True, I am one of those with limited usage of the SR101. I do have a Chopweiller now, and hopefully as soon as the hand is healed enough I will be doing a side by side of it and my SODLE. Is there a way to de-vote?

HD, you are correct with the standard of living, commodities, raw materials and finished products costing more today than a few years ago. When I was thinking about the CSA arena I could get a Uberty lever-action 73 for about 650. Last I saw on that same rifle is over a 1000 today. I know this is not a knife comparison, but it shows what the increase of material coast and the weakening of the US dollar has done.

Mag,


338 Stalker had the "ONE" broken tip on SR-101 that I have ever seen in about 5 years on Rat Chat, Bladeforums and 2.5 years or so here on Scrap Yard forums.

There are pretty fair indications there was a defect in the steel. But, I don't know.

I don't think 338 sent the Chopweiler back to Busse/Eric to give them a fair opportunity to inspect it for reasons for failure (???????)

Chopweiler Tip Failure


Considering, this is the only "legitimate" significant failure in SR-101 I have seen or know of and considering how many other SR-101 blades I have seen take a LOT more, I am willing to chalk up one case to defect.

I "Think" I remember having read (???????????????????) Jerry to have said he has about 1 in 1000 pieces of INFI break as defects.

I "Know" I have seen 4-5 INFI knives break worse than the Chopweiler tip. So, I Know I have seen more INFI break than SR-101.
Yet, I still concede INFI to be tougher.
However, SR-101 has an INCREDIBLE track record for NOT failing.

338's Chopweiler was unfortunate. Also unfortunate that Eric/Busse didn't get a fair chance to analyze for what may have caused the defect. Eric repeatedly offered to replace it if 338 sent it back. Again, I could be wrong, but I don't have time to research all the posts, but I don't think 338 sent it back.

Defects happen in steel and it is very hard to inspect for certain defects and you just don't know till they fail.

Considering I HAVE seen more pieces of INFI break than SR-101 and considering the ABUSE I have seen given to SR-101, I am still VERY good with the toughness level of SR-101 and will consider 338's CW as a 1 in MANY thousands defect.

.

That's the way I see it, too.

thanks, KG. i rememeber that. nothing in comparison to the EXPLODING DF's.

that is a pretty big piece to break off, though. that spear point is pretty stout, too. this does make me rethink things. wonder if the same defect in the same knife made of SR77 would have caused the same failure.

yea magnum, you read it correctly the first time... LACK OF APPEARANCE. there havent been ANY knives put out at the swamp in what 2 years, M9LE aside.. before the M9LE, when was the last swamp release... thats what i was saying. and im not "new" to these knives... please.. Ive been at the swamp since early 2006. and we can have the sr77/sr101 all damned day, the facts remain. sr101>sr77 in edge retention. sr77>sr101 toughness and strength. and sr101 is more proned to rust than sr77.

of course it would. its a "DEFECT." when there is a defect, the kind of steel is irrelevant. INFI, SR101, or SR77.

Remember RS, sr101 has more strength than sr77.
just trying to keep it real.

Anyways, I don't think it's because sr101 is new that it's so popular.
I think sr77 is more a niche steel (I've said this a lot, sorry) than sr101, where sr101 is more well rounded... and that's why people like it so much. I love that Dan is using sr101 (and 154cm) for knives where sr77 just wouldn't make sense...
and still reasonably priced!

Also, IMO sr101 is an equal "soldiers steel" to sr77...
now I'm not going to pretend I've used sr101, but I have used similar steels and have heard enough to how sr101 performs to draw that conclusion.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to add that I LOVE sr77 for some knives too, and that everyone should have a piece, because it's so tough, well priced and available in some good designs.

Let's keep this discussion friendly guys! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> All three steels are great, and each will have its "fans". And all three are a great "Soldier's steel". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> I carried an inferior blade during my tour in VietNam, and it survived the heat and the monsoon season just fine. I would have LOVED to own a Bussekin blade back then! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Randall's Adventures and Training puts their knives through some pretty good workouts, and they like plain old 1095 steel! You KNOW that any Bussekin blade will be even better! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

OK, I volunteer for people to send me blades in all three steel, and any others too. I am getting close to summer vacation and will be out and about so I can test them for you. I will send you your blade back with a written detail of what I used the blade for and such. I know, I am a good guy for testing your blades out so you can stay in the confines of your A/C houses <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I have a couple questions....

Please define toughness as it applies to blade steel:

Please define strength as it applies to blade steel:


Both SR-77 and SR-101 come from other mainstream steels, If I remember correctly they are S7 (SR-77) and 52100 (SR-101). Does anyone know how those two steels compare? Should the base steels without the special heat treatments that turn them into SR-77 and SR-101 compare the same as the steels they are turned into? I hope this isn't confusing...but I mean should/does S-7 compare to 52100 the same as SR-77 compares to SR-101? S7 tougher and 52100 harder/better edge retention...?

Regarding the previous posts...I thought SR-77 was tougher - meaning it could take a beating (softer metal - less brittle)without chipping or breaking. I also thought that the SR-101 was harder - better edge holding but maybe slightly more brittle? Is this what is referred to as strength? Also have read in many posts that SR-77 is slightly more resistant to corrosion/rust.

Thanks and hope I didn't confuse anyone. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> And by the way - I want knives in both steels! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />