8Cr15MoV steel & 3" & under folders

Dornblaser

Dornblaser

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Sep 5, 2010
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Greetings:

Since this is my first post I thought that I would preface my questions with some background: I have always used knives hiking, fly fishing, backing, gardening, etc., from my Boy Scout days through the big 5-0. However, I never carried every day until not quite a year ago at our block party when a neighbor gave me a Victorinox Cadet. I loved that knife! I have carried it with me every day and enjoy having a blade with me; I didn't know how many things I needed a knife for. As time went on I realized that the best thing that the knife did is open bottles of brew. When I needed a knife, it wasn't adequate. And, increasingly I did not like my Gerber's and Buck knives. Most my friends have Benchmade's, usually the mini-grip; or, to a less extent Kershaw Leek's and most are unused. I have purchased Gerber's and CRKT's Drifter's because I convinced myself that I would regret losing a BM. Truth be told, I have never lost a knife in my life. So, my new EDC is a SOG Flash I. Same size, less weight than my Victorinox Cadet and has a real blade that is 1/2" longer. Yeah, I will have to add a bottle opener to my key chain. I have loved the Gerber Evo Jr. for my everyday gardening, fly fishing & hiking knife except that it is a slow deploy and the steel keeps, not sure of the right term, but "rimming"? One edge of the blade sort of rolls on itself? Lots of metal come off when sharpening. So I purchased the knife it was modeled after/stolen from - CRKT M16-01Z. From Amazon for $17 and change, how do you beat that? CRKT lists the steel as 8Cr15MoV and after a search on Google and this site, I haven't found a way to compare it to 8Cr14MoV or Aus8. Can anyone help me there? FWIW - the M16 did not arrive particularly sharp. For my light duty urban/backyard/light front & back country duties this knife would be ideal if it was offered in better steel and has a combo blade option (I would purchase both the plain edge and combo knives).

All that said, I am still looking for the ideal 3" and under blade. A 2 7/8" or 3" SOG Flash I, if they would make one; or, a 3" M16 in Aus 8 or better, in both the a plain edge and or combo would be ideal. The 556, which I have, is a little too backcountry and I would not carry in non-jeans pants and in an urban area. As to the Leek, I just don't care for the blade. I haven't held a Delica 4 yet, but I would like to ..... Any other suggestions? Again, 3" and under, I am not opposed to bigger blades but this is my focus for my first post.

Thanks,
David
 
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Post-Script - I know CRKT makes a M16 in Aus8, their Ti knife. I haven't ordered it yet.

- David
 
Dornblaser said:
Greetings:

Since this is my first post I thought that I would preface my questions with some background: I have always used knives hiking, fly fishing, backing, gardening, etc., from my Boy Scout days through the big 5-0. However, I never carried every day until not quite a year ago at our block party when a neighbor gave me a Victorinox Cadet. I loved that knife! I have carried it with me every day and enjoy having a blade with me; I didn't know how many things I needed a knife for. As time went on I realized that the best thing that the knife did is open bottles of brew. When I needed a knife, it wasn't adequate. And, increasingly I did not like my Gerber's and Buck knives. Most my friends have Benchmade's, usually the mini-grip; or, to a less extent Kershaw Leek's and most are unused. I have purchased Gerber's and CRKT's Drifter's because I convinced myself that I would regret losing a BM. Truth be told, I have never lost a knife in my life. So, my new EDC is a SOG Flash I. Same size, less weight than my Victorinox Cadet and has a real blade that is 1/2" longer. Yeah, I will have to add a bottle opener to my key chain. I have loved the Gerber Evo Jr. for my everyday gardening, fly fishing & hiking knife except that it is a slow deploy and the steel keeps, not sure of the right term, but "rimming"? One edge of the blade sort of rolls on itself? Lots of metal come off when sharpening. So I purchased the knife it was modeled after/stolen from - CRKT M16-01Z. From Amazon for $17 and change, how do you beat that? CRKT lists the steel as 8Cr15MoV and after a search on Google and this site, I haven't found a way to compare it to 8Cr14MoV or Aus8. Can anyone help me there? FWIW - the M16 did not arrive particularly sharp. For my light duty urban/backyard/light front & back country duties this knife would be ideal if it was offered in better steel and has a combo blade option (I would purchase both the plain edge and combo knives).

All that said, I am still looking for the ideal 3" and under blade. A 2 7/8" or 3" SOG Flash I, if they would make one; or, a 3" M16 in Aus 8 or better, in both the a plain edge and or combo would be ideal. The 556, which I have, is a little too backcountry and I would not carry in non-jeans pants and in an urban area. As to the Leek, I just don't care for the blade. I haven't held a Delica 4 yet, but I would like to ..... Any other suggestions? Again, 3" and under, I am not opposed to bigger blades but this is my focus for my first post.

Thanks,
David
Click to expand...

Welcome to BladeForums!

While I have not tried 8Cr15MoV, my strong expectation would be for the edge retention to be similar to both 8Cr13MoV and AUS8 if heat treated to the same hardness. All three have similar amounts of Carbon.

I have read posts that 8Cr13MoV is somewhat less corrosion resistant than AUS8, so I would expect the increased Chromium of the 8Cr15MoV to aid in that.

The level of edge retention of both 154CM (in your 556) or VG10 (in the proposed Delica) are similar. And either will hold an edge quite a bit longer than AUS8. The Delica is a thin knife and is extremely easy to carry in the pocket, urban or not. The Delica handle seems to be universally pleasing. I'd be hard pressed to recommend anything else.
 
As Knarfeng said, the Delica is way better than those other knives, in design, tolerances, and steel.
 
According to CRKT, 8Cr15MoV is "AUS 4 high-carbon stainless steel."

That aside, I have this knife and don't recommend that you waste your money on it. I bought one on clearance at Fry's Electronics as a kit with a cheap headlamp for only $10. If it was worth my time, I'd be driving there to return both.

The Benchmade 556 is pretty much the ideal EDC for me. Take off the clip and drop it in your pocket. It'll always be there for you. If you want something even smaller, the Kershaw LFK is thin, well built and only 1.1 oz. It's the pocket knife I carry when I don't want to carry.
 
i bought a in very similar knife to the m16 an m21-sf and was not very satisfied with the blade material. i went a bought manix 2 and have been very pleased ( but it is 3/8 of a inch longer than 3in). also i would recommend handling the delica before you make a decision. i was in the same boat a few weeks ago i wish i would of came here for research before i bought the m21.
 
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Thanks for the replies. I have been having adjustment issues with the M16 as I am reading others have. I think that it will be donated to the Boy Scouts along with a couple of Gerbers. The other knife that I find myself using a lot is the Drifter. I just came back from a few days of camping/fly fishing and I took the Drifter with me.
 
I've never tried the Rookie. Never tried the Drifter.

However, in general I'd take any Spyderco over any CRKT.
In this case: Spyderco has better blade alloy and I like the lock better.
 
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