Well, we're back at this thread again. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Some of you guys change your minds too easily <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I am not one to change my mind that easily and to change my view on this I will require some significant proof. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Since I am not an expert on these steels and am fairly new to them - I can't say for certain which one is tougher and which is stronger from experience...so I have to draw conclusions based on what I know about blade strength and blade toughness when talking about other steels and materials. And, knowing that 77 comes from the steel used to make jackhammer bits (also called a spring steel because it is used to make coil springs)and 101 comes from a steel used to make ball bearings....I can only deduce that springs and JH bits are tougher while BB's are stronger and that same line of thinking should follow with the steels SY is using only with different HT's. So I think the following...and it is just my opinion until someone of authority can correct/confirm it:

SR-77 is softer, tougher, more flexible (spring steel), less brittle (won't crack as easily)

SR-101 is harder, stronger, less flexible/less deformable (ball bearings require strength and precision), more corrosion prone and more brittle if only slightly (cracks easier)

Which to me means that SR-77 is tougher, SR-101 is stronger and better at edge holding which is another function of hardness and strength.

I really can't tell at this point if its the definitions of the terms or the confusion about the two steels that is causing all of the discrepancies here. But, in some of my last posts - I've included links to sites that clearly demonstrate the difference between toughness (Brass, Nickel, lead, gold) and Strength (Steels and alloys) - one big difference here is hardness (softer metals are usually tougher while harder metals are stronger).

Like I stated earlier- we may never have a final answer to this... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />