Spyderco Forums

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Roefisher wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 27, 2022 2:05 pm

I'm not well up on blade steels but I am guessing that most Spyderco knives are stainless.

Are there any Spyderco knives in the more old fashioned carbon steel? If so, what's the model or steel name on the blade?

Thank you.

Nothing like 1095 that I'm aware of but they have tool steels that are high carbon and will stain/patina, anithing in K390, Maxamet, REX 45, or M4 will patina or rust. The picture below is a Maxamet Sage 1 that I've been carrying a few weeks, it's taking a really nice blue patina.

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There were a caly 3 and 3.5 that were pure super blue (pure carbon steel) that came out almost a decade back. You may find one, but they're treasured by those who have them.
Aside from that, most of the super blue models (delica, endura, dragonfly, stretch) are clad sanmai with stainless to keep them shiny.

No stainless here.

Good suggestions here.

I would also suggest anything in 52100 blade steel. Out of all of my knives in various steels, my 52100 Military model will patina the fastest and the easiest.

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Roefisher wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 27, 2022 2:54 pm

Great stuff, folks. Thank you all.

I've been Google mad since and I've already taken a shine to the Dragonfly or Manbug in HAP40 - I love the burnt orange scales with this steel!

You're gonna like it. Most of my Spyderco knives are... carbon steel... tool steel... not stainless steel? Once you get a taste of fancy "carbon steel," the old-school stuff just won't cut it any more. Cut it? Bwahahahaha!

Don't forget the Gayle Bradley 2 folder in M4. It is a current production model and it easily takes a patina.

Sadly not a current production model and only a sprint from 2013, but this is the highest tier folding knife design with a high carbon steel I know of.. and out of any kind of steel in general

Yup there are some para 3's on 52100.

M4 if you want a patina

Don't forget Super Blue if you want a patina. Spyderco made a lot of knives in this basic carbon steel.

Here is a list: https://www.spyderco.com/?s=super+blue

I wonder if you can get such level on K390.

Douk Douk has 1075 steel. It's after ferric chloride and after that limon skin for 20 minutes.

Thank goodness Spyderco lets us get some knives with a variety of steel.

Does 52100 really patina more than Super Blue? I feel like I look at Super Blue and I can see it patina. I think they said the white steels patina easier than Super Blue.

There are a few fixed blades you could probably get to patina, but I don’t any of them are currently being made.
Province cpm 4v, Bushcrafter 01, I think the Bradley Bowie and Junction both PSF27, and a number of Mules if you could somehow find them or catch an upcoming one. Anything else?

Here's a link to Dr. Larrin's steel testing, which includes rust ratings on a 10 point scale: https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/10/19/ ... esistance/

A quick summary:

-all "high carbon" or low alloy steels (1095, 52100, Super Blue, etc.) are rated between 0 and 0.5 on a scale of 0-10. So basically no rust protection and would patina quite easily.

-most high alloy/tool steels (Rex, M4, 4V, Maxemet, K390, etc.) range from 4 to 5.5 on a 10 point scale. So they will rust or patina, but at a much slower rate.

Best, Rooster

Donut wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 28, 2022 7:20 am

Thank goodness Spyderco lets us get some knives with a variety of steel.

Does 52100 really patina more than Super Blue? I feel like I look at Super Blue and I can see it patina. I think they said the white steels patina easier than Super Blue.

I have a Calypso Junior that’s a safe queen, so no patina on it.

Here’s what 52100 does, though.

Roefisher wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 27, 2022 2:05 pm

Are there any Spyderco knives in the more old fashioned carbon steel?

Spyderco is a very progressive company and make no or very few models using "old fashioned" steel, but they do use a lot of somewhat esoteric steels, both stainless steel and carbon steels, steels that could be considered state of the art. In my Spyderco collection of knives that I regularly carry and use I have 4 different carbon steels (Cruwear, M4, Rex45 and K390).

Yea lots of modern high-carbon semi stainless in the lineup. The last full carbon that I can remember were the Super Blue sprints.

I don’t have a lot experience with the new offerings but M4 sharpens very easily for how it performs.