Blade Upgrade for Leatherman Surge

Daekar

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 23, 2007
Messages
837
Location
Virginia, USA
So, I've been carrying some form of Leatherman for ages now, and my latest (as in several years ago) sidekick is a Surge. I've always been very happy with Leatherman products in every aspect except one: the knife blades stink. OK, they don't stink as badly as some, but they don't hold an edge anywhere near as well as my railroad spike knife or the old Mora my Dad bought years ago (the best knife I've ever used, actually).

Anyway, I've always had this idea that I could somehow get a custom blade replacement made from a high-quality alloy like that used in some of the nicer Benchmade and CPF custom knives. I have access to CMMs for very precise measurements so I can get the dimensions of the mating features on the blade itself... I just don't know what else is involved. I mean, would it have to be machined (into a blade blank), then ground down, then heat-treated, then sharpened? This is mostly academic at the moment since my disposable income is scheduled to be directed into some little bits of titanium from the magical McGizmo labs, but I'd like to know if this is something I can pursue later, or whether it's just a crazy pipe-dream. Any ideas?
 

AaronM

Enlightened
Joined
Dec 2, 2007
Messages
315
Location
New London, WI
I too am in the market for a better blade for my Skeletool and Kershaw Leek.
I wouldn't think twice about spending four times the tools value on a proper blade.
 

squinty

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
1
So, I've been carrying some form of Leatherman for ages now, and my latest (as in several years ago) sidekick is a Surge. I've always been very happy with Leatherman products in every aspect except one: the knife blades stink. OK, they don't stink as badly as some, but they don't hold an edge anywhere near as well as my railroad spike knife or the old Mora my Dad bought years ago (the best knife I've ever used, actually).

Anyway, I've always had this idea that I could somehow get a custom blade replacement made from a high-quality alloy like that used in some of the nicer Benchmade and CPF custom knives. I have access to CMMs for very precise measurements so I can get the dimensions of the mating features on the blade itself... I just don't know what else is involved. I mean, would it have to be machined (into a blade blank), then ground down, then heat-treated, then sharpened? This is mostly academic at the moment since my disposable income is scheduled to be directed into some little bits of titanium from the magical McGizmo labs, but I'd like to know if this is something I can pursue later, or whether it's just a crazy pipe-dream. Any ideas?

Try these guys:

http://txtoolmods.com/collections/damascus-aka-samuri-steel/products/surge-damascus
http://txtoolmods.com/collections/damascus-aka-samuri-steel

They sell SUrge blades made of a nice pattern welded steel, which isn't my cup of tea but it's 5160 and 52100, probably tougher and sharper than 420HC. Even if they can't spell "Samurai."
 

NickSwan

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Joined
Jun 27, 2014
Messages
5
Location
Florida

inetdog

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 4, 2013
Messages
442
Try these guys:

http://txtoolmods.com/collections/damascus-aka-samuri-steel/products/surge-damascus
http://txtoolmods.com/collections/damascus-aka-samuri-steel

They sell SUrge blades made of a nice pattern welded steel, which isn't my cup of tea but it's 5160 and 52100, probably tougher and sharper than 420HC. Even if they can't spell "Samurai."
The website just shows the complete unit w/ new blade. Do they actually sell the blade alone for DIY installation too?
 

gsr

Enlightened
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
231
Location
Utah
The Leatherman Charge TTi has an S30V stainless steel knife blade. It has remained quite sharpover many years of use.
 
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