Thanks for the info guys. I always wondered about the difference.

General

52100 is a high-carbon chromium alloy steel, (5) number** which, because of its versatility, is used in a variety of mechanical applications. In the annealed condition this steel is comparatively easy to machine, yet very high hardness and abrasion resistance can be developed by heat treatment to make the steel particularly suitable for applications requiring extreme wear resistance. In addition, 52100 alloy steel can be heat treated to high levels of tensile strength and fatigue strength.




Applications

Some of the typical applications of 52100 steel are:
-Sleeves
-Guides
-Slitting Rolls and Knives
-Spindles
-Precision Instrument Parts
-Bushings
-Collets
-Stamping Tools
-Gears
-Seals
-Dies
-Gages
-Molds
-Anti-Friction Bearings
-Engine Parts
-Rollers
-Cylinder Liners
-Hydrualic Parts
-Clutch Faces
-Disintegrater Rolls



Comparison with
Other Materials

Tool Steels - Compared with tool steels in general, 52100 is less expensive and is much easier to handle. It is easier to form and machine than most tool steels yet can, after simple heat treatment, develop many of the properties of tool steels.

Carburizing Grades - Compared with the carburizing grades of alloy steels, 52100 sacrifices some machinability but in return the user has a material with a much more simple and inexpensive heat treatment that minimizes distortion.

As far as INFI, well....??? just say,. good stuff!

there was the tip on 338's CW, and the guy who beat on his m9 with a pipe wrench. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Also, I think I remember noss said he got a CW to test, I'm not surprised if he hasn't got to it yet though... his list of knives to test is always growing and I'm sure he is busy.

The tip of the M9 is VERY thin so I don't think you can fault the steel. I have seen a similar tip on an Infi Busse GW (that was the same thickness as the M9 tip) break off in the same way.

The M9 doesn't have the profile for prying and the front 1/4" is actually about the same thickness as the tip on the Vex. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

I dug up this old post from another forum about INFI, not sure if it is correct or not.......

"In another post, Mr. Busse agreed that my analysis was correct, with the addition of .11% nitrogen and .5% carbon, which the radioactive isotope spectral analysis can't detect. So, the complete formula is:

V .36% Vanadium
Cr 8.25% Chrome
Fe 87.79% Iron
Co .95% Cobalt
Ni .74% Nickel
Mo 1.3% Molybdenum
C .5% carbon
N .11% Nitrogen

These numbers should not be assumed to be exactly right, the cobalt at .95% is probably supposed to be 1.0%, but they should be close."

a "dirty steel" that performs well is a steel that performs well. an ultra clean steel that does not perform well, is, well, a steel that does not perform well. i dont see why it should be a determining factor on the overall opinion of a steel. if a person does the research, and finds that a "dirty" steel can be molded into a steel that has high performance, good deal.

"Most components are so small, that they don´t have an effect on the steel."
i would like to here a metallergists opinion on how trace elements can effect how a steel is heat tread, how it is made, and how it effects the matrix structure of a steel. all of wich can help go towards its end performance.

several people have said before on the forum that jerry does buy the steel at a very high permium, as it is a special product."

I am sure most have read this. But for some of the new dawgs- here ya go: http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=001368;p=1

INFI is better all around then SR101, by how much, is arguable. Its NOT arguable that it cost lots more.

best for the buck IMO, and perfect solution: SR-77.


sorry to hijack thread with my SR77 plug. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hey, thats perfectly fine. My OP was to find out what the S5LE would give me over the CG, but I'm interested in various steels and know next to nothing about Busse family steels.

So please don't leave it at that, and tell me more about SR77 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

theres plenty of threads on sr77 i believe... most places search features are pretty handy... (not trying to be a dick just lots of people forget it)

There are plenty of good steels out there to pick from honestly... even non steels out there that make great knives. you have to figure your compromising something with about any choice.... I have tungsten carbide knives ground for scratching glass... its really in the application/design/manufacturing that will make the final result.

steels prices can go up if there are small batches of steel. some factorys when buying raw material will make you buy a full batch in order to get it made. which can be pretty tough on the front end....

i love infi and sr77 and sr101... i still like good old 1095 tool steel knives....