SHC Kyle Bettleyon - the benefits of simple steels (5160)

Kyle's channel :
- / @kylebettleyon447

[@Nebulax123]

Newfoundland although once heavily forested was denuded not by logging but by a little know knife tester to it's present grassland state.

[@Nebulax123]

We called them cruising axes in Wisconsin my first job was felling, bunching and peeling poplar for pulp wood. They were also used for limbing and for marking trees to be cut. I started with axes to earn enough money for a chain saw. I would make the outer cuts with the cruiser and then switch to the felling axe for the notch and do the back cut with a buck saw. (God I am old) I learned from my father who never had a chain saw at all, in his day they weren't around except to pros because they were very heavy and very expensive.

[@concealmenttraining9371]

Cliff the legend

[@RikthDcruze]

5160 is my absolute favourite. Followed by 1095. Both simple steels.

[@DANVIIL]

5160, 1084 and 1095 will do everything I'll ever need in a blade. If I want to get exotic I'll add O1, O2, L6 and 52100 but I have no use for CPM or other exotic steels. I just don't need ZDP-189 or CPM whatever for the typical jobs I do. Since I sharpen freehand on Waterstones, I don't have any use for the more exotic steels that are only really ever seen on high dollar EDC knives. If given the option, I'd almost always choose carbon steel over stainless steel.

[@justpettet3506]

love your def of "work" i have had the same job since 5

[@DutchK75]

People get so caught up on edge retention and wear resistance. It amazes me. I think for what I've been doing S7 has good edge retention. Maybe I'm stupid? 5160, S7 and L6 are good tough steels.

[@CliffStamp]

Travis KnifeLover Yeah, I would simple ask them to take a look at actual axes uses for felling wood in the last generation. They were made out of very simple steels. Bawnsawn blades are simple steels, handsaw blades are simple steels. Most people are just repeated things they have heard.

[@cwiehle0]

I really appreciate this video Cliff. I'm so tired of fad steels and their over exaggerated claims.

[@CliffStamp]

Cardinal Knife Co. There is some real purpose there, but the claims have become extremely insensible.

[@ash156k]

That's a nice pattern.

[@CliffStamp]

A Sharif Yeah, clean and functional design.

[@Bill22252]

Neat knife, looks to be a very functional piece. Elegant solution to the handle too.

[@DannoCrutch]

Epic Pro Tip! I don't have any 5160 knives but would really like one. I do have a Hudson Bay axe in 5160 and I love it.

[@CliffStamp]

DannoCrutch Solid steel, it is unfortunate there is so much misinformation about carbide because if you mention 5160 it is guarantee almost immediately someone will stay "but it has low edge retention".

[@DannoCrutch]

Cliff Stamp Yes. I can get a job in the yard done and it is still sharp for several uses. I actually believe it might be one of the best choices for big blades for tough, reliable, survivability.

[@CamberLucyBella]

Reflects the experiences I've had with chopping...I can take the shaving sharp edge off of wood after a while, but it will continue to cut phonebook paper for a very long time...usually I sharpen it because I micro damaged the edge on something. Really like the blade shape on that chopper.

[@CliffStamp]

C amber It is a really clean shape. I would enclose the handle, remove all of that mass and round it out a bit. But the basics are solid.

[@CamberLucyBella]

Cliff Stamp The handle does not do it for me. I woudl prefer something shorter, and less shaped, but that is just a personal preference. Agree on the enclosed handle or taper though.

[@CliffStamp]

C amber I really like the utility of longer handles, but this one has a few issues with lack of full round. But it is the difference between good and excellent, nothing like the issues I commonly note with folders and actual sharp transitions.

[@CamberLucyBella]

Cliff Stamp I like a 1.5 grip...the mobility in moving up and down it is nice, but longer than that, and I often find aesthetically it is unappealing to me. There are a few exceptions though with wide blades like the Woodsman's Pal Long handled version. I also do not usually like heavy contouring. Gav is the only one who does it and that I find appealing ot the eye.

[@CamberLucyBella]

C amber And I'm not surprised the handle is comfortable. I know Kyle puts a lot into it and from what I have seen he does a veyr nice job with it.

[@funkyprepper]

excellent pointers as usual vg10, cpm3/4v aus8, 1095, 52100 all have pros and cons, do you think we will ever find and all in one in our lifetime? fascinating subject cliff

[@CliffStamp]

funkyprepper Only when they start mass producing light sabers.

[@mikafoxx2717]

Magnacut has to be the best all-rounder in a long time. Basically CPM 4V properties with perfect stainlessness, no drawbacks for the stainless. Not cheap, though. Non-powder steels always are cheaper and that's their benefit. Diminishing returns, even if supersteel is capable of several times the edge retention, stainlessness, at the same or better toughness.

[@CoonassJedi]

Cliff, you weren't kidding about pronouncing Kyles last name differently from me. I have been looking at getting one of these from Kyle. Looks like an interesting design. I really like the 5160 in that orange cleaver I have from him. That thing almost sharpens by accident.

[@CliffStamp]

Kevin Oubre I am pretty sure I don't even say it the same way all the time. I keep reminding him to say it on video as I would be surprised if I am saying it correctly.

[@CoonassJedi]

Ah the old Nilakka phenomenon again. Or is it nikalla? ;)

[@Nebulax123]

P.S. We never bothered with stones on the cruiser axe, only used files on them to knock on a quick edge because I also cut roots with it. The felling axes on the other hand were stoned and would shave you.

[@CliffStamp]

+Nebulax123 Yeah, similar to the machetes which cut close to the ground. There is not a lot of practical use of going beyond a certain finish.

[@Traderjoe]

Haha, thats why you turn the blade around :) This knife reminds me of Kyleys and Mikes blades

[@DutchK75]

Dan Busse is going to do something in 5160 here soon for Scrapyard. I'm interested in seeing how that goes. Yeah those Bushcrafter types regurgitate a lot of internet hype. Or the survival experts on KZbin that get a knife deal through someone. Latest and greatest! Bestest and Neatest ever... 3V Ultra Ninja Bushcrafter knife designed by DoDo Smhuckatelly on the Hard 2 Endure channel.

[@macmurfy2jka]

Are you ever going to look into the Topps Knives machetes? The ones that are basically souped up Ontario machetes? I think they would actually hold many of the same virtues you talked about in this video (tapered blade, simple steel, long handle)

[@CliffStamp]

macmurfy2jka I have used TOP's before, not impressed with the customer service.

[@macmurfy2jka]

fair enough.

[@owenjosephking7396]

I do like the handle on that blade ! I suppose you could experiment with blade length with that kind of handle ?

[@CliffStamp]

Owen Joseph King This is about as long as I like it for most of the work I do. If you are doing a lot of work close to the ground a much longer blade can be useful. It is a personal issue, some experimentation is in order.

[@owenjosephking7396]

Cliff Stamp IMHO Just by the look and me judging it by eye, The Blade looks like it should be about 1/3 longer !

[@CliffStamp]

Owen Joseph King I picked the length, it is about as long as I can have and still have decent ability for knife like work.

[@kylebettleyon447]

I will have to make a video saying my name lol, Looks like the blade wieks okay.

[@knivesandstuff]

kyle bettleyon haha.. I imagined its Battalion, but with an "e" sound rather than an "a"

[@kylebettleyon447]

knivesandstuff yep, its bet-lee-on.

[@loganman2887]

Where can i buy one

[@CliffStamp]

Logan15 Man From the maker : kzbin.info/door/pJR_NxKJUnr_theo8HjU_A

[@Prometheus1111]

looks like a good performing blade or more likely an even more skilled wielder of the blade. when joined together they form to create bigfoot! *crescendoing female operatic voice*

[@Traderjoe]

By the way, what do you use to gather up the small fragments or wood? A rake or something?

[@CliffStamp]

traderjoes I normally don't, it just builds up into a chip bed unless someone asks for them in which case I rake them up.