saw a few blades made with Bohler N690 steel, but have no familiarity with the metal - anybody got a line on it?

thanks

I have one made from Bohler M2.

n690 is a hard to make steel that comes from switzerland
its suposed to be good

on benchmade's site they have it listed as comparable to 440c
http://www.benchmade.com/about_knives/our_blades.asp

Yuppers

I believe it is what the Italian spydercos are made from. Extrema ratio are made from it as well. Interestingly some very expensive knives and some moderately priced knives are made of this steel.

We have been getting more steel being used for cutlery from foreign markets than ever before. Another steel I have been seeing a lot of is 8Cr13M0V which is a stainless from china. I have a Byrd and a Fenix knife that are both made from it and it seems quite decent. Like VG10 or AUS 8. It is seen mostly on cheaper knives but that probably has more to do with the fact they are from china than the steel quality.

That is why I have a hunch it is quite similar to N690 even though N690 is used on more expensive knives from Europe. This is not to say ether of them are bad steels. Mid grade stainless often makes for a better knife than the higher grades
like S30V. They are more corrosion resistant and take a better edge.

I will try to find the chemical make up of N690 later unless someone has it handy?

i own a T.O.P.S. cqc-thunderhawk folder made of n690c and it is the sharpest knife i own along with my YK.takes a crazy edge.its a T.O.P.S. but its really made by FOX in italy.this is my only experience.i like it fir a stainless.

folder is made by Fox in Italy?? didnt know that

made a neck sheath for one of those couple weeks ago...seemed very well built

I like Fox knives a lot. They are like a less expensive and less tacky Extrema ratio. For hundreds of years the Eye Ti's have been making the worlds finest blades. There best blades were far better than anything the Japs ever made. They were just as strong and sharp but would bend rather than break like katana's do and the fit and finish and craftsmanship was just as good. Many of the designs were superior fighting weapons as well.

Fox makes the Woodlander and several other knives for Spyderco as well. It is a great way to break into the tough north american market.

i have n685 and it is very tough, i chop and baton with it all the time. no edge damage at all

it is austrian, i have heard that over and over. where is it made?