Spyderco Forums

I only have the steel in my Chaparral LW but I really like it. This knife is one of two that regularly rotate in my pocket and this one has seen almost exclusive carry for a few months.

The steel sharpens fairly easily, responds well to simple stropping, has pretty good edge retention and, for my uses, sufficient corrosion resistance. To be honest, I like it better than S30V, if for no other reason than I find it easier to sharpen/maintain.

Anyway, I'd like to see more of it.

I could have wrote that myself haha! My Chap LW is also my only knife in XHP and I absolutely love it. Carry it everyday in my small front/right pocket of my jeans, along with another larger knife of choice for that day. Looked up other knives that have the same steel after using mine daily for a few weeks and really enjoyed everything about it. A tough steel to come across, at least for models that I'd be interested in. I totally agree though, I'd love to see some more XHP.

I have the Chap and the ManixLW. I wish I had snagged the Military when they were still easy to come by. The Hundred Pacer will likely be my next dose of XHP. It’s a good stainless steel.

Agreed! My Chaparral and Bowie are my most used XHP, and its dead simple to keep scary sharp. I'm always glad to see it on a production knife.

Agreed, a fine steel for sure, I have numerous models with XHP, most recently been carrying my G10 M2 sprint from some years back and the Rhino, good stuff

I bought the FRN Chap after really enjoying my CF Chap for some time. I wanted a lightweight knife, I could wear clipped IWB in board shorts while swimming and fishing. Don't get me wrong, this is one of my favorite steels, but to say it is "stainless" is perhaps an overstatement. After less than an hour in a freshwater swimming pool the blade continually comes out significantly spotted and oxidized, specifically around the pivot. No big deal since it polishes right out with some Flitz in about 30 seconds, but I was a little surprised. I have lost two Dragonfly Salts while swimming so I have a bad taste in my mouth with that model (totally my fault) but still enjoy my Chaps, just not in the water. (ordered a salt 2 SE yesterday!)

Me too! It's a great all around EDC steel. I've got 2 Chaps and the Manix2 in this steel currently.

mrtodd777 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 2:35 pm

to say it is "stainless" is perhaps an overstatement. After less than an hour in a freshwater swimming pool

Despite what might be the obvious meaning of “stainless”, that’s not what stainless steel means. Most steels will eventually rust in water. It’s stupid terminology but it goes back too far to do anything about now.

If it’s not a Salt model it’s supposed to stay dry.

Eli Chaps wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 12:27 pm

I only have the steel in my Chaparral LW but I really like it. This knife is one of two that regularly rotate in my pocket and this one has seen almost exclusive carry for a few months.

The steel sharpens fairly easily, responds well to simple stropping, has pretty good edge retention and, for my uses, sufficient corrosion resistance. To be honest, I like it better than S30V, if for no other reason than I find it easier to sharpen/maintain.

Anyway, I'd like to see more of it.

Right now the only piece I own with CTS-XHP is my C-36 Military (Brown handled) Sprint Run. I was actually able to get 2 of those ( one for EDC and one for the footlocker). I've kept it as a "back-up unit" just in case something were to happen to my M390 Military model which I consider "sacred" :cool: >> so I would at least have another Military model in case I lost that one or got it stolen ( like my G-10 Harpy :mad: ).

Now my biggest ambition about XHP blade steel is that I hear it performs very good in serrated edges. I believe it was Brother PEACENT who told me about COLD STEEL's SE hawkbills that do really well in that blade steel. I would very much love to see Spyderco maybe do a fixed blade, Spyderedged Hawkbill or some Spyderedged folder with XHP. Because it has some of the characteristics and properties similar to 440V which is one of my very favorite blade steels for Spyderedges.

I would also love to see Spyderco do a serrated outdoor type fixed blade with XHP as well. It's not bad at all in PE but from what I'm hearing it performs super in SE. It kind of reminds me of VG-10 which also has the distinction of performing well in PE & SE both. Most blade steels either favor one or the other.

Nice stuff, XHP. I like it thin (Chaparral), thick (Techno), and in between (Manix2).

CTS-XHP is probably my favorite "stainless" steel, being a sort of stainless D2. It has great properties. I wish I had gotten the M2 when it came out. I kept waffling because of the color and now I regret it.

Like Doc, I regret skipping the XHP manix. I will buy just about any Golden sprint or exclusive in XHP nowadays. A Delica in XHP would be phenomenal. I didn't see the big deal at first but after using it a lot I really enjoy it. Right now I only have a chaparral, the rhino and a Slsyz bowie in it but I do want more. It is in my top five favorite user steels: 5.Hap40, 4.S30v, 3.LC200n, 2.XHP, 1.Cru-Wear. (M4 is my favorite but sharpening it is rough on me). I'd take just about any knife in it, from kitchen to fixed blade to pocket knife. Also, I've never had a chip on a XHP blade from any company.

been using xhp in the kitchen (meglio) and it definitely rocks! the edge stays long and is quite tough.. much tougher in fact than my vg10 santoku (mcusta) being run in the same hardness. i figure cruwear will definitely excel over it a bit more

zhyla wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 5:15 pm

mrtodd777 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 2:35 pm

to say it is "stainless" is perhaps an overstatement. After less than an hour in a freshwater swimming pool

Despite what might be the obvious meaning of “stainless”, that’s not what stainless steel means. Most steels will eventually rust in water. It’s stupid terminology but it goes back too far to do anything about now.

If it’s not a Salt model it’s supposed to stay dry.

I didn't know that stainless was dated terminology. Thanks for the heads up. That is why I love this place. I learn something new every time I log in.

npad69 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:57 pm

been using xhp in the kitchen (meglio) and it definitely rocks! the edge stays long and is quite tough.. much tougher in fact than my vg10 santoku (mcusta) being run in the same hardness. i figure cruwear will definitely excel over it a bit more

That Meglio is gorgeous!

mrtodd777 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 10, 2018 7:14 am

zhyla wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 5:15 pm

mrtodd777 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 2:35 pm

to say it is "stainless" is perhaps an overstatement. After less than an hour in a freshwater swimming pool

Despite what might be the obvious meaning of “stainless”, that’s not what stainless steel means. Most steels will eventually rust in water. It’s stupid terminology but it goes back too far to do anything about now.

If it’s not a Salt model it’s supposed to stay dry.

I didn't know that stainless was dated terminology. Thanks for the heads up. That is why I love this place. I learn something new every time I log in.

I am certain not everyone would agree to that statement. It is okay as far as it goes, as long as people understand that it is stain less and not rust proof.

C'mon Spyderco! Make it your default high-end steel! Right now, you're selling S30V, up against everybody and his brother who are marketing knives with S35VN, which has a whole extra 5 Ns. Dare to be different!

I think it would resist staining much better if it were polished instead of satin

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 10, 2018 8:21 am

mrtodd777 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 10, 2018 7:14 am

zhyla wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 5:15 pm

mrtodd777 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 2:35 pm

to say it is "stainless" is perhaps an overstatement. After less than an hour in a freshwater swimming pool

Despite what might be the obvious meaning of “stainless”, that’s not what stainless steel means. Most steels will eventually rust in water. It’s stupid terminology but it goes back too far to do anything about now.

If it’s not a Salt model it’s supposed to stay dry.

I didn't know that stainless was dated terminology. Thanks for the heads up. That is why I love this place. I learn something new every time I log in.

I am certain not everyone would agree to that statement. It is okay as far as it goes, as long as people understand that it is stain less and not rust proof.

Stainless and rustproof are different. A stainless steel does in fact stain less than a carbon steel. The name makes sense to me. If the name was stainproof then it would be a misnomer. Also, a pool is chlorinated. While it is not sea water it is corrosive. Chlorine (or more specifically calcium hypochlorite) is an extremely reactive compound. That is what makes it an effective disinfectant.

If it isn's a salt it shouldn't get wet? I get stainless steels wet all the time. Shoot, I even get carbon steels wet all the time. Fresh water is not the same as sweat, pool water or sea water.

koenigsegg wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 10, 2018 9:31 am

I think it would resist staining much better if it were polished instead of satin

That definitely helps, even in plain carbon steel.