Bonnie & Billy J
Jan 24, 20205 min
Updated: May 27, 2020
The purpose of this article is to share what I now know after having purposed to answer a question that has rattled around in my head since I was a kid...
How are knives made?
I've always known a tad but never enough to be confident in it. I recently dug in pretty deep and now have a much better understanding--Just enough anyway to realize when someone at Bass Pro or on Amazon is selling snake oil. It really does come down to the steel which is what I'm going to share on in the post.
About knives and snake oil... It seems there would be regulation in place-- especially on Amazon-- for the price gouging that goes on for various products. That said, if you are a bit knifey down in your bones like me it literally pays to know your steel. So let's take a stab at it shall we. (pathetic pun intended).
Whether your interests are in bushcraft knives, camping knives, pocket knives or gladiator swords or any variation thereof you will definitely find this information to be interesting.
STICK AROUND AFTER THE ARTICLE:
In my research I think I may have found the perfect knife cost per quality.
I'll share it shortly.
There are VERY many types and variations of steel however those included here are the ones most commonly used for making knives. While these steel types are very distinct, and some are more costly than others, ranking these steels is not an exact science so much as it is a method of generally categorizing what the user can reasonably expect from the steel.
Carbon steel with added chromium to resist the elements however is much softer than regular carbon steel. The most common of knife steels 154CM, AUS, CTS, MoV, 400 and more.
Low chromium content steel that is very durable yet is susceptible to corrosion. Best known example: 1095
Hard steel alloys used in industrial tool making and cutting tools. Well known examples: CPM, 01, M4 etc.
RETAINS EDGE 10 | RESISTS CORROSION 6 | EASE OF SHARPENING 1
(EXPLANATION of above ranking: Second to none for holding an edge. Slightly above average in resisting corrosion. Very difficult to work with for knife makers and require master sharpening skills to resharpen.)
(EXAMPLE)
Folding Blade: Spyderco Military Model
RETAINS EDGE 9 | RESISTS CORROSION 5 | EASE OF SHARPENING 1
Folding Blade: Benchmade - 940-1
Fixed Blade: Spyderco Proficient
RETAINS EDGE 9 | RESISTS CORROSION 7 | EASE OF SHARPENING 2
Fixed: Lion Steel M4
Folding: VENOM Kevin John Tilock
RETAINS EDGE 8 | RESISTS CORROSION 4 | EASE OF SHARPENING 1
Folding: Spyderco Stretch 2
RETAINS EDGE 8 | RESISTS CORROSION 5 | EASE OF SHARPENING 3
Fixed: Bark River Gunny Hunter
RETAINS EDGE 9 | RESISTS CORROSION 7 | EASE OF SHARPENING 2
Folding: Zero Tolerance 0609 Pocketknife.
RETAINS EDGE 8 | RESISTS CORROSION 6 | EASE OF SHARPENING 5
Folding: Spyderco Hundred Pacer
RETAINS EDGE 9 | RESISTS CORROSION 2 | EASE OF SHARPENING 2
Folding: Spyderco Mantra 2
RETAINS EDGE 7 | RESISTS CORROSION 7 | EASE OF SHARPENING 5
Folding: Benchmade - Bugout 535
Fixed: Gerber Gator Premium.
RETAINS EDGE 7 | RESISTS CORROSION 7 | EASE OF SHARPENING 5
Folding: Kizer Begleiter
Fixed: SOG Pillar
EDGE RETENTION 6 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 6 | EASE OF SHARPENING 5
Fixed: Benchmade - Nimravus 141 Knife
Fixed: Ontario Black Bird SK-5
Folding: Benchmade 585S Mini-Barrage
EDGE RETENTION 6 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 6 | EASE OF SHARPENING 5
Fixed: Linder Ats 34 Super Edge 2
Comparable Alternative to ATS-34 Steel: Kizlyar Niolox Steel KK0034 Legion
EDGE RETENTION 8 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 2 | EASE OF SHARPENING 3
EDGE RETENTION 6 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 7 | EASE OF SHARPENING 6
Folding: Spyderco Endura 4 Lightweight.
EDGE RETENTION 2 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 9 | EASE OF SHARPENING 8
Fixed: Spyderco Fish Hunter
Fixed: Fallkniven H1 Hunting Knife
EDGE RETENTION 5 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 8 | EASE OF SHARPENING 6
Fixed: Benchmade - Azeria 125
EDGE RETENTION 4 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 4 | EASE OF SHARPENING 6
Fixed: ESEE Izula
Fixed: Hoffman Richter Wolf
EDGE RETENTION 3 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 4 | EASE OF SHARPENING 8
Fixed: Willumsen Large Despot
Fixed: SOG Kiku
Fixed: SOG SEAL Strike
Folding: Hawkbill Off-Grid
Folding: Ontario Rat 1
Folding: Ontario Rat 2
EDGE RETENTION 4 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 6 | EASE OF SHARPENING 6
Folding: JAMES° The Folsom Straight
Folding: Spyderco Byrd Raven 2
EDGE RETENTION 3 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 3 | EASE OF SHARPENING 8
Folding: Western Active Honey Badger
Folding: Spyderco Tenacious 7.77
Fixed: Schrade SCHF26 10.8in
EDGE RETENTION 4 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 6 | EASE OF SHARPENING 6
Fixed: Sanrenmu S725P
Fixed: Ruike RKEF118G Jager F118
Folding: Sanrenmu 1006
EDGE RETENTION 3 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 5 | EASE OF SHARPENING 9
Fixed: Boker 02SC099 Magnum Trail
Folding: RUKO RUK0106
EDGE RETENTION 3 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 8 | EASE OF SHARPENING 9
Folding: Kershaw Link
Fixed: Oerla 420HC
Fixed: Gerber StrongArm
EDGE RETENTION 3 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 2 | EASE OF SHARPENING 8
Fixed: ESEE Knives 4P
Fixed: ESEE Knives 6P
Fixed: Ontario Rat-7
EDGE RETENTION 2 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 8 | EASE OF SHARPENING 9
EDGE RETENTION 3 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 5 | EASE OF SHARPENING 9
First let me define KNIFE as I use the term in this contextual claim of 'perfect and affordable': I am a utilitarian adventurist. I don't need expensive, ultra-name brands to suit my needs. I just need something to suit my needs and my consistent message in that interest is that I refuse to chase the latest and greatest product that promises to fill the hole in my soul. Truth is... they made the hole. Marketing makes the hole. It's how commerce is best served in this day and age.
That said... I'm not foolish enough either to think or state that Benchmade or Spyderco's finest blade wouldn't be wonderful to have. I'm just saying that I don't NEED a knife of that level of prestige. What I need to suit my camping and adventure traveling activities is a good blade that does it's job that can be purchased at a fair price. I think I have found just the manufacturer who has stepped up to that plate...
ONTARIO KNIFE CO. operates out of Franklinville New York and has informally since 1889 and formally since 1905. The have a great story the I'll leave you to discover if you are interested.
Using higher end steel-- than their comparably priced competitors-- OKC crafts a broad range of quality blades for home and outdoor use. I am particularly found of their ESEE-esque models. I have whittled and buttoned firewood with an OKC blade. I have read the reviews and have shopped the competition. I am finally beginning to understand why this company gets so much positive press... they earned it.
If you are like me in your needs and interests for camping and adventure traveling these following knives are WELL worth looking into and the prices will blow you away...
RD-6 | R.A.K. | RANGER FALCON | RANGER TFI (not shown)
TAK I | RAT-5 | RAT-7 | RTAK II | RAT-3 & 3 SERRATED (not shown)
(NEARLY HALF THE COST OF COMPETITORS)
(ASSISTED OPEN)
(ASSISTED OPEN)
IF YOU'D LIKE TO DOWNLOAD A MEDIA RICH VERSION OF THE MEAT OF THIS CAMPING KNIFE BLOG POST VISIT OUR DOWNLOADS PAGE.
#blade #kimbreed #campingknives #hunting #knifeporn #survival #huntingknives #damascusknives #camping #da #outdoorgear #outdooradventure #survivalgear #blades
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