Cattaraugus CM-15 looks almost the same as the CM-16 (especially in pictures), but seeing them next to one another the size difference becomes apparent.
Case C. Platts & Sons Saddle Horn in ATS-34...
@pomsbz how do you like that Lionsteel Roundhead?
It's how 'did' I like it I'm afraid. I had one of the originals. It was simply too thick behind the edge to be a slicer and despite the 'supersteel' it wouldn't hold an edge which was weird. I had it set up by 3 different sharpening pro's but to no use. I just gave up. It's a shame, otherwise it was a brilliant, perfect knife, in hand, in pocket, for the eye, etc. I've heard that the second run was thinner behind the edge and there was some controversy about the hardening of the steel which seems to have blown over but I've transitioned over to carrying a SAK full time these days.
Carbon steel is tough and easy to sharpen, but not very high on the edge retention, corrosion resistance, and many performance steels are tougher and more wear resistant. The Cold Steel Ranch Boss (which I recall was made by Canal Street Cutlery Co.)was S30V, Queen used a lot of 154CM, ATS34, and D2 (and some of their early "440 Stainless" knives were 440C, not 440A). I use a D2 Railsplitter quite a lot. My question is--why don't we see more of it? While Buck 420HC is really good, Rough Ryder 440A decent, and Case Tru-Sharp OK, they are not the best. I sharpen my 420HC 110 far more than I do my 440C 110 from the mid 1970s. And that is sharpened more than my CPM-154 version. Pretty much, the only thing "upgraded" in traditional steels is the occasional Euro traditional in Sandvik 12C27 or 440C (which the Italians seem to love). S30V is a very good steel, and is well suited to a workingman's knife. The Bohler stainless steels are very well balanced with great corrosion resistance and edge retention. Of course, I'd say it's down to cost. Look what Cases are these days! Imagine a GEC in a premium steel. The price would be nuts! But, why not? Sometimes, I like the form of traditional knives over more modern designs .
Well, I succumbed (as we all knew I eventually would), and snagged one with a single clip-point blade and green G-10 handle. The video review by the US distributor notes exactly what you said, that the original spear point blade was criticized for being too thick behind the edge, and that this and other later blades are thinner. Initial impressions overall are positive, but we shall see...
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