DC53 and PD613 steel

[blokey]

I’m curious on more information on these 2 steels, they are quite popular among Chinese custom knife makers. They are somewhat similar to VascoWear class of steel but with less alloy element. Both by Japanese Daido corporation, but PD613 seems to be a more refined ESR steel. Anyone with experience with these 2 steels? Also any opinions welcome
Here’s the composition
http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/dc53.shtml
https://www.steeldata.info/tempering/demo/data/1827.html

 

[blokey]

Apparently PD613 is an improvement of SKD11/D2
https://www.daido.co.jp/common/pdf/pages/products/tool/technical-data/sd2301-j02.pdf

 

[Barmoley]

From chemical composition looks similar to gokinko steel that aritsugu used to use in their A-type knives. Gokinko has very good edge retention but is difficult to thin. Sharpening is ok. Gokinko is heat treated to 60 hrc by aritsugu. It is not very reactive less than a2 and more than sld.

 

[blokey]

From chemical composition looks similar to gokinko steel that aritsugu used to use in their A-type knives. Gokinko has very good edge retention but is difficult to thin. Sharpening is ok. Gokinko is heat treated to 60 hrc by aritsugu. It is not very reactive less than a2 and more than sld.

Thanks! I’m deciding between it and a differentially hardened 52100 for an outdoor knife, seems both are good enough.

 

[Barmoley]

What kind of outdoor knife. What is the main purpose for it?

 

[blokey]

More or less just a camp knife, nothing serious

 

[Barmoley]

Camp knives are serious business people tend to overbuild camp knives as if just because you are camping you need a knife that can do everything, chopping, digging, etc

Anyway, sounds like you have it figured out.

 

[Jovidah]

Camp knives are serious business people tend to overbuild camp knives as if just because you are camping you need a knife that can do everything, chopping, digging, etc

Anyway, sounds like you have it figured out.

Yea unless you're doing some survival thing you're usually best served just bringing a simple opinel, a mora and an axe.

 

[blokey]

Camp knives are serious business people tend to overbuild camp knives as if just because you are camping you need a knife that can do everything, chopping, digging, etc

Anyway, sounds like you have it figured out.

Thanks, I hate the trend of making every knife a survival or bushcraft knife, it makes a great pry bar but poor cutting tool.

 

[Barmoley]

Yea unless you're doing some survival thing you're usually best served just bringing a simple opinel, a mora and an axe.

Even survival, a puukko with a folding saw will give you most stuff you need or a small knife and a hatchet if we are talking northern forest. Really depends on where you are surviving, machete might be better in tropical environments. Totally different thread.