VG10 Opinions?

ElectricZombie · #1

What does everyone think about this steel? How does it compare to CPM-440v? How about edge holding? It can't be too bad since Spyderco is switching to it. Thanks.

double axe · #2

Hi electric zombie,the vg10 is a fantastic steel it is very rust resistant,it takes a fine edge(It has a very fine molecular structure) and it can hold an edge for long time(personnaly, i think the CPM440V is better but it cost a lot!There is no problem with the VG10 switch(ATS55 is far backward the VG10!)ATS55 is not corrosion resistant,it cannot take a fine edgelike VG,and it cannot holds a edge(ATS55 is only good with serrations!)

Carlos · #3

VG-10 is the steel of the gods.

mundele · #4

I LOVE VG-10 steel. Way better than CPM-440V. I like CPM-440V as far as edge holding goes, but I cannot seem to get a fine polished edge on it. Now VG-10, man. I thought there was a tradeoff between edge holding and easy sharpening, but I dont think there is with VG-10.

--Matt

SpyderNut · #5

VG-10 is the bomb! (As my uncle would say!)<img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

I much prefer it over ATS-55. Great stuff!<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

~Spydernut

Jeff/1911 · #6

VG-10 is quite simply, fabulous. I am extremely pleased that Spyderco has gone to this steel on so many new models, and new versions of old models. I also have no complaints whatsoever about ATS-55. Jeff/1911.

JBE · #7

There is no comparison IMO b/w the VG10 of my new Endura and the ATS-55 on my older one. Doesn't seem quite as brittle...excellent edge holding. Sharpens much easier than the CPM440v of my Starmate.

sc_rebel1957 · #8

Not having any experince with VG10.i would like to know why everyone dislikes ats-55? i have a delica in it and it seems to do a great job, holds an edge well.easy to sharpen.i think i much prefer it over ats-34.thats 1 steel i cant seem to get to a razors edge no matter the brand.. can get very close with my paragon xo-lite maybe im behind the times..i may invest in a sharpmaker soon..maybe im trying to keep it at too sharp an angle....ron

sc_rebel1957 · #9

Not having any experince with VG10.i would like to know why everyone dislikes ats-55? i have a delica in it and it seems to do a great job, holds an edge well.easy to sharpen.i think i much prefer it over ats-34.thats 1 steel i cant seem to get to a razors edge no matter the brand.. can get very close with my paragon xo-lite maybe im behind the times..i may invest in a sharpmaker soon..maybe im trying to keep it at too sharp an angle....ron

Kahz · #10

ElectricZombie,

My three EDC's are VG-10. So far so good! I have sharpened two of them and, although it takes me a bit longer to sharpen them than my AUS-8's and my AUS-10 Native, once VG-10 is sharp, it STAYS sharp for a long time. Not knowing much about the tecnical aspects, and only as a user opinion, it's a great steel for everyday use and "abuse" (meaning hard work cutting, not literally abusing or mistreating it). I have other type of steel knives, but I really don't use them much, so I haven't had to compare them to my VG-10's.

Kahz

Knife Knut · #11

Check the Dates

I have not used my VG-10 Blades enough to form an opinion, but I think this thread could use some updating.

Knife Knut on a shoestring budget. <P>RKBA

sc_rebel1957 · #12

That was wierd huh KK <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> to think i was a VG-10 green horn then, now it's the standard. Ron

Jazzman · #13

The two stainless steels that I probably love the most are ATS-34/154CM and VG-10. VG-10 seems to take a great edge although it doesn't seem to hold as well as my blades in ATS-34. I also like AUS-8 for it's sharpening ease and the fact that you can get it SUPER SHARP. ATS-55 is a nice steel for an EDC. I have it on my SS Dragonfly and it works. I have never really had too much trouble with sharpening any of the aforementioned. The only steel I can't seem to get really sharp is BG-42 on my Sebenza. That's some hard stuff.
Matt

Joe Talmadge · #14

I love VG-10, it takes a wicked edge, is not too bad to sharpen, reasonable wear resistance, good strength.

Versus 440V, I actually like VG-10 better. 440V has better wear resistance, but is also much more difficult to sharpen. VG-10 is easier to sharpen, easier to get a razor-sharp edge on, and is stronger and tougher.

Don't confuse 440V's greater wear resistance with edge holding. Edge holding depends on wear resistance, but for some jobs, strength or toughness can be just as important -- for folders with thin high-performance edges, strength in particular really is important for many types of jobs. So 440V's greater wear resistance won't always translate to better edge holding (though sometimes it will).

I'll take the sharpenability, capability of taking a razor sharp edge, strength and toughness of VG-10 anyday!

Joe

dialex · #15

Actually, considering the new Spyderco offer, looks to me they rather switch to S30V. Lots of models to come using this steel.
Now the VG-10 thing. It's a great steel. As my forespeakers said, it's rust resistant, fair easy to sharpen and has great edge retention.
CPM 440V, OTOH, is a very tough steel, with all the advantages and disadvantages that come from this (brittleness, harder to sharpen, higher costs to manufacture - not that manufacturing VG-10 would be easy).
Just like Ron, I was also wondering why you people don't like the ATS-55. Looks to me far better than the ATS-34 (154 CM) which is what I'd call a decent steel.

Joe Talmadge · #16

dialex, small nit, you call 440V tough, then say it's brittle. Toughness and brittleness are opposites. I think you meant to say that VG-10 was a very wear-resistant steel ... don't want anyone to get confused, because 440V is certainly not tough.

I think people dislike ATS-55 because they feel it doesn't hold an edge as well as ATS-34 (which it was supposed to do), and it rusts much easier. Spyderco's own internal tests don't bear this out, from what I can recall. But internal tests don't always duplicate the field, and my own experience has also been that ATS-55 rusts a bit quickly. I also think it might not be quite as wear-resistant as ATS-34, although people are claiming that ATS-55 is worse than 8A, which is hard to believe. I don't know if it's just gotten a bad rap, or if it's really performing that badly for people (it isn't that bad to me).

Joe

vampyrewolf · #17

I personally love VG-10. I have a 20inclusive on my C52PBK, with a 30edge, and it's not changing for sharpness despite use as my main kitchen knife.

ATS-55 tends to rust a bit, depending on enviroment. I have't had any problems, but the posts are always popping up on BFC. I find the edge isn't as fine on ATS, but it's a lot easier to put a convex on.

440V is still a learning steel. Just found out last week that a polished edge doesn't work.

My Word, My Honour, is my Life.

Knife Knut · #18

Not to gang up on Ya Dialex, but the S30V is produced exclusively in the US, while VG-10 is strictly a Japanese steel.
So:
The Japanese manufactured Spyders tend to have VG-10, with S30V sort of as it's domestic counterpart.

Alan2112 · #19

Joe, I do believe ATS-55 has gotten a bad rap. My wife's blue Delica has been used quite hard for over a year now, and it will still shave. She also slices a lot of fruits with it, but not the first sign of rust! Although, I do take very good care of it. Joe, I've got a copy of the piece you did on steels in my knife files at home, you did a great job on it! I just recieved a new VG-10 FB02, so that I can get a better openion of this steel, then with our <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>edge Navigator. I feel that with a plain edge, I'll be able to tell more, since I have more experience with this type of edge. RKBA!