N690/N690co ( co=Cobalt ) is a ingot/billet/stock removal steel produced by the renowned European Austrian Swedish steel producers Böhler Udderholme and N690 is very similar to VG10, N690 having a very slightly higher percentage of Chromium. It can be hardened to 60rhc and at that hardness its edge retention is " Okay ", it's very slightly more corrosion resistant than VG10. Böhler Udderholme basically built on the formula of 440C and produced N690, so it's ostensibly a fortified 440C but it's certainly not a high performance steel and considering that S35VN is now arguably the industry standard steel N690's performance in any category pales in comparison. If the blade steel was S35VN then 130 bucks would be acceptable, but for N690 it's overpriced. One aspect that is probably in this knifes favor is that the N690 blade wasn't heat treated in Maniago Italy as Italian N690co ( N690 ) blades are incredibly overpriced and they always have sub-optimal heat treatments because softer steel means that it costs less to produce due to their ovens being run at a lower temperature, softer steel is way easier to machine/work, and all of this means that more blades can be produced quickly and cheaply and the Italian companies know this but they never give a sucker an even break. I would take US, Taiwan, German, and Chinese N690co blades over Italian made ones any and everyday of the week if I wanted an N690 bladed knife. BTW, MKM, Lionsteel, Viper Technocut, Fox Knives, and Mercury Knives are all part Mikita business group and if you're familiar with these makers knives you'll notice that the hardware on practically all the knives is the same and that's because it is the same. Lionsteel is the best out of that bad bunch. Extrema Ratio isn't a member of Mikita but they have a loyal ( if rather ignorant ) fan base, and yes, Extrema Ratio run there N690co soft aswel. Fortunately many Americans are now getting wise to the Italian knife industries dirty tricks and the MIkita knife group companies sales have been plummeting for a good while now, Extrema Ratio not as much but they're still on a downward turn right now, and rightly so. I enjoyed your video very much, keep at it buddy! 👌🏻🤝🏻.
Nice looking knife but for the price, I can find something else that would be Lefty friendly. I am a traditional knife guy and have a lot of slip joints and lock backs. The ability to set the tension is interesting.
I agree. It has some cool points. The adjustable tension is kinda cool and I like that it has a pocket clip. I think you need a higher grade blade steel to justify this price though
N690/N690co ( co=Cobalt ) is a ingot/billet/stock removal steel produced by the renowned European Austrian Swedish steel producers Böhler Udderholme and N690 is very similar to VG10, N690 having a very slightly higher percentage of Chromium. It can be hardened to 60rhc and at that hardness its edge retention is " Okay ", it's very slightly more corrosion resistant than VG10.
Böhler Udderholme basically built on the formula of 440C and produced N690, so it's ostensibly a fortified 440C but it's certainly not a high performance steel and considering that S35VN is now arguably the industry standard steel N690's performance in any category pales in comparison.
If the blade steel was S35VN then 130 bucks would be acceptable, but for N690 it's overpriced.
One aspect that is probably in this knifes favor is that the N690 blade wasn't heat treated in Maniago Italy as Italian N690co ( N690 ) blades are incredibly overpriced and they always have sub-optimal heat treatments because softer steel means that it costs less to produce due to their ovens being run at a lower temperature, softer steel is way easier to machine/work, and all of this means that more blades can be produced quickly and cheaply and the Italian companies know this but they never give a sucker an even break.
I would take US, Taiwan, German, and Chinese N690co blades over Italian made ones any and everyday of the week if I wanted an N690 bladed knife.
BTW, MKM, Lionsteel, Viper Technocut, Fox Knives, and Mercury Knives are all part Mikita business group and if you're familiar with these makers knives you'll notice that the hardware on practically all the knives is the same and that's because it is the same.
Lionsteel is the best out of that bad bunch.
Extrema Ratio isn't a member of Mikita but they have a loyal ( if rather ignorant ) fan base, and yes, Extrema Ratio run there N690co soft aswel.
Fortunately many Americans are now getting wise to the Italian knife industries dirty tricks and the MIkita knife group companies sales have been plummeting for a good while now, Extrema Ratio not as much but they're still on a downward turn right now, and rightly so.
I enjoyed your video very much, keep at it buddy! 👌🏻🤝🏻.
yeahhh buddy thanks for sharing
It's a nice looking piece. I'm not sure about the n690 though. Time will tell
Nice looking knife but for the price, I can find something else that would be Lefty friendly. I am a traditional knife guy and have a lot of slip joints and lock backs. The ability to set the tension is interesting.
I agree. It has some cool points. The adjustable tension is kinda cool and I like that it has a pocket clip. I think you need a higher grade blade steel to justify this price though