Serious questions about 4034 steel

d762nato said:
If you look online there are several SK5 Gurka Kukri's with huge quarter size chips torn out of the blade and one, I ran across was an O1 version that snapped off right in front of the handle. I haven't heard anything bad about the Carbon V version's so far as chipping out or snapping.
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I've given mine a good beating on well seasoned mesquite, which is a very hard wood, and never had a problem. Maybe its quality control, maybe its technique, who knows. Mine has been a good blade that holds a good edge and cuts very well.
 
Hashishiin said:
Okay, just wanted to make sure we're talking about the large one. Ierno, man, I get big knives out of AUS-10, S35, 1095, 420HC, 3V... I want one in Cruwear. As to "why" they're priced this way? There's no question about it... GSM is cheap. There is no reason that is GOOD FOR US why GSM replaced what it did with 4034, it may WORK for us, but it isn't FOR us, if you feel me. That's the main problem to me.
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Most people prefer stainless steel above all else, the entire reason 14C28N exists is because Kershaw got so many complaints about 13C27, and that's already a good stainless steel.
Having a stainless version of every knife is practically a necessity in terms of marketing.

GSM can go jump in a lake for all I care, but people bashing on the choice of 4034SS are just living in a steel snob echo chamber.
 
I'll reiterate, it's great that people like to criticize a corporate takeover, GSM needs to be held to the fire, but arbitrarily slandering a choice in steel is very counterproductive.
 
I also happen to be one of the folks that does not value stainlessness above all else. Cruwear is my sweet spot but I don't even need it to be THAT stainless. I understand they need it in the market, but there are better options. Kitchen sink steel. Aluminum cans and car bumpers, I tell ya!
 
People who have no issue with SK5, 1095, 5160, AUS8, etc. are not steel snobs.

Steel snobs would laugh at these steels.

I remember them bashing CS for using AUS8 since they claimed good knives should be in ATS-34/154CM, and then a few years later bashing Emerson for using 154CM and not S30V.
 
Joshua J. said:
Most people prefer stainless steel above all else
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When it comes to folder - then probably yes.
Fixed blades and large choppers?
- No...

Prefering stainless over anything else would mean that people like 4034 better than even CruWear, 3V or A2 that was planned or O1 that was used...
Joshua J. said:
Having a stainless version of every knife is practically a necessity in terms of marketing
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No it's not 🤣
Bro, they didn't decide to make those knives in 4034 because they want a stainless version, they did so because 4034 is dirt cheap and because they think that their customers don't know any better so they'll pay a premium on steel that's on low spectrum of low end.
Which may be true considering some of the comments...

Joshua J. said:
GSM can go jump in a lake for all I care, but people bashing on the choice of 4034SS are just living in a steel snob echo chamber.
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Are you for real?
No I really have to ask if you're serious?
Steel snob wouldn't even look at SK-5, 1080, 52100, 5160, 80CrV2... or even A2 and O1. Yet we want those steels.
Why do we want those?
Because they can actually hold an edge.
Because they are really tough too.
You mentioned swords earlier - people do make swords in most of these steels because they are tough enough and still hold a decent edge.

And where is 4034 used in knife world?
It's used to make liners.
And it's used on Chinese knock-offs.
Pretty sure some of 4034 knives come with "SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL" writing on blade.

"4034 steel is a low-end alloy stainless steel manufactured by Thyssen-Krupp, a steel manufacturer based in Germany. It contains average carbon, which makes it softer compared to high-end steel.

Even quick googling will tell you all about 4034, it's on low end of the low end.
It's cheap for a reason.
It's not even high carbon...
If you're OK paying that kind of money for one of cheapest steels possible then that's your problem, but you can't convince me that garbage is worth nearly as much as they charge for it...
 
jdk1 said:
I think Cold Steel is betting on the fact people will say, "the Gurkha Kukri costs XX" and will never look at the steel. It's like Ford dropping an Escort drive train into a Mustang GT, and just assuming buyers will never look under the hood until after they've paid for it. And, this is a big one in the knife field, Cold Steel knows many, or maybe most, buyers of knives, especially certain designs, don't use them. Khukuri and swords are blades many people buy to hang on the wall, or swing around in their bathrobe😆. A Khukuri in 4034 is perfect for LARPing, but not chopping seasoned oak.

On another note, I have a "China Doll" Gurkha Kukri in SK-5 and love it. You'd think CS could still crank those out for $150. They'd have plenty of happy customers if they did.
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buyers wiling to pay that much for a knife would notice steel very quickly. rest would never even consider a knife that expensive......

especially not when they could get a big bladed stainless like this one from Walmart for under 40 bucks........
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Joshua J. said:

4034 as treated by Cold Steel is within 17% of the edge holding of an average factory blade with AUS-8 or 440C.
Cold Steel knows their stuff.

4034 is an ideal choice for the Warcraft Tanto given the balance of toughness and stain resistance.
Does that mean it isn't overpriced? Maybe, maybe not. With inflation today this may very well be the new norm, all we can say for sure is anyone who bought a 3V Tanto pre-2020 can thank their lucky stars.
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Gotta love the bootlickers who enthusiastically accept lower standards with thin rationalizations, "new norm, inflation" etc.

Cold Steel's AUS8 wasn't great in the first place. It was soft and gummy. Only after Spyderco ran circles around the industry with their various steels did everyone else get serious, CS included. 4034 is a regression. S35VN or go home is how it should be. Or XHP, or S30V.

If you want toughness in a big fixed blade tanto you would go with something like 5160 with about a 57 hrc rating, or 1055. Stainless is inherently brittle to varying degrees, far more than tool steels of comparable complexity. It's all the chromium which increases brittleness even when not gathered into carbide.

Is 4034 only 17% behind aus 8? Could be...but again why should you overpay for that? You can get the same junk steels at 55 hrc anywhere. Are the locks worth that much? Dropping hardness down 17% and then raising the price another 17%? 37%?

Fortunately I bought everything I wanted in the recent massive firesale at you know where, so I don't have to worry about this much. The best deal besides those 4 Max's was a S35VN AD 15 brand new off Ebay for $85 before tax, free shipping. I like coming out ahead!
 
IaccidentlyCutmyThumb said:
pssst....their "SK5" might not be SK5
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I wouldn't want SK5 in a Khukri anyway, even 4034SS would be better for that type of blade.
When you need something to be impact resistant high carbon steel is the wrong choice, like INFI at 0.6% Carbon, the best performance for large knives is opposite of the high carbon steel that most "Enthusiasts" blindly rave over for all the wrong reasons.
 
I'll post this 4034 question here. Is the range boss in 4034 worth $34.50 delivered???? Or should I look at another knife.
 
I think most of the objections to using 4034 is in regards to using it in larger expensive knives, especially when the knives were already in the same price range in a better steel before they were replaced.

There would be less objection to using it in the $35.00 range.

I don't know much about current CS folders and locks to discuss that specific model. My only CS folders were 1990s Voyagers in AUS 8.
 
paul brown said:
I'll post this 4034 question here. Is the range boss in 4034 worth $34.50 delivered???? Or should I look at another knife.
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I think it’s worth it. I was pleasantly surprised when I received mine, the quality is there. The scales have a grittier texture than I expected, but they feel good to me. Mine came very sharp and perfectly centered.
 
paul brown said:
I'll post this 4034 question here. Is the range boss in 4034 worth $34.50 delivered???? Or should I look at another knife
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For the price you can't go wrong. Edge retention is ok for a cheap work knife, I use it as a farm knife and don't baby it at all. That being sad, if you cut lots of abrasive stuff like
cartbord or rope it dulls a little quicker than the buck 110 in 420hc.

I should have gotten the broken skull in xhp or s35vn as long as they were available:rolleyes:
 
I believe so saw the Ranch Boss in SK-5 for like $26 floating down the river. Its carbon, but if its actually SK-5, its an easy to maintain steel. It'll be an old school pocket knife, like our dads carried.
 
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