I have Yard Keeper, actually 2 and ordered 2 of the 311's. Can't wait to get them. I see in the description that they are going to be SR101. My Yard Keepers are SR77. After lots (I mean lots)of reading, I'm guessing that SR101 was chosen due to edge holding over the "pound-a-bility" of the SR77 as serious pounding would not really be an issue for a 3 1/2" blade. Would that be a fair guess?
Thanks,
Tom

Hi tag, and welcome to the Yard!

I've heard that as well but the whole 11 series thus far has been sr101 including the 711 which takes a pounding as it can chop. So I'm not really have a definite answer for you.

Simeon with more knowledge will chime in I'm sure.

Take care and welcome

Thank you for the reply and warm welcome. Will be interesting to hear what others have to say.
Tom

The Swamp has been using SR101 on all its blades (well, most since they occasionally use 154CM or D2) for several years now. sr101--OR 52100 with the proprietary heat treat--is fine for choppers too. Best one I have--Chopweiler--is SR-101--no dings, no dents, no dulling despite hours of serious abuse. IMO it hold up better than SR-77. SR-77 will not break. Ever. But it will get dings and rolls and it dulls faster.

Using SR-101 in small blades does seem to make sense since it's edge holds longer and, like you mentioned, you aren't likely to be out hacking down any trees, but that doesn't mean 101 is not good for choppers. SR-77 has traditionally been used in the Yard due to it's relatively lower price to produce while ensuring a bombproof blade. Occasionally the Yard will shake things up with 101, 154 Cm, or, on those rare nights that Dan can get Jerry drunk while still retaining his own wits, INFI.

The 7-11 is being produced from 101 and looks to be a great all around camp knife. So good, in fact, that I got two <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

And welcome to the Yard!

Tag, I think that DT hit it right on. He has the experience and steel to know, so I do not hesitate in saying his word is gold. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the Yard. I hope you like it here. There are some really nice fellas around but you got to watch out for a couple of them, they're not stable! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I of course being the most sound of mind of them all can say that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Once again welcome, don't hesitate in joining in, specially in the Death chat where we gather to talk about almost anything.

Well, if SH is telling you to trust me, CLEARLY there's something wrong with him <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey, if you can't trust SuperSquirrel, then who can you trust! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Looks like SH's avatar is taking a shot at SS.

I beat the absolute snot out of my Yard Keeper and it refuses to get dull. I'm quite certain it is 77 due to the fact it patina's differently than the knives I know have 101.

Already have a sheath being made for the 311's. That's right, plural. I ordered 2. Not for fear of breakage, but if I ever want to carry in stereo.

Tag, this spec is for you!

Yard Keeper LE (SR-77) . = 7.5 ounces; .268" thick; 4.5" blade; 9" oal

Three is two, two is one, one is none. 2 3-11s is not a crazy idea at all <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Don't get me wrong--77 is no pansy steel. It will stay sharp a LONG time. My comparison is in the mid-large sized choppers. My Dogfather is 77 and after a couple of summers of hacking through trees, batoning kindling, and calling it bad names, the edge of the DF had a few rough patches, compared to my differentially treated Chopweiler made of 101, which I abused even more regularly and still shaves my legs clean (don't ask why I keep shaving my legs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ). SF45ACP has an SOD (again, 77) that he used in part of a home renovation project when he needed to shave some lumber. His blade did get a small ding in it when he tried to force it through a nail, but I tend to think that most blades would have had a scar to show for that.

Compare that to my Ontario Ranger 9 that I once had (note the past tense). 1095 steel but after going through a tree or two, that sucker had all sorts of dings and rolls. Sharpened it up, sold it off, and haven't looked back. Same thing with the one Bark River I had--batonned through one log and it had more rolls in the edge than a bakery truck. Went to the spa and then off on the forums. My feeling is if I'm gonna lay out some coin for a decent knife, it had better be able to stand AT LEAST a few days of punishment before requiring attention.

I have a Ranger 9 heat treated by Justin and made from a Busse blank. Justin's got a great heat treat protocol too--that blade stood up to some good punishment this past summer and I still haven't sharpened it. Might have slightly bent the very tip though but it still shaves my legs.

As for slicing, once I got my 101 Rodent Solution sharp (still can't figure out why it came dull), it hacked through a few rib cages on a few deer this past season and appears no worse for wear. It compares favorably to some of the other "super steel" or exotic steel hunting blades I have--CPM 154, S30V, BG-42, and 52100. My RMD hasn't seen as much useage as I'd like, but it's handled everything I've dished out (or my 20 nieces and nephews at the last family reunion when I had them practicing fire building techniques) without a whimper--don't think I've needed to touch it up either. I've only ever briefly had a smaller blade 77--a Dumpster Mutt--but I traded it off before I used it, so I can't really talk.

Both 77 and 101 are fantastic steels, and I wager the 77 holds up just fine for slicing. I personally give the edge (pun intended) to 101. Some folks may have had different experiences than me though, so jump on in dogs, the water's fine!

And despite SH's kind words, I really don't have much useful to say. Mostly I make things up so I sound like I know what I'm doing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I think you've said it pretty good DT.