ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

… New Arrival QSP WORKAHOLIC N690 FIXED BLADE …

How good is DC53? Just read it is an improvement over D2. Is this true, and how?
Seems like DC53 is more rust recistant than D2, still can’t find an info about how much more resistant / stainless it is.

If so, this nice DC53 knife should be a bargain, with Beef bone handle! 24 usd.
Edit: [Deleted link, probably fake DC53 stamp, do not buy Huowen knives]

Edit: Ref: DC53(Cr8Mo2Vsi) Flat/Plate/Bar - Tool steel|alloy steel|hot die steel| cold die steel
DC53, is an improvement over alloy tool steel D-2 specified in Standard (JIS) G4404. It eliminates the disadvantages of insufficient hardness and toughness, resulting from high-temperature tempering found with D-2, and is intended to replace D-2 in use for general purpose and precision dies.

Higher hardness (62-64 HRc) than D2 after heat treatment.
Twice the toughness of D2 with superior wear resistance.
Substantially higher fatigue strength compared to D2.
Smaller primary carbides than D2 protect the die from chipping and cracking.
Secondary refining process (DLF) reduces impurities.
Machines and grinds up to 40% faster than D2.
Less residual stress after wire EDMing.

I had never heard of it until I looked it up after your post. It does seem from what info that’s on the web that it is better than D2.
I seen some knife makers using it and they liked it but from what I read was the price was alot higher from comparable steel readily available.
That was a older post though. I have no experience with it for a opinion.
.
But knowing what I know about it and china knives, I would be very leery of it being true DC53 at a good hardness.

That’s a pretty darn sexy blade. I almost like the looks of it as much as my spyderco bushcraft.

Think you are right about this knife. Huowen can’t be trusted. It’s probably 5Cr15MoV, a low-end stainless Steel (it’s a Chinese copy of the famous german X50CrMoV15. Though X50CrMoV15 is a pretty good budget steel, I dunno 5Cr15MoV, looks more like 420HC. 5Cr15MoV “lower end” steels, when it comes to edge holding, but for that it is extremely easy to sharpen. If so, this knife can’t compete with a D2 about edge retention, wear and toughness. A decent DC53 knife would probably be around 50-60 usd.

From another Huowen knife test. Steel result: Huowen Koenig Arius-inspired thing (not real D2, 5Cr15MoV instead)
Ref: ttps://www.reddit.com/r/chineseknives/comments/9qlaa5/steel_test_results_for_twosun_tuya_ch_knives/

Green Micarta….yes please.

Spanish knives like Muela uses X50CrMoV15 on some of models like Muela Tanto for example.

Good catch. Lots of clones, counterfeits, and knives with fake steel stamps are either 3Cr13 or 5Cr15. Those steels are cheap and apparently easy to machine. (I can tell you from firsthand experience that they are very easy to sharpen.) The problem is that they tend to have abysmal edge retention. The lowest steels I’d consider in that range are 7Cr17 and 8Cr13 but even those are pretty easily outclassed in the current market. Coincidentally, 3Cr13 is sometimes used to make the liners for budget knives. :stuck_out_tongue:

What’s about Kershaw? :wink:
They also use these low-end 3Cr13 and 4Cr14 blade steels at several models (for example Cinder, Decoy, Diode, Filter, Manifold, Cathode just to name a couple of them).

I would bet that Kershaw does proper heat treating of their low-end steels.

I'm not sure if they have abysmal edge retention or not, however.

Would you? There’s a good chance that those cheap Kershaws are made in the same factory as the despised “Chinese folders with tin metal blade steel”.

Kershaw is known for doing proper heat treating with all of their knives.

I've never heard otherwise (from someone that knows what they're talking about.)

Just because something is made in China doesn't mean it has to be junk.

And some knife companies have good reputations, of which Kershaw is one of them.

If the HRC of a Kershaw blade is significantly lower than it should be, then proper heat treatment did not happen.

That would be proof that Kershaw does not properly heat treat their blades, and I've never seen that.

I was referring to the 3Cr13 and 4Cr14 balde steel case and not to the beaten to death “made in China” dilemma.
I see some kind of double standard and overheated patriotism here. It’s similar to the “8Cr13MoV case”. When Sanrenmu started to sell their first models (SRM 710 etc.) for $10 shipped with that blade steel it was considered as pot metal on the prestigious knife forums. Then US companies like Spyderco and Cold Steel also started to use it and suddenly 8Cr13MoV was considered as a decent, appropriate blade steel for budget knives even in the $50 - $60 price range.
Anyway I keep avoiding 3Cr13 and 4Cr, 5Cr blade steels regardles it’s used by a no-name company or a prestigious one because I don’t think heat treatment could make any wonder to such a low-end steel like 3Cr13.

Hey, you brought up "the despised Chinese folders with tin metal blade steel” - not me.

And since when is one simple sentence about Chinese made knives beating a subject to death?

Exaggerate much?

I just think that proper heat treatment is really important, and that's something Kershaw is known for.

Apparently you didn't know that, and I was trying to educate you.

Oh yeah, there's no "double standard and overheated patriotism here."

I would buy a quality budget assisted-opener from a Chinese company, but they don't happen to make them.

But I do buy plenty of stuff made by Chinese companies, and find most of what I buy to be great value for money.

Yes, Kershaw uses these in their bottom-tier such as the otherwise nice Walmart-exclusive Hotwire. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it lets you buy a $10 knife with Kershaw quality and a Kershaw warranty. That can be good for bulk gifts and such. However, I have to consider the price difference before they could have just used 8Cr13Mov. For instance, some of the more recent 4Cr14 knives from Kershaw have street prices over $20. That seems insane to me.

It’s not just that the “curve of diminishing returns” is steep and fruitful at this level. It’s that I can find knives in 8Cr13Mov for around the same price or less, including other Kershaws. I can find knives in Acuto 440, Chinese D2, or Sandvik steels for a tiny bit more. Generally, I have a hard time justifying 8Cr13Mov when the price tag rises too far over $20. I have trouble justifying 3Cr, 4Cr, or 5Cr at all.

I’ve carried a lot of Kershaw knives over the years. I’d say they do an okay job in heat treating but I have to wonder how much performance can be eked out of a steel like 3Cr13. The edge retention on my Hotwire would certainly qualify as “abysmal”. Sure, it was easy to sharpen and could be quickly touched up on the bottom of a coffee cup. The problem is how often it had to be touched up. It’s not a big deal if someone just wants to use it as a classic “letter opener” but packages, cardboard, or anything tougher produces rapid wear.

Believe or not I also have a couple of Kershaw folders and I also feel the urge to educate you. :wink:
I can’t see any significant difference between the performance of my China made Kershaws and my China made CRKTs with 8Cr… blade steel. They’re just as good as my Sanrenmu folders with the same blade steel. That summs up my oppinion about the superior heat treatment.

I never said that Kershaw has "superior" heat treatment.

I only said that Kershaw is known for proper heat treatment.

Other knife manufacturers have proper heat treatment as well, and I never claimed otherwise.

Some non-D2 knives I like, and consider to buy 1-2 of them. Bold Are favorites.

EDIT: —— LEMIFSHE PUTS FAKE STAMP ON THEIR KNIVES, DO NOT BUY!! ——
Worlds cheapest M390 knife, LEMIFSHE, 22 usd, https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000904690024.html
Removed the F76 from my list, as it’s doubtful real VG-10.

KB245 RAVEN 3.9” AUS-10 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000378344636.html usd 48
LEMIFSHE F76 VG10 — REMOVED LINK, POSSIBLE FAKE VG-10 — usd 55
TS248 14C28N https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001393577563.html usd 80
TC4 M390 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000689345120.html usd 98
CH MARSZALEK S35VN https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000470064179.html usd 158
KEVIN JOHN VENOM S35VN https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32991175693.html usd 175
LiBing Raptor S90V https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000227654623.html usd 258
VENOM NIGHTMARE Kevin John M390 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001474916977.html usd 319
DICORIA M390 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001252196992.html usd 328
DICORIA VENOM T M390 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001063151946.html usd 328

Other knives
Kizer S35VN https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000174340727.html usd 122
CH3538 S35VN https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001214767439.html usd 148
CH EMPEROR S35VN https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000274256147.html usd 168
TWOSUN TS264 M390 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001409573598.html usd 170
S35VN https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000687179738.html usd 170
VENOM HARPOON M390 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32983778738.html usd 310

I take it you don't collect assisted-openers.

It's hard to find a quality A/O for under $50 with better steel than 7CR17MOV, 8CR13MOV, 8CR14MOV, or 14C28N.