K-Bars What Knife is in your pocket right now?

My own, selfmade, Magnacut steel and G10 scales with a blue liner.



IMG_4268.JPG
 
Microtech now uses a slightly modified (slightly higher carbon I believe, but don't quote me) M390MK... CPM 20CV, M390, and CTS-204P are pretty much different manufacturers version of the same steel. I'll take MagnaCut over them. Give me any of the above as a solid number two pick in the stainless steel category.
 
  • Like
Reactions: secondofangle2
Not as much of a steel snob, I do have a bunch of the super steels, my latest Shiro is S90V, but I have no issues with CPM154 that Kevin Foster, Tom Mayo and others use. Many of my Customs are carbon Damascus and cut fine and are easy to sharpen. Pick your use and doing the wheel of steel and you will have choice of truly great steels to choose from.
 
Microtech now uses a slightly modified (slightly higher carbon I believe, but don't quote me) M390MK... CPM 20CV, M390, and CTS-204P are pretty much different manufacturers version of the same steel. I'll take MagnaCut over them. Give me any of the above as a solid number two pick in the stainless steel category.

I have been shocked by how great MagnaCut is. I was very skeptical when my custom knife maker suggested it for my hunting blade.

IMG_8054.jpeg

IMG_3626.jpeg

P1012593A.jpeg
 
I have been shocked by how great MagnaCut is. I was very skeptical when my custom knife maker suggested it for my hunting blade.

View attachment 8771125
View attachment 8771127
View attachment 8771130
Look up Dr Larrin Thomas(Creator of MagnaCut) his father is Devin Thomas, one of the greatest bladesmiths of all time in my opinion (especially his Damascus). He and Bill Burke are two of the true pioneers of being a full-time smiths. Usually that meant your wife carried you as you pursued a hobby in your garage. Very cool story.

Probably more into knives than firearms. I used to listen to Larrin back on a forum we called ITK (in the kitchen). He was working on his material science degree around that time. He posted regularly and that sparked my autistic interest. After attaining his PhD in metallurgy, he continued to post on a forum known as kitchen knife forums. I always enjoyed his posts, his father's posts, and when they were removed from that site I stopped being a voluntary admin of that very forum. Deleting his father's forum and Bill Burke's forum. A lot of great information was lost. I just Houdinied...

Old school steel can still cut just as good as the modern day marvels. Edge geometry has more to do with it then the metallurgy itself. Keep in mind Larrin himself admits that.
attachment.jpg




 
Last edited:
The main advantage of MAGNACUT is increased toughness but at the expense of hardness and edge retention was my understanding.

LARIN Thomas has a new steel called MAGNAMAX that bridges the gap between MAGNACUT and MAXAMET which is, after REX121, one of the hardest steals on the market right now - but low toughness.

However, CPM just recently went bankrupt so we will see more CTS or from whoever buys CPM and their rights
 
The main advantage of MAGNACUT is increased toughness but at the expense of hardness and edge retention was my understanding.

LARIN Thomas has a new steel called MAGNAMAX that bridges the gap between MAGNACUT and MAXAMET which is, after REX121, one of the hardest steals on the market right now - but low toughness.

However, CPM just recently went bankrupt so we will see more CTS or from whoever buys CPM and their rights
Autistic interest, stop helping with a fucking shovel when I'm already digging a hole. This is where we stop geeking out. Otherwise I drive everyone nuts.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: secondofangle2
The main advantage of MAGNACUT is increased toughness but at the expense of hardness and edge retention was my understanding.

According to this, it balanced the two very well while creating a spot for itself.

There was some hardness controversy going on. Apparently some knife-makers were not hardening to it’s full potential.

I have cut up two antelope with mine and it remains nearly as sharp as when I took it off my wicked edge pro…..

IMG_3626.jpeg
 
According to this, it balanced the two very well while creating a spot for itself.

There was some hardness controversy going on. Apparently some knife-makers were not hardening to it’s full potential.

I have cut up two antelope with mine and it remains nearly as sharp as when I took it off my wicked edge pro…..

View attachment 8771418


While also having excellent stainless properties 😎

I’m excited to see how Magnamax compares to CPM 3V.

- Richard
 
Victorinox with pen & LED. Like such:

View attachment 8771503

Used far more frequently / daily than any other knife carried. Including overlanding/trekking/outback etc...
That little thing would be great for hunting. Scissors for cutting those freak dates and a pen for signing. Backup to your hunting knife for lunch etc. and of course the flashlight so the Warden can get you for hunting with artificial light…..😳
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Camelfilter
Before CPM closed earlier this year, researching Larin’s work and speaking to Ban Tang who has made a few fixed blades for me. I decided in 2024 on a few criteria’s of knives that I want to try and stick to which is easier to accomplish than many firearms and accessories that I prefer.

1. Made in the USA from quality manufacturers who knows how to heat treat properly.
2. 3V or maybe Magnamax for fixed blades and Magnacut for folders.
3. Honestly doesn’t matter, sometimes we just like what we like haha

I don’t even use my knives for “hard use” so I’m mainly a poser that just likes cool (to me) knives to satisfy my nerdiness 😂
I have plenty of other mid grade and cheaper knives in my cars, backpacks and around the house. Here’s some videos that have poisoned my brain, sometimes I watch these videos at night before going to bed.



 
  • Like
Reactions: AMAC79 and Holliday
Haven´t owned a knife in Magnacut before I made my own one, seemed to expensive to me compared to other steels.

A pro knife maker I know said, that he would prefer RWL-34 over Magnacut which is overprized in his opinion.
I have no clue, but will make my next knife with this steel, just because.
 
Haven´t owned a knife in Magnacut before I made my own one, seemed to expensive to me compared to other steels.

A pro knife maker I know said, that he would prefer RWL-34 over Magnacut which is overprized in his opinion.
I have no clue, but will make my next knife with this steel, just because.

I had not heard of RWL-34. That appears to be a powdered steel.

IMG_8059.jpegIMG_8060.jpeg
 
That little thing would be great for hunting. Scissors for cutting those freak dates and a pen for signing. Backup to your hunting knife for lunch etc. and of course the flashlight so the Warden can get you for hunting with artificial light…..😳

Used to have one with a red LED. Pretty nice to help maintain night vision & minimize signature when checking maps & such. Should look for it & see if I can get it back in service.

Problem with them is they are so small, they are easy to lose. Lanyard helps with that tho.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Holliday
Look up Dr Larrin Thomas(Creator of MagnaCut) his father is Devin Thomas, one of the greatest bladesmiths of all time in my opinion (especially his Damascus). He and Bill Burke are two of the true pioneers of being a full-time smiths. Usually that meant your wife carried you as you pursued a hobby in your garage. Very cool story.

Probably more into knives than firearms. I used to listen to Larrin back on a forum we called ITK (in the kitchen). He was working on his material science degree around that time. He posted regularly and that sparked my autistic interest. After attaining his PhD in metallurgy, he continued to post on a forum known as kitchen knife forums. I always enjoyed his posts, his father's posts, and when they were removed from that site I stopped being a voluntary admin of that very forum. Deleting his father's forum and Bill Burke's forum. A lot of great information was lost. I just Houdinied...

Old school steel can still cut just as good as the modern day marvels. Edge geometry has more to do with it then the metallurgy itself. Keep in mind Larrin himself admits that.
View attachment 8771352



I've had this for a while now.
Devin 270 2.jpg
Devin 270 1.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Redfisher60
His ITK (in the kitchen, standing for the subform we were on a larger form at the time). It was such a popular profile. He was asked to redo it. I even owned one at one time, but a member of the kitchen knife forms was really after one so I sold him mine at cost.
I really wish it wasn’t a 270, it would get a hell of a lot more use if it was somewhere between a 240-210.
 
His ITK (in the kitchen, standing for the subform we were on a larger form at the time). It was such a popular profile. He was asked to redo it. I even owned one at one time, but a member of the kitchen knife forms was really after one so I sold him mine at cost.
I used to hang out on the kitchen knife forums, that knife is from a group buy there.