X-15 Steel

Donald

Donald

Joined
Jan 20, 1999
Messages
738
This steel is mentioned in the January 2000 issue of Blade magazine in the article on Boker. It is also mentioned in the following archived threads:
The Latest from Boker http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/004330.html
and
New HK knives made by Boker? http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/004884.html

What was interesting about this steel is that the Ernst Felix, CEO of Boker, states that the special properties of the steel come from the,
combination of the steel's 0.4 carbon and 0.2 nitrogen, through the melting process, gives the steel a quality like a 1 percent carbon steel....for the good corrosion resistance and good cutting ability.
Click to expand...

Supposedly this steel comes from the surgical-tool industry. Hmmm...all those comments about sugical steel
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Now where have we heard about nitrogen before? .....Infi steel....for those who cannot keep up with BladeForums. Too bad that according to another thread I read the fit and finish on the Boker Brend model is rather poor. Perhaps the H & K knives will be better. If you believed the article all the Boker knives would be up to very high standards....sigh.

I did not see any mention of this steel in Joe's Steel FAQ's, but have not looked elsewhere. Anyone else have any comments about this steel?

By the way it is amazing how sharp Infi steel is on 1/4 inch bar stock, tough, and yet easy to sharpen!
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What I would like to see is a comparison of INFI and Talonite. ¿¿¿¿Mike???
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[This message has been edited by Donald (edited 28 October 1999).]
 
That would be up to Rob. If he wants to donate a knife for that type of test I am all for it. The only thing is that Rob is not over hyping Talonite. People want to see the Busse and Cold Steel go head to head. Talonite has properties which make it a great steel for different reason than the Busse.

However I am just as interested in Talonite as the next guy as I have only been able to hold a few pieces and have not cut the first thing. A Talonite dive knife might be the fix I need! Rob... Buddy.... Pal..... You there?

------------------
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Mike Turber
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After my knife!
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We know the Busse knives are tough and can chop. Apparently the Talonite is no slouch if the Tactical Knives article is a sufficient test.

What I actually had uppermost in mind though are the slicing abilities of the smaller knives. Both infi and talonite seem to be especially good at this. Of course around saltwater, I already know which I would prefer.
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Of course, lest I forget my own topic, it would be nice to know how X-15 compares to these two.....along with everyone elses nominated favorite.....and the beat, I mean list, goes on.......

[This message has been edited by Donald (edited 28 October 1999).]
 
Mike, you and me both. Been searching for a good dive knife ever since I brought one of my Spydercos for a dive and watched it rust. Of course it was an old one (marked G-2 Seki on the blade), but still.

As I remember my research into metallurgy, the Infi and X-15 should prove to be very tough and withstand a lot of abuse, but when it comes to slicing, I doubt if anything will beat talonite, merely because of it's microstructure.

Now if someone would just like to experiment and cast a dendretic form of Infi...
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(Or mix in nitrogen with talonite?)

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Mike; I have a Kit Carson small U-2 dive knife in Talonite (r) and have been searching for a suitable reviewer. Would you be interested in undertaking this task?

Walt
 
I haven't been on the forum for quite a while, so I thought I'd do a search and see if this topic had surfaced again. Sorry this is such a late reply. I respond because I work for the company that represents the manufacturer (Aubert & Duval in France) of X-15 in the US, now called X15TN for knife making. Of all the discussion I have found (and there has not been too much since it is so new) so far, you have the most (and most accurate) information. If you are still interested, I can tell you just about anything you wish to know about the material. Just for some clarification, when the first run of the HK knife was made the material was called X-15 Morinox, but it was soon discovered that "Morinox" was a trade name taken already by a company in Italy. The name was therefore changed to the original Aubert & Duval name, X15TN.

If you wish to know anything else, please don't hesitate to ask.

(PS - If you noticed, it was I who had asked on the forum in the message you attached to your post about info regarding X-15 and the HK knife. I was looking for some feedback on the blade performance. Feedback has been hard to come by in the US.)
 
Here is some info on X15TN...
0.4 Carbon
15.5 Chromium
2.0 Moly
0.3 Vanadium
0.2 Nitrogen
It was first developed as an aerospace ball bearing steel under the name XD15NW. For non-aerospace purposes it is called X15TN (different re-melting and testing processes).
It has a very fine grain structure, high hardness (advertised 58 Rc, but usually in low 60s). The biggest benefit is the increased corrosion resistance over 440C or ATS-34 while maintaining this hardness. The added nitrogen basically allows us to reduce the amount of carbon (increasing corrosion resistance). The nitrogen/carbon combination aligns with the crystalline structure of the steel to do this.
It is currently being fine blanked into shape by Boker, but Aubert & Duval is looking into ways of delivering the material in an even softer condition and in other forms to be more compatible with other manufacturers. So far, though, they are the only ones using the material. We are hoping that with the introduction of the HK/Boker X15TN knife here in the states it will generate some interest.

If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask.
 
Sorry for not getting back to you for so long. Here is the info on X15TN you asked for...

Strength: UTS=336 Ksi; 0.2%Y=265 ksi
Ductility: E%=4
Toughness: Charpy V=7.5 ftlb

These numbers are based on a heat treatment aiming for maximum hardness (>58) and wear resistance.

This material does have an AMS certification for its aerospace application form (XD15NW). The number is 5925.

Any more questions, just ask. I'll try to respond faster next time.
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I assume from the V that the Charpy value is for a notched test? Will the blades by Boker be to the same specs? Are small amounts of stock available for custom makers?

-Cliff
 
Cliff,
You are right...the charpy V is a notch test. I do not have much info on the Boker knife, as that info is proprietary. I do know that they did get a good hardness (>60). I am eager to find out myself such data.
For clarification, I should say that this data was aquired on the material in a non-knife blade form (in otherwords, in standard test forms). I am not knowledgable on the impact a blade form would have on material properties when tested that way. I would not expect too much of a difference, though.
Todd
PS - I, too, would like to see some comparison data to other similar materials (ATS-34, BG42, 52100, etc.)
 
Various info on X-15, the HK knives and further plans :
The pictures show knife blades made of ATS-34, 440C and X-15 exposed to the same corrosive conditions (They're taken from the new Boker catalogue, so unfortunately, no more exact information on the test parameters and the blade surfaces (mirror polish vs. beadblasted) is given.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=178529&a=1300278&p=17519619
ATS-34
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=178529&a=1300278&p=17519532
440C
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=178529&a=1300278&p=17519474
X-15

Boker has also released two versions of the Gemini folder with X-15 combo blades and blue or green handles (price is about half that of the HK folders), a dive knife is being planned. Some test results on the HK knives : The German ‚Messermagazin' has tested them, and found they failed the linerlock spinewhack test repeatedly. So much for tacticality
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BTW, to Cliff Stamp - If I remember correctly, Nitrogen was the secret ingredient used in INFI steel - Have You tested Your Battle mistress for corrosion resistance ? And while I'm at it, thanks for all the time and money You invest in Your tests !
Take care,
Tobse !

[This message has been edited by Tobse (edited 03-08-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Tobse (edited 03-08-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Tobse (edited 03-08-2000).]
 
You take a opened linerlock folder and whack the spine of the blade against something solid. Some liners can disengage, so that the blade partially closes. (Be careful if You try this at home, if the lock fails, Your fingers are in the way of the closing blade
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) If memory serves, this test was devised by A.T. Barr. A well-made linerlock design like the AFCK will withstand this abuse. Naturally, there are lots of other ways to test lock strength (with a static load, for example), and some may say that this sort of dynamic impact is unlikely to occur, even in a fight, but it just feels better to have a dependable lock on a folder.

Take care,
Tobse !
 
To TW : Right, it is a test of lock design and production quality/consistency, if several identical knives are tested.
To Jeff : The Geminis are called 90S (Skipper, with a blue handle) and 90A(Angler, with a green handle), they're mentioned in the What's new section of Skylands Cutlery ,suggested retail price is about 85$, so they'll probably cost about 55$ at the various internet sites. They're available in Germany as of now, so it should only be a matter of weeks before You can get them in the US.

Take care,
Tobse !
 
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