laminated blades

[Raukodur]

The thread in the general forums on how overpriced the 'fake' damascus that we can buy nowadays is made mention of laminated blades.

I thought I would start a thread in the correct forum to gain more information about this.

Anyone here have laminated blades? Which manufacturers are reputable producers? What kind of price range are we talking about? And in your experience, how do they compare to other blades?

[Sazabi]

Mora of Sweden has some of their higher-priced knives made with laminated blades.

[jzmtl]

I don't see any advantage of them for end user, maybe some material/cost saving for makers.

[Grathr]

I have a couple of knives with laminated steel blades. A Helle laplander and a Fallkniven F1. Both are razor sharp, and has not needed any resharpening after heavy use. They are both pretty expensive knives though.
Im no expert on this, but the way I understand it, is that a laminated steel knife ususally has a core and edge from very hard steel, protected by a softer steel on the outside to keep it from breaking. As a result you get a razor sharp blade with good edge retention, that does not break easily.

[Raukodur]

Do any manufacturers make folders using this method?

[dks]

 not sure, so post deleted

[microbe]

I know of "San mai" steel that is used by some manufacturers. A core of harder steel with stainless on the sides. Do a web search and you will find various knives.

[Goatlord666]

I have a couple of knives with laminated steel blades. A Helle laplander and a Fallkniven F1. Both are razor sharp, and has not needed any resharpening after heavy use. They are both pretty expensive knives though.
Im no expert on this, but the way I understand it, is that a laminated steel knife ususally has a core and edge from very hard steel, protected by a softer steel on the outside to keep it from breaking. As a result you get a razor sharp blade with good edge retention, that does not break easily.

Hurray for Fallkniven! the best ever!

[jzmtl]

Do any manufacturers make folders using this method?

Fallkniven, spyderco, and I think cold steel (although CS use VG1 and aus8, quite ridiculous).

But IMO like convex edge, the benefit of the whole thing is blown way out of proportion by a few proponents. Do you know why the Japs developed Sanmai? It's because they had no iron ore and need to save whatever they have for sword edge only,

Also, I've only ever seen one example of laminated blade prevent breaking, a fallkniven with VG10 core snapped and 420 clad holding it together. But the guy was trying to break it, literally hammered it into wood and stood on the handle to bounce up and down.

[Raukodur]

Reading and thinking about this a bit more, in a pen knife, unless it is quite large, I don't see the point of laminating.

The point, as far as I can see, was to have a knife with a hard steel core allowing you to get a hard edge for sharpness and edge retention, but to allow using and abusing it without breaking it, it would be 'laminated' with softer steel, giving it the flexibility the hard core didn't have.

For small knives which aren't going to be abused in this way, there doesn't seem to be an advantage.

[microbe]

Reading and thinking about this a bit more, in a pen knife, unless it is quite large, I don't see the point of laminating.

The point, as far as I can see, was to have a knife with a hard steel core allowing you to get a hard edge for sharpness and edge retention, but to allow using and abusing it without breaking it, it would be 'laminated' with softer steel, giving it the flexibility the hard core didn't have.

For small knives which aren't going to be abused in this way, there doesn't seem to be an advantage.

So you are saying a very hard and sharp edge with excellent edge retention,  sandwiched with softer steel has no advantage in a pocket knife? 

[bmot]

Reading and thinking about this a bit more, in a pen knife, unless it is quite large, I don't see the point of laminating.

The point, as far as I can see, was to have a knife with a hard steel core allowing you to get a hard edge for sharpness and edge retention, but to allow using and abusing it without breaking it, it would be 'laminated' with softer steel, giving it the flexibility the hard core didn't have.

For small knives which aren't going to be abused in this way, there doesn't seem to be an advantage.

So you are saying a very hard and sharp edge with excellent edge retention,  sandwiched with softer steel has no advantage in a pocket knife?

He said for a small pocketknife, which I can understand, as usually, small pocketknives don't get used (abused) that hard...

[dks]

I forgot about Higonokami. Cheap, basic and laminated.
More here:

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?87498-Higonokami-story