Spyderco Wikipedia article

[Bayoublaster]

Just found this on Wikipedia and decided to share it. I think it needs to be expanded with the wealth of knowledge found here.
Spyderco on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyderco)

[ghostrider]

Interesting.

While I knew that the earlybyrds marked "440C" were found to not actually be 440c, I didn't know they had the same experience with the AUS-6 models.

[Stasis]

I think this was posted here a few months ago.
Recently, I actually fixed up the layout of this whole article, fixed a bunch of typos and grammatical errors, and added some more information. The entire "sprint runs" and most of the "Byrd" section are my doing. :)


While I knew that the earlybyrds marked "440C" were found to not actually be 440c, I didn't know they had the same experience with the AUS-6 models.I added that bit about Byrds and AUS-6 to the Wikipedia article. I couldn't remember for sure if it was 440C or AUS-6, and I saw that the Harrier was marked AUS-6, so that's what I wrote. I may have been wrong.

[ghostrider]

FYI:
The "440C" marked steel was tested by Sal and crew and found to be something alltogether different from 440C as it is commonly known. That's when they changet the labeling to "8etc.". It is similar in it's properties to AUS-8. I'll try to find some links for you.

[ghostrider]

This should help clear things up Stasis.


Hi all - in addition to Sal's explanation, I can reveal that the proto types I have seen and handled from the upcoming Byrd models, are with colored alluminum handles (green, blue, grey) and also some with liner locks. Blade steel will again be 8Cr13MoV a very acceptable Chome-Moly stainless steel. There will not be any 440 C markings on the Byrd knives in the future as the steel the Chineese claim to be 440C is not 440C as we know it.
So far my contibution to this topic.
Jurphaas. ;)
http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14564&highlight=440c




I'll try to make some sense of it.

Hi JDEE. They didn't feel that hard to me either when I put them on the rods. We Rc'd them in-house and they were running 60/61. I know 440C is brittle at 61. These don't seem brittle. We're still getting feedback.

The steel in the byrds is 8Cr13MoV.

When we first began designing the byrd line and working with the makers, we asked the makers what was the best steel available in China. They said 440C. We requested 440C.

As is my anal retentive, obsessive-compulsive nature, I'm always testing. On the first run, the edge retension was quite good, lock strength was heavy duty range, lock reliability was excellent. Then I analyzed the steel in the first run. Chemistry didn't match 440C. "Something about Chinese 440C".

We communicated with the foundry. Their analysis matched ours. I said we cannot call this 440C in the USA if it is not the same chemistry as 440C in the USA. The name of the steel in China is 8Cr13MoV. .8 Carbon, 13 Chrome, less than 1. moly with vanadium.

It is a good steel and tests in a range with Aichi's AUS-8.

byrd models are made from and will be marked 8Cr13MoV.

It is interesting to note that 95% of all knives sold are sold to people that don't know one steel is different from another. Here on this forum we seem to have many that do. I'm impressed.

I don't think you will find a better quality $25-$30 knife.

sal
Sorry for the wrong link. Here's the correct one.

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14579

[Stasis]

Thanks, ghostrider.

So let me make sure I've got this straight: Chinese 440C is different from American 440C, and Chinese 440C is also called 8Cr13MoV, and 8Cr13MoV is similar to regular old AUS-8?

[ghostrider]

Thanks, ghostrider.

So let me make sure I've got this straight: Chinese 440C is different from American 440C, and Chinese 440C is also called 8Cr13MoV, and 8Cr13MoV is similar to regular old AUS-8?
That's assuming that all the Chinese manufactures are keeping the same standards for the steel they lable as 440c.

When you buy a TV set with so many pixels or line in it. There is no industry standard for those units, so they can vary from one maker to the next.

Let's just say that the byrd blades that are marked "440C" are different from American 440C, and are in actuality 8Cr13MoV.

It does make me wonder about all these other Chinese made knives that are marked 440C.

Spyderco says that the "8etc..." is "similar in it's properties to AUS-8". Not real sure what that means but I can say that at Rc61, my byrds are much harder to sharpen than any of the AUS-8 blades I have (however, I've never sharpened Spyderco AUS-8).

[Axlis]

Paul's site would make a great external link to this article :)

[Nemo3000]

I have just add some thought about Steel...
Any other ideas around here ?

Cheers
Nemo Sandman

[Civilian]

I just started a list of the Models with the dates. Some variations as well.

[peacefuljeffrey]

I haven't yet bought any Byrd knives, and I know that they are a "great, for the money" kind of deal,
but I have STRONG reservations buying such knives when it seems that the Chinese counterparts cannot be trusted to be giving us, in good faith, what is expected and represented. That is VERY TROUBLING.

If it were my company, I would just as soon raise the price and deal with someone reputable and trustworthy, or put a stop to the arrangement, rather than invite a serious shaking-of-faith in the company, and/or its parent.


-Jeffrey

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: I'm trying to boycott Chinese products since the Chinese government is executing Falun gong practitioners and harvesting their organs for transplant. And then of course there's Tibet :rolleyes: :spyder:

[peacefuljeffrey]

Heh, good luck boycotting Chinese products. It seems that so many corporate whores in the U.S. have sold out to doing commerce with those evil scumbags just to line their own pockets that you can't swing a dead shih-tzu without hitting an everyday item made in China. And it's harder and harder to find the stuff you use every day made domestically.

P.S. I don't challenge the idea that China engages in flagrant, evil abuses of human rights, but is there substantiation to the rumor that they are harvesting organs from criminals like you allege?

Seems to me that any program like that would be just rife with corruption, given the big-bucks the surgeries must cost, coupled with the ease with which a corrupt Chinese official can just order someone off to prison/execution for whatever reason...

-Jeffrey

[Bayoublaster]

Wow, this article has really expanded since I posted it here.

[peacefuljeffrey]

Wow, this article has really expanded since I posted it here.


Hah! Wait til I get in there and rant on and on about how riveted knives ain't worth jack, and every knife should have an H-1 variant for those who are paranoid about corrosion! :D

-Jeffrey

[Bodieism]

Hah! Wait til I get in there and rant on and on about how riveted knives ain't worth jack, and every knife should have an H-1 variant for those who are paranoid about corrosion! :D

-Jeffrey

LOL, I was just thinking about how I would really like the Police offered in H-1 steel (there is just something cool about being able to go swimming with your knife :D ). It would be really cool IMO if the handle could be made out of it to but I think that would run the cost sky high. I wouldn't mind an FRN or G-10 version though b/c I could send it off to STR and have titanium handles put on it :D I wonder if there would be enough interest to have a sprint run of one done?

[Civilian]

LOL, I was just thinking about how I would really like the Police offered in H-1 steel (there is just something cool about being able to go swimming with your knife :D ).
No the Frogman(Milie in H-1) would be better :)