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I have read 'Online' that Hap40 and Rex45 are basically the same? If true, then why all the fuss over the REX45 if there is already a similar blade steel i.e. the Hap40 that has been readily available for some time now. Am I missing something? Thanks for any replies.

Rhodie wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 09, 2018 7:49 pm

I have read 'Online' that Hap40 and Rex45 are basically the same? If true, then why all the fuss over the REX45 if there is already a similar blade steel i.e. the Hap40 that has been readily available for some time now. Am I missing something? Thanks for any replies.

Spyderco really pushed the envelope on their heat treat of Rex 45 in comparison to their HAP40. It's a much better performer.

The HAP40 that Spyderco uses is said to be at 63 on the Rockwell C (HRC) scale. REX 45 has been tested at around 66-67 HRC. That's a big difference in hardness. It reduces toughness, but increases strength, making the two nearly identical steels act differently.

I haven't enough firsthand experience to tell you the differences yet, but reviews of REX 45 have been favorable.

Because it has been paired with some of the most popular Golden made knives.

K390 blew my mind in 2017, and REX45 did it again in 2018. HAP40 might be a brother from a different mother, but my experience with Golden's REX45 has been much more impressive. If cost is not prohibitive, I'd be surprised if we didn't see some more in 2019.

And the Rex45 models are solid, not laminate blades. People have been asking for that for a while.

I’d say all the above, plus it rusts and everyone knows you can’t beat steels that rust.

Rex45 is a much cooler name than Hap40.

Freediver wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 10, 2018 1:21 am

Rex45 is a much cooler name than Hap40.

Haha

The only way it could be cooler is if it was T-rex 45.

Freediver wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 10, 2018 1:21 am

Rex45 is a much cooler name than Hap40.

There's a lot of truth to this. Everyone seems to love Crucible's Cruwear (cool name), yet the nearly identical Carpenter's PD#1 still lingers in unsold Mule Team knives and almost nobody talks about it. Two very similar steels made by two different companies but only the cooler name gets all the attention.

I don’t think it’s fair to compare mule team blade sales to folders. Take a specific type of person to go in for a fixed blade for which you either need to buy or make scales. And the military/pm2/p3 series seems hot hot hot right now.

I've also wondered about MT27.

Cann't be just the name, otherwise everybody would call Spyderco "M4" correctly Rex M4. :)

Truth is, just a tad below Maxamet, CPM Rex 45 is the hardest steel that Spyderco puts into knives currently. And in contrast to the discontinued Maxamet, it doesn't chip or break easily.

Roland.

ferider wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 10, 2018 6:20 pm

I've also wondered about MT27.

Cann't be just the name, otherwise everybody would call Spyderco "M4" correctly Rex M4. :)

Truth is, just a tad below Maxamet, CPM Rex 45 is the hardest steel that Spyderco puts into knives currently. And in contrast to the discontinued Maxamet, it doesn't chip or break easily.

Roland.

According to the catalog there is an expansion in Maxamet, not a discontinuation.

The best thing about REX-45 is that they made it for the Para 3. That of course put REX-45 on the map. I can assure you that the REX-45 on the Para 3 is probably better than typical REX-45 and therefore REX-45 is awesome.

I'm very ignorant when it comes to knife steels outside what I've used, but I wonder what Rex 20 would be like. Over 10% molybdenum is intriguing to me. For all I know it isn't applicable in the cutlery world for one reason or another (like cpm 9V). Hoping to see Rex 121 one day or other "Rex" steels. It looks like spyderco made a great move going with Rex 45.

Woodpuppy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 10, 2018 6:04 pm

I don’t think it’s fair to compare mule team blade sales to folders. Take a specific type of person to go in for a fixed blade for which you either need to buy or make scales. And the military/pm2/p3 series seems hot hot hot right now.

You're missing that Cruwear was also made in a Mule and it didn't take very long to sell them, did it?

BornIn1500 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 10, 2018 10:40 pm

Woodpuppy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 10, 2018 6:04 pm

I don’t think it’s fair to compare mule team blade sales to folders. Take a specific type of person to go in for a fixed blade for which you either need to buy or make scales. And the military/pm2/p3 series seems hot hot hot right now.

You're missing that Cruwear was also made in a Mule and it didn't take very long to sell them, did it?

Yes, and I missed it but the bigger question is why no Cruwear Para 3? That is what most people want to know.

Crux wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 10, 2018 10:50 pm

Yes, and I missed it but the bigger question is why no Cruwear Para 3? That is what most people want to know.

Bah! Never mind the Para 3. Never mind Cruwear either (I always think of Underwear). Let's see some PD-1 in the Native 5, or better yet the Native XL or Native Chief, or Chief Native or whatever that thing is called that we were voting on steels for just the other day. Always go for the underdog!

All kidding aside (and all the above isn't kidding). Rex45 gets a lot of hoopla because it is good stuff. And it has a good name to go with it. Would anybody be excited if it was Daisy 45? I don't think so.

They made a Para 3 in Cruwear.