Well, I took a look at the pages that Cliff referenced above. It certainly appears that the only thing that recommends a lower hardness for the 440V is the charpy test (toughness?). In a small (or even large folder), I'll take edge holding over toughness, if it means that it passes my staple test better.
What is the Charpy test anyway? Is there a thread out there that gives some detail on it?
I notice the CPM itself recommends on page
http://www.physics.mun.ca:80/~sstamp/images/T440vpg1.JPG to harden to the lower end of the hardness range for toughness, the higher end for wear resistance. And, it seems that based on what I see there, Spyderco is going for the bottom end of the hardness range. I can understand better in a large fixed blade, but just how tough does a folder have to be? Interesting thing: it looks like page
http://www.physics.mun.ca:80/~sstamp/images/T440vpg3.JPG shows D2 to be significantly better in charpy at the high end of 440V hardness spectrum. I have to say that I'll be leaning way toward D2 from now on, but I guess that is only in custom knives.
Anyway, like someone alluded to, I'm not very impressed with what I've seen in the 440V of my BF Native. I'll repeat again, though, that I love the knife, because of its ergonomics, its size, the handle, and the looks. But, like I said in the other thread, I'd like it just as much in GIN-1, ATS-55, or even -34. Please don't take this post wrong, Sal. You guys do good work. Heck,
GREAT work, and have great knives. I just know now that I want a harder blade more than an exotic metal, and wear resistance over toughness (apparently). As a minimum, this has been quite a learning experience.
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Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug.
Outlaw_Dogboy
[This message has been edited by Outlaw_Dogboy (edited 08 October 1999).]