UKPK LC200N or Magnacut and why?

[Doc Dan]

Which UKPK would you choose, the LC200N or the Magnacut?

I confess to liking that green. I have never had either steel, though. I think LC200N is more corrosion resistant, but Magnacut holds an edge better. And I assume LC200N would be easier to sharpen. However, good corrosion resistance and good edge retention can be had on the Magnacut, but isn't LC200N's edge retention good enough?

What did/would you choose and why?

[Vamais]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=96011&p=1767210#p1767210
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=96030#p1762874

[Evil D]

They are very similar but I'd give a slight edge retention advantage to MagnaCut and a slight toughness advantage to LC200N. In most cases you may never notice a difference. You can probably choose whichever color you favor. I think the biggest advantage of MagnaCut might just be availability in US made models. Even though they did use H1/H2 in the Autonomy's, it seems like it's just easier or more affordable for them to use MagnaCut in US models vs H1 and LC. I'm not sure I would chalk this up to the popularity of MagnaCut either because LC200N was a new and hot steel once too.

[James Y]

I have a LC200N UKPK Salt in SE. I like it as it is.

If I ever buy another knife, a UKPK Salt in PE Magnacut would be high on my list.

Jim

[RugerNurse]

I got the Magnacut model. No complaints. I’d prefer lc200n if I was doing more stuff that would cause rust but the magnacut has held up great.
My salt 2 in lc200n has seen some nonstop lake water and fruit cutting all summer and had no issues. Don’t know if I’d trust magnacut with that but my UKPK is great for small tasks where I can wash it off right after and dry.

[cycleguy]

I’d go color as there isn’t anything I prioritize one steel or the other to sway my decision - GREEN!

CG

[olywa]

I have the original yellow LC200N PE. I've been waiting forever for the green LC200N SE. Really like the green over the yellow.

[ChrisinHove]

I have the UKPK Lc200n SE and haven’t discovered any shortcomings!

Although I have the HH g10 s30v versions I prefer the frn and was debating Spy27 vs Magnacut for a PE, due to colour & sharpenability (is that even a word?).

[benja-man]

I haven't used Spyderco's Magnacut yet but so far my impression is that LC200N is more fun to sharpen than the Magnacut fixed blade I have.

I absolutely adore the corrosion resistance of my PELC200N UKPK. It permanently lives in a lunch kit I take on cycling trips - I just forget about it until I need it.

I am interested in trying a SE Magnacut UKPK as soon as they become available. I'm curious as to how well the combined edge retention and toughness play out in SE.

For EDC I'm perfectly happy with my SPY27 UKPK by the way. No rust even though it frequently sees fruit and running water. Its brilliant sharpening response makes me look forward to it getting dull again ;-)

[Fastidiotus]

Personally I have soft spot for lc200n. The mix of corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention make it great for SE and as a PE it's still a joy. I feel that Aus8, vg10, BD1N, Spy27 are steels that want to be sharp. Lc200n though rewards the laziest amount of sharpening effort with shaving sharpness even without a strop. It retains an edge better than Aus8 and about the same as BD1N and vg10 in my use.

I only have one Spyderco knife in MagnaCut, its a PE and I think it's a great edc steel as well. It feels like an s35vn that someone cracked the code for the most optimal heat treat to make it tougher and more corrosion resistant. If you're a fan of CruWear I think MagnaCut would bring a lot of what you love to the table plus great corrosion resistance.

That being said lc200n and MC are great harder use steels but the UKPK isnt a harder use knife. If youre willing to give up just a slight bit of corrosion resistance but still very near as makes no difference a "Salt" level, and sacrifice some toughness which is still more than congruent with the UKPK design. Give the s110v a consideration before you decide. I enjoy sharpening and I'm not a huge edge retention nerd, but for me the s110v UKPK is potentially the best pairing of steel and knife design in all of Spyderco's current line up.

[Brock O Lee]

I'll start by saying that the S110V version is very good!

Back to the OP's question. I have a UKPK in LC200N, and Magnacut in a few other knives.

I do not have extreme requirements for corrosion resistance, so my preference is for better edge rentention. Magnacut is typically treated a few points harder than LC200N, so it has better strength, and resists deformation from impacts better. It also wins for edge retention against LC200N, regardless or hardness.

LC200N is stupidly easy to sharpen though.

Both are excellent, pick the colour you like best.

[RugerNurse]

All the steels on the UKPK offer a great value. So much less than other models, so one can try something out.

[Manixguy@1994]

Hi Doc , really can’t add much here except to say both are great steels and since you have already answered your liking of the green then I would go for it . I really don’t see that you would be disappointed. Dan

[Doc Dan]

I appreciate the responses. I have the S110V and the BD1N UKPKs. I like the design. I also like SPY27 and that gives me pause, as I have said elsewhere. I am specifically looking at MC and LC for the corrosion resistance. I have been guilty of sometimes running my knives through the washing machine unknowingly. My wife does that frequently. So...I thought less maintenance would be a good idea.

[RugerNurse]

I have been guilty of sometimes running my knives through the washing machine unknowingly. My wife does that frequently. So...I thought less maintenance would be a good idea.

Definitely LC200N then. Been a great steel for rust resistance.

No pics yet on this thread, happy egg nog season!

[Paul Ardbeg]

I appreciate the responses. I have the S110V and the BD1N UKPKs. I like the design. I also like SPY27 and that gives me pause, as I have said elsewhere. I am specifically looking at MC and LC for the corrosion resistance. I have been guilty of sometimes running my knives through the washing machine unknowingly. My wife does that frequently. So...I thought less maintenance would be a good idea.

If corrosion resistance is top priority I would suggest to go with LC200N. MagnaCut has a bit better edge retention however, sharpening LC200N is very easy in my experience.

Besides good fun, this video of Cedric and Ada shows what happens when both steels sit in salt water for a few days...So unless you're Spongebob you should be fine either way

[Flash]

I’ve bought a Magnacut UKPK and I stand by my choice.

The advantage of wear resistance is more important to me than toughness with this knife. No complaints with the corrosion resistance of the Magnacut so far either and it’s been exposed to a lot of corrosive elements since I got it.

It’s a Great knife, I’m very happy with it and the steel.

[sal]

Thanx for the video. I'd love to see him test a serrated version of H2.

sal

[skeeg11]

LC200N in SE and MagnaCut in PE for me fit my intended applications in each steel. I only wish that the MagnaCut UKPK in PE came as a drop point. MagnaCut seems to have a bit better edge retension is the reason I choose it for PE over LC200N. The sharpening response of LC200N is simply amazing. MagnaCut not as much. Not bad, but it seems to my touch that even M4 is a bit quicker. YMMV. I really, really, really like serrated LC200N. A couple light swipes on a honing steel and they're back in fighting trim. My serrated PacSalt 2, Swick, and UKPK are my salt water surf fishing knives. Most seem to prefer serrated H1/H2, but I find serrated FFG LC200N to be more slicey. Again, YMMV.

[Wandering_About]

I prefer MagnaCut for thinner edges. LC200N seems to deform more readily for me. If you're not going crazy thin though, pick whichever handle color you prefer.