your question, I don't know.
That work but you know, you haven't seen it. The first
sentence in here kind of plays into my point at least, or my
thought process, at least you know, about s 30 v not being
premium anymore. Yeah, it might not be premium might not be as
competitive compared to some other things. It's still a
doggone good steel it's still going to cut really well for
you. It's still going to have a good long lasting edge. Just
like it did 10, 20, 30 years ago. It was gonna get you to
work Sure, I guess I don't know how you're gonna ride your, your
Benchmade bug out to work but
on a very razor edge. Baddum, Thanks, Thomas. Next question
comes from G ace GGS LH two NX with super Steel's taking the
market by storm, is there a certain super steel or at least
higher grade steel that you would recommend for someone just
wanting to try one to see what the hype is all about?
Specifically thinking about a new folder that I want to see
and feel the difference but I don't want to get something that
will be almost impossible to sharpen when the time comes.
Thoughts. Sure thing. That's the beauty of you know, this ever,
you know, this, this push for more performance, everything's
always going to get better. And expensive knives are gonna
continue to get better over time as materials are pushed into
that arena. And we're seeing stuff seeing you know, powder
metal Steel's which to weigh over simplify things. I'm gonna
say a super steel has to be a powder metallurgy steel, like
that's kind of the you know, the thing even though the RPM nine
being a more budget thing might not be but anyway, I would
suggest S35 v n for you. edge retention is going to be
similar, maybe slightly less than your S30 v but it is going
to be a little bit easier to sharpen. Maybe a little bit less
prone to chipping if the heat treat happens to be slightly off
on the the specific example you've got. Furthermore, don't
look at just the steel look at the the actual geometry and
grind of the blade. Which leads me to recommending this for you
right here the Civivi Badlands vagabond KnifeCenter exclusive
for 80 bucks and S35VN Not only does it have a really great
steel, it is going to be easy to maintain, because of its grind
as well because we've got a very thin hollow grind and a very
thin edge to begin with. So when it does come come time to
maintain that edge, you're not you know, coming into contact
with a ton of steel, you don't have to remove a lot to get the
edge back. So that's going to help you as well. Moreover, you
know we've got a few cheaper S35VN knives on the site, but
they're a little more niche as opposed to a more kind of
general purpose do everything pocket knives like our QSP
penguin exclusive with the sheepsfoot blade, the Boker
Kaizen really thin executive style knife but this is like the
the least expensive good basic pocket knife that I want to
recommend an s 35. Like I said, 80 bucks, three and a quarter
inch blade, ball bearings liner lock, great flipping action,
deep carry clip, reversible thumb studs, and in addition to
the flipper, and injection molded handles that look great
as they are, but you also do a dye project on them or at dye
project we did that as well, which was also a good bit of
fun. Check that knife out. It's very, very good design. All
right, now we come to the segment we call measured once
cut twice where we take a second slice at a previously answered
question. This comes from Yukon Jack responding to someone who
was looking for a pocketable karambit style knife karambit
style in that it had a finger ring, but a more general purpose
blade shape and several people made this suggestion this is
just the one I pulled as the example DCA you disappoint me.
Same ha. I can't believe you left out an obvious choice. The
KA-Bar TDI pocket strike is a perfect answer to the query and
more affordable than most of your suggestions. Integrated
pocket clip sits lower in the pocket. Maybe I should guest
host I can use I can use a vacation. Come on now. Here's
why I didn't put the knife on there. Even though yes, it
technically seems like it would meet all of the required
requirements. But to me it didn't quite fit for one reason.
Well, let me let me show the knife first. 58 bucks, great
price, just over three inch blade Aus8. Aus8 still useful
hollow ground blade, phenomenally useful blade shape,
pretty comfortable. The fingering could be maybe
slightly larger for folks like me, but it's there and it is
going to work. The handle is pretty big on this and in order
to accommodate that the sheath is actually pretty big as well.
Yes, you could put this in a pocket but that is quite a bit
of real estate to take into account and that's why I
consider this briefly but did leave it out for that reason.
Yeah, you can do it it's a huge thing in the pocket this would
probably I think would be more useful actually. tucked inside
the waistband and clipped thusly in that case yeah going right
down but still great knife just didn't quite fit the
requirements of the question for me but still worth checking out.
So I brought it on so we can check it out. All right now we
come to the lightning round for today. First question comes from
Marquette Eve or Marquette Avenue perhaps DCA what would
you say is the most non tactical looking but genuinely tactical
folding knife budget or premium? Well, it might be because I was
thinking about Al Mar for the previous question but the
Ultralight Eagles from Al Mar you know Mr. Master tactical
knife designer, a knife like this with its nearly four inch
blade D2 In this case certainly qualifies as you know tactical
in its nature, even though it's kind of a gentlemanly look as
well. You've got fast access, you've got easy access out of
the pocket, I should say and a fast deploying blade and a nice
strong lock to back it up. I'd say that works. Plenty of other
things out there I'm sure that's what just what jumped to mind
for me. Comments section. Drop your non tactical looking
tactical suggestions in the comments. Maybe it'll be in a
measured once cut twice feature on a future episode. Next
questions question comes from customer lists seven. Hi DCA and
Thomas. Why do not all pocket knives have a deep carry pocket
clip? Is there any advantage to a standard one? Or is it about
cost? Thanks and keep spreading the blade gospel. It's funny.
Nothing to do with cost by think I mean in either case, they're
just folded bits of metal. But it's your question suppose is
that that is the best way in all scenarios for a pocket clip to
be constructed. There you go. Some people like them, though
some people don't. What are the advantages to a non deep carry?
Well, it keeps it deeper in the pocket and less visible. For
some folks, that is certainly something to be appreciated.
Disadvantages of a deep carry pocket clip, let's hold one up
here, they can be more difficult to extract from the pocket
because there is less sticking up to grab a hold of where would
that be a specific problem. Heavy work knives and tactical
knives. You don't want to be fumbling about if you do if
you're a true tactical user and needing to use your knife in a
true tactical situation. You want to be able to access that
knife quickly and without having to think and without having to
fumble for it. So the easier that is to do, the better the
outcome is going to be. So it's a design consideration. It's
certainly not a cost consideration, but is a
preference consideration as well. That is why not all knives
have deep carry pocket clip Fs nor do I think they should all
have deep carry pocket clip. Now we come to even on carrying a
knife right now with deep carry pocket clip. Now we come to our
final question for today, which is of course our Most Serious
question of the day. Which take today comes from Mr. Pet Shop
boy. Most Serious question, any ideas for an EDC pizza knife?
I'm a pizza cook by trade, so it'd be helpful. You're cooking
pizzas in the pet shop. Wait, what are you doing with the
pets? What else do you get pepperoni. Now I feel like I
can't answer this question. But we're in it's we've gone too
far. Anyway. I do have a suggestion for you right here.
You may want to invest in a custom sheath to suit your carry
preferences. But it's got to be the Maserin LaMotta. Who will
Yes. As a big cheese, the big cheese. If this is too small for
you. You know, I don't know what your definition of EDC is. You
could get the tandem kitchen cutter also from Maserin. Or as
we like to affectionately call it here the two Lou are clever.
Just thinking how this might even be more useful in the pet
shops. No, we're not gonna talk about that. That's all we have
for today, folks, make sure to leave your questions down in the
comments below. And of course, keep hitting me with your most
serious questions as well. Let me know what you thought of the
answers. Let me know if you have alternate suggestions. And if
you want any of these knives in front of me here today, check
out the links in the description that'll take you to
KnifeCenter.com We're don't forget about our long running
knife rewards program where when you pick up some knives today
you get to earn money towards a future knife sometimes up to 5%
and even more. I'm David C. Andersen from the KnifeCenter
That's Thomas behind the camera. We're signing off. See you next
time.