The title pretty much sums it all up, why isn't the yard using SR77 with its new lines of knives?

My guess:

1) SR-101 (with bussekin heat treat) has shown that it does not fail in said applications.
2) Buying in bulk helps keep price to performance in check (ie: ScrapYard leverages production runs from Swamp Rat)
3) Do we need reasons? Dan offers one of the best, no questions asked warranties in the industry. USE the knife.

Welcome to the Yard. I think you will find there is no answer to your question. This is like asking why doesn't Busse license it's INFI formulation to others...or, do they, while require that others use a different naming convention (oink).

Maybe Dan used all the SR77 up.

Or the 101 scraps have been better lately. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I like'm both so I'm cool with the SR 101. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Sasquatch --- Howdy and Welcome to the Scrap Yard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> I don't know the exact answer to your question, but remember that this IS the "Scrap Yard", where Dan Busse practices "Superior Performance to Price Ratio". He does his best to give us a great knife, warranty, and price <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
For what it's worth, I love the SR-101 ; it's basically 52100 ball-bearing steel with the special Busse treatment. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I think that if Dan had thought that the SR 77 was better he would continue with that ...... instead chose the SR 101.
It will mean something.

SR77 looks awesome on paper but I don't think it's really designed to be hardened to the RC required for knives, I think once you harden it to say 58-60 RC you lose many of the merits for which it is popular....JMO !

I do think it would be perfect should Dan ever decide to bring out a Hawk or an axe !

I don't think that Dan is done with SR-77, a least I hope not! 101 is a great steel in my opinion, but 77 is also great. I particularly like 77 on big blades for reasons I have explained many times.

I think that Dan had his reasons, whatever they may be, to use 101 for the SYKCO 11 series of blades. Scrap Yard is evolving, as are Busse and Swamp Rat, and I think that introducing new steels into their line of knives is part of this evolution.

Dan and Jerry know exactly what they are doing and I am sure have plans for the future. It will be interesting to see if Dan keeps 77 in his arsenal. I really hope he does, especially for the ScrapKhuk, MOAD, and ScrapChete! I'd love it if Dan used 101 for blades 3"-6 or 7" and SR77 for blades 7 or 8"+.

Long live Scrap Yard and hopefully SR77!

Sasquatch, Welcome to the Yard! Don't be shy about posting or asking questions. Chances are someone will know the answer to your question or can at least make a pretty good guess.

You have now entered the Yard and there is no turning back. There's no use burying your wallet, cause of course dogs got a good sense of smell. SO just give in to the addiction and call it therapy cause it soothes your nerves and makes life bearable, that's what we all do. Sometimes we even get to believing it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well, you have to believe in SOMETHING, so might as well believe in Scrap Yard and the Brotherhood!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the Yard. I hope you will like it here.
As for your question, here is my take on it: Both sr77 and sr101 are great steels, but imo sr101 is the overall better steel. Its superior edgeholding ability weighs more than sr77 superior impact strength.
So I think, that when Dan was able to bring the '11 in sr101, he did it to deliver best possible knives at the best possible price. Living up to his motto.

This is just a wild guess, but I remember some Dog Fathers having inclusions in the steel that caused some failures. Of course, I have no idea how many had problems, probably few. Maybe the S7 steel Dan was getting wasn't up to Busse standards. But this is just a guess, and I could be completely wrong. After I chopped down some pretty big trees with my Rodent Waki, I quit worrying about the toughness of SR 101. It holds its edge superbly, and I prefer it to SR77.

Dan please fill us in!!!