M398 Steel Testing – Edge Retention, Toughness, and More

[Larrin]

Thanx Larrin,

Very informative, as usual.

FYI, we have almost 5,000 lbs coming in different thicknesses.

sal

I hope it works out well!

[sal]

Hi Larrin,

We'll see? The only real way to "know" a blade steel is to use it in "Real-World-Testing". While many don't care, there seems to be a growing number of Blade Afi's that do.

sal

[The Meat man]

Thanx Larrin,

Very informative, as usual.

FYI, we have almost 5,000 lbs coming in different thicknesses.

sal

5,000 lbs of M398?? Wow that is a lot!! :eek:

[Bill1170]

5000 pounds! Spyderco must truly think this alloy has potential. I’m curious to see what they do with it.

[legOFwhat?]

We definitely need an M398 Mule. :)

I was feeling relieved to see that this was a steel I could simply not get interested in. Until this comment came along .... :rolleyes:

Did somone say mule?


:D

[JRinFL]

Well, based on Larrin's assessment, I won't be rushing out to get a knife in this steel. I'll withhold final judgment until actual knifes are made and tested, however.

Edited to add: Really "knifes"? I do know it is knives.

[DDK]

So if I read correctly, at 1 point higher on the HRC scale, s125v is barely outdone by m398 in toughness, while holding an edge for reasonably longer. I feel like at that higher end wouldn't more folks be interested in s125v? Also with lower carbide volume, it may be less tough, bit perhaps it will have better edge stability?

[DDK]

At any rate, cpm-15v FTW

[JD Spydo]

5000 pounds! Spyderco must truly think this alloy has potential. I’m curious to see what they do with it.

I'm also very curious as to how it performs in full SE. I was pleasantly surprised when a good friend of mine showed me how good XHP was in full SE with two Cold Steel SE folders he got. I found it similar to 440V in SE and that steel has been one of my favorite SE steels for some time now.

It sounds to me like it might be a good steel for fixed blades in SE & PE both. But like Sal Said until you test in real world cutting jobs you never know until you do. But I've got a gut feeling that it would be another good SE blade steel.

[Larrin]

So if I read correctly, at 1 point higher on the HRC scale, s125v is barely outdone by m398 in toughness, while holding an edge for reasonably longer. I feel like at that higher end wouldn't more folks be interested in s125v? Also with lower carbide volume, it may be less tough, bit perhaps it will have better edge stability?

S125V does not have more carbide volume than M398, it has a little bit less, hence why the S125V is a bit tougher when compensating for hardness (along with a bit smaller carbides). S125V is better for toughness-edge retention but worse for corrosion resistance. The M398 is probably also easier to sharpen when using aluminum oxide or ceramic abrasives. S90V has only slightly less edge retention than M398 while being significantly tougher.

[DDK]

So if I read correctly, at 1 point higher on the HRC scale, s125v is barely outdone by m398 in toughness, while holding an edge for reasonably longer. I feel like at that higher end wouldn't more folks be interested in s125v? Also with lower carbide volume, it may be less tough, bit perhaps it will have better edge stability?

S125V does not have more carbide volume than M398, it has a little bit less, hence why the S125V is a bit tougher when compensating for hardness (along with a bit smaller carbides). S125V is better for toughness-edge retention but worse for corrosion resistance. The M398 is probably also easier to sharpen when using aluminum oxide or ceramic abrasives. S90V has only slightly less edge retention than M398 while being significantly tougher.

Interesting! Thank you for the info. So a slight edge retention increase over s90v, and a large loss in toughness.. I'll still probably pass, but it's always good to have more new steel in the production market!

[XuZaX]

so uh.  Where are these m398 knives at.   Would love a para 3. 

[Michael Janich]

Dear XuZaX:

Welcome to the Spyderco forum.

Stay safe,

Mike

[JRinFL]

So if I read correctly, at 1 point higher on the HRC scale, s125v is barely outdone by m398 in toughness, while holding an edge for reasonably longer. I feel like at that higher end wouldn't more folks be interested in s125v? Also with lower carbide volume, it may be less tough, bit perhaps it will have better edge stability?

S125V does not have more carbide volume than M398, it has a little bit less, hence why the S125V is a bit tougher when compensating for hardness (along with a bit smaller carbides). S125V is better for toughness-edge retention but worse for corrosion resistance. The M398 is probably also easier to sharpen when using aluminum oxide or ceramic abrasives. S90V has only slightly less edge retention than M398 while being significantly tougher.

Highlighted area is probably important to note.

[Steeltoez83]

This is a custom trapper i bought from triple b in m398. I usually grab the other custom i own of his much more than this one truth be told. However this is a full handmade custom, so the heat treat, geometry, etc shouldnt be compared to production capabilities imo. I would like to do side by side comparisons to see how spyderco is heat treating this steel when the time comes. I will try to score a mule when possible if spyderco makes it. And i get the opportunity to purchase one before they sell out.

[archangel]

So if I read correctly, at 1 point higher on the HRC scale, s125v is barely outdone by m398 in toughness, while holding an edge for reasonably longer. I feel like at that higher end wouldn't more folks be interested in s125v? Also with lower carbide volume, it may be less tough, bit perhaps it will have better edge stability?

S125V does not have more carbide volume than M398, it has a little bit less, hence why the S125V is a bit tougher when compensating for hardness (along with a bit smaller carbides). S125V is better for toughness-edge retention but worse for corrosion resistance. The M398 is probably also easier to sharpen when using aluminum oxide or ceramic abrasives. S90V has only slightly less edge retention than M398 while being significantly tougher.

Highlighted area is probably important to note.

Yeah, but still... give it to us, Sal. Pretty please....

Great thread revival, XuZaX!

[kobold]

I wonder what 5000 lbs yields in - lets say - PM2 blades. My rough guesstimate is about 15000 blades. Optimistic?

[JRinFL]

I wonder what 5000 lbs yields in - lets say - PM2 blades. My rough guesstimate is about 15000 blades. Optimistic?

I'm fairly certain some is reserved for Sal's & Eric's matching Iron Man suits. The remainder will go to blades.

[Rp5]

I wonder what 5000 lbs yields in - lets say - PM2 blades. My rough guesstimate is about 15000 blades. Optimistic?

I'm fairly certain some is reserved for Sal's & Eric's matching Iron Man suits. The remainder will go to blades.

Should be Steel suits if anything...

[standy99]

I always wonder when I read these threads.

If laser cutting a sheet you loose 10% or more…..


And

If you just melted all the steel left over sheets from 10 different steels.

What would you get…

Larrin is this something that would be neat or would it even be possible to combine 10 different steels….