Thanks for the test, I personally had really good results Sharpening, I've done 2 at this point and the edges came out great even at high polish, no problems with the burr, but I can't remember how stropping went after use, I believe the company is switching over to 14c28n. I never did a controlled cut test with the dc53 but was very impressed with the Sharpening and edge it took. Glad to hear and see some other opinions
Yes, the Akri has come out in 14c28n (thinking of getting it), but I wish this bigger model (Velona) came out in 14c28n as well (I kinda like this big blade).
Thanks for the test it is a great steel for fixed knives. It is analog of Sleipner steel, and it cuts just like 5160 with exception of a better edge retention and a little less toughness than 5160.
I have the SDOKEDC fixed DC53 which is advertised as 60-61 HRC and no such problems, performance simmilar to s30v, amazing value for $45. I bet it's the heat treat
My only experience with Sleiper is a Kizlyar knife i have (stated 62-63hrc) with a convex grind and for DC53 i bought a cheap small fixed blade that look like a clone of an Esee (didn't realize it until i saw the Esee knife) that was $25 and was stst3d 60-61hrc (but who knows if its true or if it's even DC53). The Sleipner knife has held up great and stropping it brings it right back (i think the convex helps). The DC53 blade performs ok, id say like a decent D2 or vg10. Nothing special but for $25 not bad. It's a 2.7 inch blade so it can't be hard used but for edc tasks it does decent and i used for things i wouldn't use a nice knife for.
Very interesting. Thanks much for this retention testing. Saves me from getting this model in CD53. What surprises me is that you mention it is similar to your experience with Sleipner steel. From what I remember, Super Steel Steve had gotten excellent retention testing results on Sleipner steel (I think he tested Italian Lionsteel models). I wondered if the fact that this steel is at 59 (or 58 Rockwell) makes a difference? I think Jerad at NeevesKnives mentioned this steel could optimally be hardened to 62-64. But if your experience with Sleipner (I'm thinking you tested Lionsteel folders) is similar, then maybe something other than hardness has to do with it (some other element in the heat treat?). I have the smaller Akri in this steel, but have not used it enough to tell...maybe now I will put it to task to see if I have similar experience. Thanks again for testing this. Very valuable.
The Lionsteel I never finished the video on didn't do any better than this DC53. If you like the knife watch thier sute as they are using mostly 14c28n on the budget stuff now.
I had one of these in my Amazon shopping cart and luckily I had another knife that I had been waiting on pop up in inventory and I bought two of those instead. I have a Honey Badger in D2 that rolls the edge like that and it breaks my heart. If only the honey badger had good steel that was properly hardened, it would easily be my favorite pocket knife.
My only experience with DC53 has been in a Japanese/Kanna plane, and it's been good. Like a harder A2. Different use cases, of course, but I still kinda expected better results from this test. Miguron may have HT issues though. My friend got an AM8(?) a week or so ago and already needed me to sharpen it, which is really unusual for him. I'll usually sharpen his s30v griptilian every 3 months or so. As I kinda expected, it sharpened like some poo 58 HRC m390. Not saying they're all like bad, but his definitely is. Totally off topic, but thinking about planes got me wondering why we haven't seen PM-V11 used in knives at all. It's great in planes and chisels, so I'd love to try it in a knife.
Pm a11? That's a 10v class steel. Only production companies I know of using 10v are Spyderco and Kizer. I have a mini thumb hole and full size sheepdog in 10v. The mini is the only one I've carried so far and it's overkill for my daily edc use. I can recommend kizer 10v/4v so far.
I have a Miguron Velona in DC53 as well and I don't disagree with your findings, however I do have to ask, what angle did you sharpen it at? I sharpened mine @19° per side on my wicked edge gen 3 and had none of the bur issues you detailed. If anything it polished up quite nicely when I used my 9 micron Gunny Juice strop on it after breaking down 8 large chewy box deliveries into strips. The knife from factory seems a bit thick behind the edge like a ZT so I think a key part is thinning that out a bit
Please tell us about the proper intervals of stropping and sharpening for different steels in real life edc use. Preserving blade material is an underestimated issue in my opinion.
@@CNYKnifeNerd What I mean is an ongoing series for different knives and steels: how many times can you strop before the steel gets tired and you need to renew the edge. The results will change depending on steel and knife manufacturer and the testing must be in edc use context, not „test lab situation“
@@CNYKnifeNerd outpost76‘s videos were new to me. I see now from other videos that stropping until the sharpness won’t come back belongs to his methods.
@@v.t.3194 Just think it's a time saver that way as well. I like going camping and just being able to strop on a strop and get back to cutting instead of bringing out a hand stone.
I'm going to do more of the strop videos where I'll do a test 10 times. Once I've done the Initial test all strop then cut and repeat that 10 times to show what steels response to maintenance on a strop is like and which ones perform better.
Thanks again for the content! Unrelated but I recently got a St. Nick's exclusive Giant Mouse Ace in Vanadis 4 Extra. I heard they did that run at 60 RC and was very surprised. I ended up returning it due to some unrelated quality issues, but how do you think that steel would have performed? With it being so similar to 4V, I assumed it would have been closer to 63-64 where it seems like the Spydercos were.
I think it would perform fine, but in a folder I would like it higher. You lose out on the benefit of the extra edge stability that low with it. Wasted potential maybe.
I have a small dc53 fixed blade that is a really bad blade design that I use for tasks I wouldn't bother with a folder (poking and prying). Not my best purchase. It's all beat to hell and I don't think I will ever sharpen it. I also have a miguron (Verona?). That is a gentlemen's style carry. I haven't really used it yet but I did sharpen it with mediocre success. I thought my stone was getting glazed over and I didn't want to finish it at the time (Spyderco ceramic). Just a curious purchase as to gauge migurons quality. It is possible that my issue is due to burnt edge/ heat treatment issues. I will have to follow up.
I've had about ten of them in for sharpening and every single one of them in DC53 had serious Deburring issues. Clearly there's vastly to much retained austinite leaving a gummy floppy burr. I haven't cut test any so can't speak as to that.
Thanks for the test, I personally had really good results Sharpening, I've done 2 at this point and the edges came out great even at high polish, no problems with the burr, but I can't remember how stropping went after use, I believe the company is switching over to 14c28n. I never did a controlled cut test with the dc53 but was very impressed with the Sharpening and edge it took. Glad to hear and see some other opinions
Yes, the Akri has come out in 14c28n (thinking of getting it), but I wish this bigger model (Velona) came out in 14c28n as well (I kinda like this big blade).
id rathet dc53
@@gaberoo9099 I just got this velona in the mail today 14c28n version is in stock on White Mountain Knives right now I believe
I've seen that listed as the steel on some knives I have looked at online. Good to get some info about it before buying any. Thanks as usual.
You're welcome
Love your contribution to the knife community
Thanks for the test it is a great steel for fixed knives. It is analog of Sleipner steel, and it cuts just like 5160 with exception of a better edge retention and a little less toughness than 5160.
Finally! Been waiting for this!
NOTHER GREAT TEST! Not to mention that burr after stopping is weakened metal and not a good idea to leave on.
I have the 14c28N version. I hope their version is good too. Thanks G
You're welcome
Thanks for the info and yes it's out in 14c28n.
You're welcome
I have the SDOKEDC fixed DC53 which is advertised as 60-61 HRC and no such problems, performance simmilar to s30v, amazing value for $45. I bet it's the heat treat
My only experience with Sleiper is a Kizlyar knife i have (stated 62-63hrc) with a convex grind and for DC53 i bought a cheap small fixed blade that look like a clone of an Esee (didn't realize it until i saw the Esee knife) that was $25 and was stst3d 60-61hrc (but who knows if its true or if it's even DC53). The Sleipner knife has held up great and stropping it brings it right back (i think the convex helps). The DC53 blade performs ok, id say like a decent D2 or vg10. Nothing special but for $25 not bad. It's a 2.7 inch blade so it can't be hard used but for edc tasks it does decent and i used for things i wouldn't use a nice knife for.
Hey Gerald great video I noticed in carry that the steel didn’t strop back either
Very interesting. Thanks much for this retention testing. Saves me from getting this model in CD53. What surprises me is that you mention it is similar to your experience with Sleipner steel. From what I remember, Super Steel Steve had gotten excellent retention testing results on Sleipner steel (I think he tested Italian Lionsteel models). I wondered if the fact that this steel is at 59 (or 58 Rockwell) makes a difference? I think Jerad at NeevesKnives mentioned this steel could optimally be hardened to 62-64. But if your experience with Sleipner (I'm thinking you tested Lionsteel folders) is similar, then maybe something other than hardness has to do with it (some other element in the heat treat?). I have the smaller Akri in this steel, but have not used it enough to tell...maybe now I will put it to task to see if I have similar experience. Thanks again for testing this. Very valuable.
The Lionsteel I never finished the video on didn't do any better than this DC53. If you like the knife watch thier sute as they are using mostly 14c28n on the budget stuff now.
I had one of these in my Amazon shopping cart and luckily I had another knife that I had been waiting on pop up in inventory and I bought two of those instead. I have a Honey Badger in D2 that rolls the edge like that and it breaks my heart. If only the honey badger had good steel that was properly hardened, it would easily be my favorite pocket knife.
Nice looking knife with to soft of steel good video .
Thanks you saved me some money
You're welcome
My only experience with DC53 has been in a Japanese/Kanna plane, and it's been good. Like a harder A2. Different use cases, of course, but I still kinda expected better results from this test.
Miguron may have HT issues though. My friend got an AM8(?) a week or so ago and already needed me to sharpen it, which is really unusual for him. I'll usually sharpen his s30v griptilian every 3 months or so. As I kinda expected, it sharpened like some poo 58 HRC m390. Not saying they're all like bad, but his definitely is.
Totally off topic, but thinking about planes got me wondering why we haven't seen PM-V11 used in knives at all. It's great in planes and chisels, so I'd love to try it in a knife.
Pm a11? That's a 10v class steel. Only production companies I know of using 10v are Spyderco and Kizer. I have a mini thumb hole and full size sheepdog in 10v. The mini is the only one I've carried so far and it's overkill for my daily edc use. I can recommend kizer 10v/4v so far.
Dodo heat treat probably. Who knows if it was a few samples or a lot of them... Or all them.
I have a Miguron Velona in DC53 as well and I don't disagree with your findings, however I do have to ask, what angle did you sharpen it at?
I sharpened mine @19° per side on my wicked edge gen 3 and had none of the bur issues you detailed. If anything it polished up quite nicely when I used my 9 micron Gunny Juice strop on it after breaking down 8 large chewy box deliveries into strips.
The knife from factory seems a bit thick behind the edge like a ZT so I think a key part is thinning that out a bit
The burr issue on this one is from retained austenite. I tried a couple different angles all with the same issue. Definitely a heat treat issue.
Ordered a gray one yesterday in 14 c from wmk . Price is right .
Excellent
Please tell us about the proper intervals of stropping and sharpening for different steels in real life edc use. Preserving blade material is an underestimated issue in my opinion.
That's.... Pretty much exactly what this test tells you.
@@CNYKnifeNerd What I mean is an ongoing series for different knives and steels: how many times can you strop before the steel gets tired and you need to renew the edge. The results will change depending on steel and knife manufacturer and the testing must be in edc use context, not „test lab situation“
@@CNYKnifeNerd outpost76‘s videos were new to me. I see now from other videos that stropping until the sharpness won’t come back belongs to his methods.
@@v.t.3194 Just think it's a time saver that way as well. I like going camping and just being able to strop on a strop and get back to cutting instead of bringing out a hand stone.
I'm going to do more of the strop videos where I'll do a test 10 times. Once I've done the Initial test all strop then cut and repeat that 10 times to show what steels response to maintenance on a strop is like and which ones perform better.
Thanks again for the content! Unrelated but I recently got a St. Nick's exclusive Giant Mouse Ace in Vanadis 4 Extra. I heard they did that run at 60 RC and was very surprised. I ended up returning it due to some unrelated quality issues, but how do you think that steel would have performed? With it being so similar to 4V, I assumed it would have been closer to 63-64 where it seems like the Spydercos were.
I think it would perform fine, but in a folder I would like it higher. You lose out on the benefit of the extra edge stability that low with it. Wasted potential maybe.
Oh no. My bubble is bursted!
😏
I have two of their knives, in this DC53.
Did you check the HRC?
Thank you G.
I did and Fletcher may include it in his video. It was mid 59 rc.
I have a small dc53 fixed blade that is a really bad blade design that I use for tasks I wouldn't bother with a folder (poking and prying). Not my best purchase. It's all beat to hell and I don't think I will ever sharpen it. I also have a miguron (Verona?). That is a gentlemen's style carry. I haven't really used it yet but I did sharpen it with mediocre success. I thought my stone was getting glazed over and I didn't want to finish it at the time (Spyderco ceramic). Just a curious purchase as to gauge migurons quality. It is possible that my issue is due to burnt edge/ heat treatment issues. I will have to follow up.
I've had about ten of them in for sharpening and every single one of them in DC53 had serious Deburring issues. Clearly there's vastly to much retained austinite leaving a gummy floppy burr. I haven't cut test any so can't speak as to that.
DC53 is decent.
👍
What a shame G, I really liked the look of this knife and was hoping your test results would be more positive.