KM2000 (2008 Version/Original Eickhorn)

[Fatpierre]

Hello All,

Long time listener, first time caller. I was wondering if anyone is aware of tests done on the new 2008 Eickhorn KM2000. http://www.heinnie.com/product.asp?s=jmefY7925025&strParents=&CAT_ID=133&P_ID=3202

I find this knife extremely sexy but I would really like to know the qualities of the steel, modified tip and the general toughness of the whole tool. I've done tireless searches for tests on this knife and found nothing. There is also very little that I've learned about the steel, Bohler N695. I have discovered that N690 and N695 might be essentially 440C, seems odd. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=565101. Yet 440C appears to have a different composition from N690, so that can't be true. http://www.agrussell.com/Steel_Guide/a/73/

Anyway, sorry for the long-winded first time post. I was just very eager to get this knife but I wanted to know as much as possible before doing so.

FP

Edit: So I found this chart which cross-references the Bohler steel designations with the SAE system, sorta, page 5: http://www.bohler-edelstahl.com/files/AL006_Markenuebersicht.pdf. The chart indicates that 695 is the equivalent of 440C or S44004 which is also 440C. However, it also notes 440F and has a footnote that the quality of the 695 can be adjusted to VMR quality. It is later explained on page 11 that VMR means "special materials subjected to vacuum refining or melting during at least one stage of manufacture." I don't know if the KM2000 employs the VMR option or what difference, if any, that would make. The steel is also "Extra" which, on page 10, means it has special properties.

[NervusNorvus]

Not familiar with N695 grade:headbang: but Bohler N690 steel is the same used by Extrema Ratio for all their knives and in the Hossum/Spyderco collaboration series.

N690 has the same ingredients as 440C with the addition of cobalt 1.50% and vanadium 1%. The addition of these two metals in the mix is said to improve performance in all aspects. For comparison, N690 is similar in composition to VG-10, widely employed by itself as a superior stainless blade steel and as a sandwich laminate by Fallkniven.

Speculatively speaking, N690, being a "stainless" steel, probably would not have the impact resistance of some of the tougher non stainless steels like S7, but only testing can determine that for sure.

Maybe someone else can throw more light on grade N695.

[Noss]

Fatpierre: Welcome to the forum. This would be a awesome blade to test. I'll look into it some more.

[Izan]

That is a sharp looking blade there! Are you going to follow Noss' testing regiment or do you have some plans of your own? Quite possible you have already tested this knife?

Either way I never heard of that steel before and if it is similar to the Ratio, it will be tough!

[Fatpierre]

I don't own the knife, and if I did, I wouldn't put it through that kind of punishment. I was considering purchasing it, but I wanted to know if any information was out there other than what I already found. Obviously I would be thrilled if the knife were tested here and performed well.

Incidentally, I did several searches for this knife and found that it cannot be confused with previous versions, which were made with 440A, or with a similar looking knife made by Waffentechnik, the KM2k, which is also 440A.

[Paul The Brit]

I've had a couple of Eickhorn knives but both were junk to be honest- of the two the M16 bayonet type combat knife was the best. (The other was the chisel ground wire cutter combat knife which I got directly from Eickhorn, that is vile for lots of reasons!!) I'd avoid them.

[NervusNorvus]

I think more people would be interested in a destruction test on one of the N690CO Extrema Ration models than the Eickhorn. Or one of the N690CO Spyderco/Hossum collaberation models.

IMHO, if a test is to be done at all, it should be on a knife made with the more often used and highly regarded N690CO steel, instead of the relatively obscure Eickhorn which is fashioned from the less commonly used N695.

It is often implied in advertising, that N690CO steel is tough. A D-test would provide much evidence, one way or the other.

[Macgregor]

Fatpierre: Welcome to the forum. This would be a awesome blade to test. I'll look into it some more.

http://www.worldknives.com/products/eickhorn-tanto-combat-military-survival-knife-ehkm2k-1709.html

A better test would be the ACK.
http://www.worldknives.com/products/eickhorn-ack-advanced-combat-survival-knife-448818-1763.html
Also a pretty kickass knife that sells out quickly so someone must like them(airsofters).

[Fatpierre]

Evidently Eickhorn has some newer 2009 released using Bohler K110, which appear to be D2.

http://www.original-eickhorn.de/index.php?ID=107&cat_ID=50