Analysis of New Steel Bohler M398

Do the charts make it look like the Elmax 2 might have worked better than the K398?
 
It does appear so. Uddeholm with their more difficult transverse test measured higher toughness than M398.
 
I’m in your boat Larrin. I’m not seeing the need for such high wear stainless steels. Others disagree, I’m sure, but I always think kitchen knife with stainless, and finer edges seem more important than higher carbide volume. Maybe this high wear steel is advantageous in extruding environments? I’d like to see a z-wear property equivalent stainless for knives. Vanax, or S35VN are similar in property I guess, but not as wear resistant, and have less fine edge stability. There’s a gap between z-finit or aeb-l, and the higher wear stainless steels that could be explored. I should try Elmax and see how it performs.
 
If it was available in barstock I'd already have a piece to try. I Love to play with different steels especially ones with lots of horsepower.

Problem is they're better steels to play with than M398 that will do what M398 does but better and are vastly more available.
 
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I'd more than love to have some M398 steel. Toughness is great and all, but give me that edge retention. Don't really care about whacking a knife on things, the infi I got can do that. Do more cardboard cutting than anything. Thanks for the write up. Hopefully we'll see alot more in the future.
 
Larrin said:
Well if the salesperson says I should like it then I will re-evaluate my opinion.
Click to expand...
M390 is the wonderful steel for knives. Unfortunately, many "knife makers" ruin that during a knife making progress.
First, they hammer /forge the powder steel.
Second, they don't follow thermo treatment steps.

I have few knives like this. Not good enough.
I also have the factory made knives. Huge difference. Because they were made from the sheets.

M398 will have similar issues.
 
Code of The West Survival said:
M390 is the wonderful steel for knives. Unfortunately, many "knife makers" ruin that during a knife making progress.
First, they hammer /forge the powder steel.
Second, they don't follow thermo treatment steps.

I have few knives like this. Not good enough.
I also have the factory made knives. Huge difference. Because they were made from the sheets.

M398 will have similar issues.
Click to expand...

Who forges M390?
 
I haven’t seen any forged M390 knives, and they wouldn’t be ruined if they had.
 
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