S30V Only Cool if it's a Benchmade?

[wrdwrght]

I’ll take Spyderco’s balanced S30V any day of the week, and its VG10, too (I’ve been re-loving a Stretch1 recently), but I do enjoy being spoiled with all the steels on offer to satisfy my curiosity.

[vivi]

People who actually use their knives know S30V is a great steel. People who collect knives want to see diffferent designations engraved on them.

There are uses where other steels matter. But for the large mass of general EDC focused knives S30V is great.

That’s sort of ridiculous to say. I use my knives all of the time, but dislike S30V. It’s annoying to sharpen and it’s edge retention with Spyderco’s heat treat isn’t worth dealing with the sharpening hassle. It’s also not overly tough or corrosion resistant. I would take a properly heat treated 14C28N over S30V.

Benchmade, for whatever reason, seems to get far better edge retention out of S30V. I’m not sure how chippy it is for them.

Performs just fine for me.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=hl3n-BtLoaI

[vivi]

For what I use my knives for (and I have/use literally dozens) blade steel doesn't even enter the picture. So s30v is perfectly suited for my particular needs, but then again so does 420HC.

Oh and BTW, you are referring to the 940-2 as the -1 is CF and s90v.

Nice to see another 420HC fan.

People like to poop on Leatherman for not upgrading their blade steels, but most 420HC Leathermans have two blades. That seems lost on folks.

I spent all day yesterday doing spring cleaning around the house. Cut up all sorts of stuff with my wave, included a giant stack of cardboard. Both blades were still shaving sharp after that and a few weeks of use prior since the last time I sharpened them.

Some folks seem to think if you break down one or two boxes with 420HC it stops functioning. It's a perfectly competant EDC steel, and takes a wicked edge.

[michaelm466]

While, I own quite a few Benchmades, they're at least 5 years behind Spyderco in their steel upgrades/offerings, people (myself included) were excited a few years ago when they finally added S90V to the line, where as Spyderco was already 5-7 years into S90V and starting on S110V. ZT has some exotics every once in awhile, but they're also usually priced $500+ and in sprints of 250.

[cycleguy]

I've been considering an Osborne 940... then end out buying something Spyderco! Go figure. If you include exclusives, the Osborne comes in 20CV, D2, S90V, and M390 - not just boring s30v.

As you mentioned with the grip .. it is getting revamped with s30v in lieu of 154cm ... so I'm seeing s30v as something of an industry standard for quality/non-entry level u.s.a. made folders.

I have no issues with s30v.

CG

[Evil D]

People are just jaded.

[GarageBoy]

I also feel that the 940 is the "anti Spyderco" in a way, yet a very popular model even among Spyderco fans. It's not the sliciest blade, and the handle isn't the most ergonomic, but it works and people like it.

[vivi]

Never got the 940 love myself. Handle is too small, there is a massive gap between the edge and handle where materials get hung up, thick blade grind, gotta take off the thumbstuds to sharpen at a reasonable angle, slick scales, pricey for what you get etc. BM makes much better knives IMO.

[James Y]

I've never had any problems with S30V, either from CRK (back when CRK was using S30V) or Spyderco, who run it harder than CRK did. I also have a couple ZTs in S30V, but haven't used them enough to comment on their S30V.

I do like S35VN more than S30V, but TBH, I haven't noticed too much difference between the two, so it could be partly psychological(?).

At first I wasn't interested in the new Para 3 LWT, but am a bit curious now about the BD1N steel. I don't like wire clips, though.

I've seen posts where some people have complained about Benchmade's S30V and said Spyderco's is better. Then I see posts where people say the exact opposite. So I don't know what to say to that, except that people's experiences and perceptions are different.

You can be sure that all of the popular 'super' steels now, like S110V, M390, CTS-XHP, and all the others I can't remember, will be called 'boring', low-performing, and even 'junk' steel in a few years by people on knife forums.

Jim

[ABX2011]

We're spoiled but would Spyderco want it any other way? The desire for exotic steels allows Spyderco to sell many runs of popular models like the PM2 and Para 3. So this appetite for steels, however irrational is probably a good thing.

[TomAiello]

Similarly, the Elmax knives were moved to S35vn. ZT already had quite a few regular production knives in S35vn, but my understanding is that they will not be using Elmax going foward, which is sad.

I totally agree that this is sad. I like Elmax substantially better. I wonder if they were trying for a "made in America" feel? Or if it was just a cost issue?

They did put a big American flag on the side of the M390 Kershaws that they made in Oregon, so I wonder if their research indicates that's a sales point for knife buyers.

[Mako109]

Premium steels make all the difference in the world...when you list a knife for resale . For practical use, S30V/S35V has always been an outstanding steel for my purposes.

[TomAiello]

I also feel that the 940 is the "anti Spyderco" in a way, yet a very popular model even among Spyderco fans. It's not the sliciest blade, and the handle isn't the most ergonomic, but it works and people like it.

I have a 940 in M390 (it's an old exclusive) and I really can't get into it. I love the CBBL, and I find the Axis lock just as nice, but the 940's ergonomics just don't work for me.

[Evil D]

I REALLY don't get the love for the 940. For the sake of shiny footprints I'll just say it's not for me but it's about as not for me as is possible, like, I'd rather carry a sharpened butter knife. Some designs just really bother me and the 940 is one of them.

[vivi]

I REALLY don't get the love for the 940. For the sake of shiny footprints I'll just say it's not for me but it's about as not for me as is possible, like, I'd rather carry a sharpened butter knife. Some designs just really bother me and the 940 is one of them.

Hahaha, I'm happy to find someone else that feels the same way. I'd take a Griptilian over a 940 any day.

[TkoK83Spy]

I REALLY don't get the love for the 940. For the sake of shiny footprints I'll just say it's not for me but it's about as not for me as is possible, like, I'd rather carry a sharpened butter knife. Some designs just really bother me and the 940 is one of them.

Hahaha, I'm happy to find someone else that feels the same way. I'd take a Griptilian over a 940 any day.

My buddy at work is a diehard BM guy, various models of the 940 and Griptilian. He's tempted to get the KW exclusive 940 in 20cv...I was looking and saw the Griptilian exclusive in M390 with Micarta scales for I believe $30 less than that 940. That actually caught my eye.

[Woodpuppy]

I REALLY don't get the love for the 940. For the sake of shiny footprints I'll just say it's not for me but it's about as not for me as is possible, like, I'd rather carry a sharpened butter knife. Some designs just really bother me and the 940 is one of them.

Hahaha, I'm happy to find someone else that feels the same way. I'd take a Griptilian over a 940 any day.

Same here. Benchmade’s best offerings are Mel Pardue collabs, including the grips. 710-HSSR is pretty good too.

[GarageBoy]

I REALLY don't get the love for the 940. For the sake of shiny footprints I'll just say it's not for me but it's about as not for me as is possible, like, I'd rather carry a sharpened butter knife. Some designs just really bother me and the 940 is one of them.

Hahaha, I'm happy to find someone else that feels the same way. I'd take a Griptilian over a 940 any day.

The spyderhole griptillian could almost be a Spyderco product, and honestly, it's one of like 5 BM designs I like - just imagine it with FFG (the dallara 3 would probably be the result)

Warren Osborne put out so many nice designs (770/960) but somehow the 940 caught on

[cycleguy]

I've been considering an Osborne 940... then end out buying something Spyderco! Go figure. If you include exclusives, the Osborne comes in 20CV, D2, S90V, and M390 - not just boring s30v.

As you mentioned with the grip .. it is getting revamped with s30v in lieu of 154cm ... so I'm seeing s30v as something of an industry standard for quality/non-entry level u.s.a. made folders.

I have no issues with s30v.

CG

This surprises me, but I hear Buck S30V is better than the others.

CG

[Tucson Tom]

This is a weird thread title. Why even drag Benchmade into this. Just leave it as "is S30V cool".

Well, I don't think it is cool -- but it is a great steel. From a use point of view, I think most people are well served with S30V (me included). It has a decent balance of properties, and it is not hard at all to put a great edge on it. My first ever Spyderco was a PM2 in S30v (sitting right next to me this minute) and as a novice sharpener, I was able to put a fantastic edge on it with just the sharpmaker. Noticeably better than the generally superb Spyderco factory edge, on this particular knife anyway.

But from a sales perspective, S30V ain't cool. There are lots of cooler steels and the knife buyers know what they are and are looking for them. I am a huge fan of 20CV (or CTS-204P) and think Spyderco would be well served to do an across the board "upgrade" of all the S30V models to 20CV -- but of course I don't really know anything, especially about running a business. The argument isn't "do people need this?", but "do people want this?.

Now, as for Benchmade knives -- My all time favorite model is the Griptilian with the hole. I generally hate stud knives and am SPOILED by the Spyerco hole. The Contego is one model where the stud works for me, though I don't own one. I have a 940 -- maybe the second or third quality knife I ever bought. I like it because it is different than everything else I now have. It is really light and really skinny, but again the ergos with the stud on that model don't make me smile. I was sort of shocked when I learned it is a cult classic among many.