Category: History – Articles – Books
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Moran vs Loveless – Knife Steel Edition
Bill Moran and Bob Loveless are the most influential knifemakers in the modern era. They were two key figures in the rise of custom knifemaking, which began in 1970 with the formation of the Knifemakers Guild. Both predated the Guild and had fully formed philosophies on knifemaking before its formation. There are an impressive number of dichotomies between Loveless and Moran. For two men who were influential in a similar time period for making the same product – knives – they had surprisingly different philosophies. Both men served as president of the Knifemakers Guild in the early years: Moran from 1972-1973, and Loveless from 1971-1972 and again from 1973-1974. B.R. Hughes wrote about the two knifemakers in 1986 [1]:
Buderus Steel Mill Closing? Yes, But Also No
Video
There is a video version of the following information:
What is Buderus?
Buderus is a steel mill in Germany. They have several of their own knife steel products, including Nitro-V, Nitro-B, and Nitro-X7. They have also produced a wide range of standard grades, including 1095, 80CrV2, 15N20, and W2.
Knife Engineering 2nd Edition – Expanded and Updated
11/18/2025: I added that the book is now available in South Africa from SD Knives & Supplies.
Links to buy are at the bottom of the article!
Video
Knife Engineering
In recent years, I have been mostly known as the “MagnaCut man,” but before MagnaCut, my biggest success was probably with Knife Engineering. When I started my website, Knife Steel Nerds, I hadn’t thought about writing a book because I thought I was doing a website instead. But I soon realized that a website works better for individual articles than it does for introducing an entire subject. So that led me to writing the book Knife Engineering: Steel, Heat Treating, and Geometry. That allowed people to learn the subject in order with all of the appropriate introductory material. The book has been a big success with many copies sold and many rave reviews from knifemakers and knife buyers alike. I tried very hard to make the subject as easy to understand as possible, and so it has been gratifying to hear people say that the book was exactly that.
Testing Super High Speed Steel Vanadis 60
The following is a collaboration project between myself and Malachi Chou-Green. He obtained the Vanadis 60, did some heat treating experiments, and also did metallography including some fancy electron microscopy. He also heat treated and machined the CATRA knife that I tested. His original experiments were published some time ago on his Patreon, so if you want to see what he is up to I recommend visiting his Patreon page and becoming a supporter.
Testing Chinese Knife Steel 8Cr13MoV/8Cr14MoV
Thank you Patreon Supporters!
Thank you to my Patreon supporters who help make these studies happen. Patreon funds were used for purchasing two ultimately useless knives, and some steel. Patreon supporter Marcus Ho even sent me some steel all the way from China which also ended up not working out. And I used Patreon funds to pay Shawn Houston (also a Patreon supporter) to do microscopy and grind two CATRA knives for me. So when I say that Patreon makes the study happen I don’t mean in an abstract sense. If you want to help fund more knife steel research please come join us on Patreon where you can get articles and videos early. Or if you sign up for the highest tier you can even get a sweet Knife Steel Nerds mug.
Innovators that Changed Knife Steel
I drove my family all the way out to Bethlehem, PA to film a video about steel history so I hope you watch it. Read about my knife steel history book here: https://knifesteelnerds.com/2023/05/09/new-book-the-story-of-knife-steel-innovators-behind-modern-damascus-and-super-steels/
Knife Steel Nerds at Blade Show Atlanta
Blade Show is almost here! The biggest knife show in the world is always a good time, and I will be there again. You should be aware of a few things at the show if you are a Knife Steel Nerd.
Blade U Damascus Class
New Book! The Story of Knife Steel – Innovators Behind Modern Damascus and Super Steels
This is the biggest project I have ever worked on, spending many, many hours to write the comprehensive tale about steel and knives. If you have ever wanted to learn more about the inner workings of the knife industry, this book is for you. Wherever possible I used firsthand accounts from metallurgists and knifemakers to explain why they innovated and how. I will give links to buy so they aren’t lost on the page and then I will explain more:
K390 – Best High Wear Resistance Steel?
Thanks to the new Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters! Dusan Praznik, Donald Adkins, Marcus Collins, and Trae Santiago.
K390 Video
Here is the video version of the following information:
What is K390?
K390 was developed as an alternative to Crucible’s CPM-10V, which has had success since the late 1970s as a steel with very high wear resistance yet also moderate toughness. CPM-10V achieved these properties by having a relatively high volume of vanadium carbides, very hard carbides that contribute greatly to wear resistance. Because the carbides are so hard, it requires less of them for a certain level of wear resistance. Carbides are brittle, so having a lower volume of carbide for the same wear resistance means greater toughness. The patent application for K390 was submitted in Austria by Bohler in 2002 [1], and the steel was announced in 2004 [2]. The main modifications to CPM-10V were increased Mo, W, and Co. This gives K390 better “secondary hardening” and therefore “hot hardness” so that it can maintain its hardness at high temperatures. The higher Mo also gives it greater “hardenability” so that large dies can still harden all the way through.
LC200N/Cronidur 30 – History and Properties
Thanks to Maxi, Michael Fitzgerald, Samy Tammam, Russ Ramski, and Scott Guthrie for becoming Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters! We are almost to 300 supporters! Wow!
New T-Shirts!
After requests from any kind fans we now have t-shirts available, including an awesome one with the MagnaCut logo on front and knife grinding man on the back. Note it is available in a few different styles and colors. Click this link if you want one.
Andre Grobler posted the link to your blog on FB. Will check it out