Thread: Alternate materials for blades

I heard from Gale today. She's having some people at her company evaluate the blade to make sure it's something they can do and we'll go from there. I'll hopefully have some positive news early next week for everyone here.

I brought up in chat one evening that a knifemaker friend of mine, Darrel Ralph is toying with the idea of making a couple straights. I sent him two of my prized posessions, Pumas both, a 6/8 round point and my high-class spike. He will be importing these measurements into his CAD program as I believe they are fantastic grinds, and he will do one and send to me for evaluation. We spoke at length about steels, and he has a lot of experience with the CPM steels. If you google it, there is a LOT to learn about these. His idea is to use CPM-154-CM for the blade. After heat treat, it has a grain size of 6 as opposed to most other modern steels which cool to around 12-14. What that means is you should be able to make it much sharper, and a much SMOOTHER edge under the microscope as well as on the skin. My only experience with CPM steels so far is CPM-440V and CPM 420V. I made a kitchen knife, a santoku style with canvas micarta handles out of CPM-440V, at Darrel's shop. 440V was in the infancy of CPM technology. After we finally got that puppy sharpened, (6 years ago), I have yet to touch it up. The 440-V has vanadium for hardness which makes it a b*tch to sharpen, but when it's there, it stays awhile. The 420-V is a small improvement in user-friendliness. He did a custom folder for me in the 420-V and it takes an edge with a bit less work, but still holds it very well. The 154-CM he speaks of he says behaves line ordinary 440 stainless on a hone, but the fine grain structure will take a truly ridiculous edge, and hold it far longer than carbon steels, ESPECIALLY the old stuff. If he decides this is something he wants to pursue, or something WE want him to pursue, then there would be many options, not unlike the Maestro. His own mosaic damascus, third party damascus if you wanted such as Mike Norris in various patterns, a myriad of handle materials, filework options, etc. He may pass this niche project onto one of his protege's if he fan't find the time, but he would still be the head man on them. More to follow, but there's a bit for you guys to chew on for now. ...............................Jeff

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Frankly, I would wait for some more input from others.
Perhaps a more logical choice of steels would be the ATS-34 or the CPM line of steels.

Jeff, that's great post... Now we are talking I love the scientific aproach on this topic, and idea of using particle steels (CPM) to make the finest edge possible. Finally 21 century technology upgrading already great tool. These steels with adition in chrome, vanadium, molybden and other "spices" are indeed tough to sharpen, but I personally don't mind changing the sharpening pyramide x10 I personally don't care about Damascus, I just want the finest possible edge out of my razors. I also think that custom razors at this point are overpriced, but that is due lack of competition. If some more straight razor makers apear, that would bring the prices down and in return more business to the makers.

Nenad

I'd go for a 6/8 round tip too. Sounds like a neat idea

another neat idea

Has anyone ever though of using talonite for a straight blade. Its a high cobalt containing alloy little or no iron and holds an edge very well and is hard. I have a knife with it and its super stuff.

I like the looks of talonite. That's the whole idea of this thread, though. Just trying to see what technologies of the 20th and 21st centuries we can bring to bear on the straight razors. Let me do a little more research on this and I'll get back to you with some results on what I find.

[EDIT]Okay, I really like what I see when it comes to talonite, but the price is damn near prohibitive. It fluctuates daily because it is cobalt-based and as this news article states, the price is on the rise due to supply concerns. Unless cobalt bottoms out, it's probably going to cost as much as a damascus razor to get one of these made.[/EDIT]