3V edge retention stainless equal???

[cycleguy]

OK, I am into a few shots of whiskey at the moment. What I would like to know is: what 3V edge retention is comparable to in stainless (what I am most familiar with) for slicing use only - field dressing animals, cleaning trout, cutting cardboard and packaging tape and such (not trying to slice brass rods or concrete blocks or extreme hardwoods). Just interested in how it works being a slicer (and having the toughness available for backup if ever needed). Is it similar to VG10 or S30v; or would it hold an edge less or more? Thanks in advance...

CG

P.S. This will impact the purchase of a not so distant future fixed blade.

[funghiman]

OK, I am into a few shots of whiskey at the moment. What I would like to know is: what 3V edge retention is comparable to in stainless (what I am most familiar with) for slicing use only - field dressing animals, cleaning trout, cutting cardboard and packaging tape and such (not trying to slice brass rods or concrete blocks or extreme hardwoods). Just interested in how it works being a slicer (and having the toughness available for backup if ever needed). Is it similar to VG10 or S30v; or would it hold an edge less or more? Thanks in advance...

CG

P.S. This will impact the purchase of a not so distant future fixed blade.

"3V" literally means it holds edge 3 times as good as S30V iirc. Excellent toughness as well, which is exactly why nowadays more and more large sized survival/wood-crafting knives start to opt towards 3V over traditional 1095 as well.

[Xplorer]

Wear resistance of 3V is similar to S30V, S35VN, CPM154, but 3V toughness is considerably higher which results in good edge stability and resistance to chipping.

[Pelagic]

3V gets its name from having (roughly) 3% vanadium. Most cut tests I have seen have it performing slightly better than s30v.

[steelcity16]

3V gets its name from having (roughly) 3% vanadium. Most cut tests I have seen have it performing slightly better than s30v.

Wear resistance of 3V is similar to S30V, S35VN, CPM154, but 3V toughness is considerably higher which results in good edge stability and resistance to chipping.

Which is why I am always so confused to why so many people get triggered when we ask for 3V folders? Seriously, what would be the downside of a folder with similar or better wear resistance as S30V and S35VN, but way tougher and way more chip resistant?? Sure, it is less stainless, but nowhere near 52100, which has been used in quite a few folders now.

The time has come for 3V folders. We saw 4V last year finally. 2019 is the year for 3V.

[Pelagic]

3V gets its name from having (roughly) 3% vanadium. Most cut tests I have seen have it performing slightly better than s30v.

Wear resistance of 3V is similar to S30V, S35VN, CPM154, but 3V toughness is considerably higher which results in good edge stability and resistance to chipping.

Which is why I am always so confused to why so many people get triggered when we ask for 3V folders? Seriously, what would be the downside of a folder with similar or better wear resistance as S30V and S35VN, but way tougher and way more chip resistant?? Sure, it is less stainless, but nowhere near 52100, which has been used in quite a few folders now.

The time has come for 3V folders. We saw 4V last year finally. 2019 is the year for 3V.

Yeah, the idea is certainly met with passionate opposition. I don't get it either.

I realize that in a folder, 4v essentially does everything 3v does, but better. But the same could be said for s110v over s90v, and you don't see anyone anti-s90v.

The fact is, 3V isn't just for large choppers, it happens to work in small knives just fine. No one is going to come here making threads like "OMG.... Maxamet dethroned?" but I think they'll like the cutting ability, sharpenability, and how forgiving the blade will be when a mistake is made and you hit the edge on something accidentally (after a cut, presumably).

[Catamount123]

Which Spyder folder would you like to see in 3V? I vote for the Shaman or Manix 2 XL.

[vivi]

I'd rather see 3V fixed blades myself. Though I would buy a DLC 3V Manix XL :)

[TomAiello]

I'd rather see 3V fixed blades myself. Though I would buy a DLC 3V Manix XL :)

Ditto to both points.

[JD Spydo]

Which Spyder folder would you like to see in 3V? I vote for the Shaman or Manix 2 XL.

Oh most definitely the C-36 Military and Para 2. I could think of a couple of other Spyderco folders but those two would really stand out in 3V blade steel. Those GOLDEN made Spyders just do great with supersteels IMO.

[Catamount123]

I'd rather see 3V fixed blades myself.

The Province is the closest thing on the radar. Looking forward to that one. My wallet isn’t, though

[Evil D]

I would absolutely buy a 3V Military especially if it were SE.

[Larrin]

Here are catra results from Bohler-Uddeholm, though all competitor steels are listed under composition names, so 3V is listed under 7.5-1.3-2.75 CrMoV. S30V, 154CM, and S35VN are on there along with several BU steels. https://knifesteelnerds.com/wp-content/ ... -CATRA.pdf

[Surfingringo]

The only 3v I’ve tried was in a cold steel Master Hunter. I kind of felt like the edge retention was a notch below s30v but I really enjoyed the way the steel sharpened and the aggressive edge it took and I always appreciate high toughness. That knife kind of reminded me of an ever so slightly softer cruwear.

I would definitely try pretty much any folder that Spyderco made in 3v.

[dogrunner]

The only 3v I’ve tried was in a cold steel Master Hunter. I kind of felt like the edge retention was a notch below s30v but I really enjoyed the way the steel sharpened and the aggressive edge it took and I always appreciate high toughness. That knife kind of reminded me of an ever so slightly softer cruwear.

I would definitely try pretty much any folder that Spyderco made in 3v.

3V hardened > 60 (delta 3V from CPK I think gets rc 62? or others) holds an edge better than s30v and is much less prone to chipping, and still much tougher even at that hardness.
I think it would be an excellent choice for longer blades and narrower/thinner tips, so Military is first that comes to mind. But I'd take a Mili in 4V too. Everyone loves Cruwear, so why not 3V?

[attila]

The only 3v I’ve tried was in a cold steel Master Hunter. I kind of felt like the edge retention was a notch below s30v but I really enjoyed the way the steel sharpened and the aggressive edge it took and I always appreciate high toughness. That knife kind of reminded me of an ever so slightly softer cruwear.

I would definitely try pretty much any folder that Spyderco made in 3v.

3V hardened > 60 (delta 3V from CPK I think gets rc 62? or others) holds an edge better than s30v and is much less prone to chipping, and still much tougher even at that hardness.
I think it would be an excellent choice for longer blades and narrower/thinner tips, so Military is first that comes to mind. But I'd take a Mili in 4V too. Everyone loves Cruwear, so why not 3V?

Good point!
Delta 3V, I'd definitely interested in, but regular high-tempered 3V is less than exciting, considering that we have CPM Cruwear available.

[Surfingringo]

The only 3v I’ve tried was in a cold steel Master Hunter. I kind of felt like the edge retention was a notch below s30v but I really enjoyed the way the steel sharpened and the aggressive edge it took and I always appreciate high toughness. That knife kind of reminded me of an ever so slightly softer cruwear.

I would definitely try pretty much any folder that Spyderco made in 3v.

3V hardened > 60 (delta 3V from CPK I think gets rc 62? or others) holds an edge better than s30v and is much less prone to chipping, and still much tougher even at that hardness.
I think it would be an excellent choice for longer blades and narrower/thinner tips, so Military is first that comes to mind. But I'd take a Mili in 4V too. Everyone loves Cruwear, so why not 3V?

Yeah, regarding the knife I tried, I know nothing about Cold Steel’s ht with 3v and I only had about a week with the knife so my observations on 3v are anecdotal at best.

[steelcity16]

I would definitely try pretty much any folder that Spyderco made in 3v.

Same! I feel like a round of sprints in 3V would sell just as fast as the Rex45 sprints. Military, Native, Shaman, Manix XL, Para 3 in 3V with a good color G10 scale. Forest green, foliage green, brown, coyote, some earth tone since 3V is popular with the outdoorsy fixed blade crowd.

[Conan]

I wouldn't mind to see some PM2's or M2's in 3V......

[Cycletroll]

Here are catra results from Bohler-Uddeholm, though all competitor steels are listed under composition names, so 3V is listed under 7.5-1.3-2.75 CrMoV. S30V, 154CM, and S35VN are on there along with several BU steels. https://knifesteelnerds.com/wp-content/ ... -CATRA.pdf

Thanks for the link Larrin.
FWIW s35vn seems preferable in a folder as its wear resistance is at least equal (if not better) than 3v, is stainless and has adequate toughness (for folder tasks).
What I'd really rather see in large folders is more Elmax run at 61 HRC

Overall I have less interest in chasing the steel Du Jour and more in seeing edge geometries and heat treat and grain refinement perfected for a given task. I'd be perfectly happy to use s35vn or something similar. Heck even lowly AEB-L would be preferred to 3v in a frequent use folder.