Native 5 Switches from S35VN to S30V

[TomAiello]

People will have the chance to compare steel straight across now, with an older (s35vn) and newer (s30v) version of the same knife, which is pretty cool.

[J Smith]

I am not a huge fan of s35vn,always liked s30v over it. I do really like m390-20cv but even then on my Rittergrips the s30v takes a better edge than the one with M390.

[BushcraftJoe]

Well pardon me in advance for what might be a less than well received opinion but I'm going to have to call b.s. on a few of you guys. I'm far from a steel snob but it's my understanding that S35VN was held in higher regard than S30V by the majority of us. The steel change doesn't bother me at all as I have all the natives I need for now but I really do think that if spyderco started using S35VN instead of S30V on base models, we would hear a lot of praise for the upgrade they would be receiving. When we reverse that change, everybody is saying oh well there's no big difference anyways. I don't know guys, seems like people are talking out of both sides of their mouth when it comes to the difference between these steels. Maybe I'm just crazy .

[Sharp Guy]

S35VN and S30V are interchangeable, nothing wrong with S30V and I doubt anyone would notice the difference in performance.

I've seen where you guys have said this several times before and I'm certainly not in a position to argue with anyone. It could just be in my head but for me it seems like S35VN sharpens a little easier than S30V. Not really a big deal since I have no problems getting S30V to take a great edge. With having a whole bunch of knives with S30V I guess I just liked having something different even it's basically the same thing in use.

[J Smith]

I said from the first I had that I was not impressed with it. It was a small Sebenza. I only have one Sebenza now and a lot of the reason why is the S35VN. I bought a Native after that and Spydercos grind did make the steel much better but still the S30V did and does take a better edge. I am not a steel snob either,as long as it is a good steel I am good with it but don't see paying more for something that IMO preforms no better or not as well.
I really do miss some of the older steels like AUS8,AUS10,ATS34,440v and most of all BG42. The best edges I have ever had on a stainless steel was with AUS8 and BG42.

[Donut]

Well pardon me in advance for what might be a less than well received opinion but I'm going to have to call b.s. on a few of you guys. I'm far from a steel snob but it's my understanding that S35VN was held in higher regard than S30V by the majority of us. The steel change doesn't bother me at all as I have all the natives I need for now but I really do think that if spyderco started using S35VN instead of S30V on base models, we would hear a lot of praise for the upgrade they would be receiving. When we reverse that change, everybody is saying oh well there's no big difference anyways. I don't know guys, seems like people are talking out of both sides of their mouth when it comes to the difference between these steels. Maybe I'm just crazy .

Yeah, from what I've read, S35VN gives you like 10% better wear resistance. I bet no one without some special equipment could even pick one from another on a blind test. S35VN is supposed to be quite a bit tougher. Most people don't notice that their S30V edge is taking more damage until they go to sharpen it and then, either the difference in damage isn't enough to care about or it just doesn't matter.

Back when S35VN was very new, there was some youtube drama where one guy displayed a pretty big issue with the steel. I think he showed it on two knives. All the worriers got worried and probably stayed worried.

S35VN and S30V are interchangeable, nothing wrong with S30V and I doubt anyone would notice the difference in performance.

I've seen where you guys have said this several times before and I'm certainly not in a position to argue with anyone. It could just be in my head but for me it seems like S35VN sharpens a little easier than S30V. Not really a big deal since I have no problems getting S30V to take a great edge. With having a whole bunch of knives with S30V I guess I just liked having something different even it's basically the same thing in use.

I think the whole reason for creating S35VN, without throwing big names around, is that S30V is difficult to polish. I don't think polishing and sharpening are too far off from each other. I agree with you on variety, we are losing a big chuck of our variety with the Native changing to S30V. =\

[npad69]

i was kind of hoping for a transition to xhp instead

[olywa]

Wonder if it's a supply thing? Didn't Cold Steel just switch from XHP to S35 because of a supply issue?

[zhyla]

it's my understanding that S35VN was held in higher regard than S30V by the majority of us.

I think that's fairly accurate within the Spyderco forum. In a more general "blade" forum you will find a lot of people consider these two basically interchangeable.

I think Spyderco enthusiasts are just bored with S30V. You don't have to go back very far in time to find posts here so happy that a model is coming out with S30V steel.

Wonder if it's a supply thing? Didn't Cold Steel just switch from XHP to S35 because of a supply issue?

Hard for us to know if there are supply or cost issues with S35VN vs S30V. That's not readily available information.

There are probably benefits to reducing the steel types they have to stock. Nobody makes money using two nearly indistinguishable materials for the same thing.

[BushcraftJoe]

You don't have to go back very far in time to find posts here so happy that a model is coming out with S30V steel.

Dude I remember when Grayman knives was putting out s30v folders and spyderco was doing sprints in s30v and everybody was crapping their pants for this new super steel. I always find it funny when the next flavour of the month super steel is gaining steam with all these varied attributes that make it better than steel x or y and it's like we all forget that the attributes that made the other steels super are still true. I know that some people are doing somewhat specialised tasks throughout the day and some of these extreme attributes can give steels an advantage to them but if I'm being honest, I think that 99.999% of people on here that claim to need a performance level above s30v of full of

[RadioactiveSpyder]

Hmm, I thought the switch had been made to S90V! There’s been a whole lot of different N5s released in that steel recently.

[nicked.onaut]

Wonder if it's a supply thing? Didn't Cold Steel just switch from XHP to S35 because of a supply issue?

Yes they did, and Sal has commented on that.

Hmm, I thought the switch had been made to S90V! There’s been a whole lot of different N5s released in that steel recently.

Hehe, jes. Besides which, you are the pioneer king of Native blade switches.

The linerless G10 of the KC Green Native, S90V, bumped it into one of my favorite iterations.

And, yes, we've had platform comparisons available for S30V v S35v, e.g. PM2.

[zhyla]

if I'm being honest, I think that 99.999% of people on here that claim to need a performance level above s30v of full of

Well... I've heard some complaints about chippiness and ease of sharpening on S30V. I don't think many would say it's their favorite steel. As to performance... I do just fine with any steel, but I've got stacks of knives and few of them see a ton of work beyond opening boxes (boxes of new knives).

Personally, I'm sort of a steel agnostic until it buys me something I really care about like a more acute factory bevel angle. And that is something knife manufacturers never seem to spec.

[Mzen]

I think that one of the advantages this change gives to Spyderco is making certain sprint runs in that steel more desirable.

From my point of view, when I think of future releases like the brown Para 3 in S35VN, they always feel a bit redundant to me. Having a perfectly good platform for S35VN in the regular production Native 5, and at a great value to boot, why would one spend the extra on that sprint (since S30V is so similar) for any reason other than getting brown G10 scales? #Spydieconspiracy

[dplafoll]

Hmm, I thought the switch had been made to S90V! There’s been a whole lot of different N5s released in that steel recently.

I asked about this one time at Blade, and either Sal or Eric (I can't remember, sorry!) told me that they save S90V for more premium or special models e.g. Nirvana, Tighe Stick, various sprints.

[dplafoll]

You guys know S35VN is not "5 better" than S30V, right? Users shouldn't notice any difference between the two. I really doubt anyone could distinguish the two from use.

Agreed, I honestly don't get all the hype behind s35vn. I don't notice ANY difference between it and s30v, even in sharpening. I use diamond so they seem exactly the same. Lots if people seem to see it as a significant upgrade and I'm just not seeing it. It's a great steel, no complaints. Just over hyped.

They could probably come out with "s95vn" and people would go nuts over it as well.

S35VN was originally developed between Crucible and Chris Reeve Knives. My understanding is that S35VN is not quite as hard as S30V, which makes it easier to machine, polish, and sharpen, all while still giving excellent results in edge retention. It makes sense that CRK would want to slightly adjust the premium steel being used for their premium products, especially since they use S35VN exclusively. Spyderco doesn't necessarily have a reason to use a different steel as a production steel when the majority of their Golden lineup is already in S30V. Would I rather all of the Golden models switch to S35VN or CTS-XHP? Sure, but it's not nearly a dealbreaker for me, since S30V is waaaaay over the minimum performance threshold. I'm more interested in seeing the Japanese models switch from VG-10 (and I don't see as many complaints about S30V when it's being used as an upgrade to VG-10 :p ), and the Chinese models switch from 8CR13MOV (especially when so many Chinese OEMs are using S35VN now, even on less-expensive models).
We're still in a golden age of gear, and Spyderco still makes an excellent product in an excellent steel. This change is not a big deal, but I still think it makes for an interesting discussion. :D

[BushcraftJoe]

(especially when so many Chinese OEMs are using S35VN now, even on less-expensive models).

They certainly stamp that on them but I never believe that. I'm even skeptical when they say they're using sandvik. Call me jaded but I don't have much faith in their honesty and I think if they thought they could get away with mislabelling 8cr then they will.

[bearfacedkiller]

To me it is six of one and a half dozen of the other. I cannot really tell S30V and S35VN apart in my use.

Aside from being a little bit of steel geek and wanting to play with all the different options I do not see any issue with this change.

[bh49]

I cannot really tell S30V and S35VN apart in my use.

If you look very careful on blade marking, you will be able to see the difference (in marking) :) :D

[Ankerson]

I cannot really tell S30V and S35VN apart in my use.

If you look very careful on blade marking, you will be able to see the difference (in marking) :) :D

Exactly.

The only time there really can be a real difference is in customs when the maker does their own heat treating, they can push S35VN to a higher hardness range than S30V.

Other than that, they are interchangeable.

That said I have a Fiddleback Forge Kephart Mid-Tech that I really like in S35VN. :cool: