Who makes the best S30V ?

[kwak]

I was just wondering about S30V, which company makes the best nowadays ?
Could this be Chris Reeve who runs it fairly soft or Paul Bos for Buck and Strider who makes it a few points harder.
Or ofcourse, our favourite Spyderco themselves who also runs it in the same regions as Reeve does.
This steel is used in folders and in fixed blades,is it equally good for both ?
:confused: Greetings from Apeldoorn in the Netherlands.

[JDEE]

I believe it's a matter of personal preferance - how hard do you like your blades? For me I prefer blades around 60-61HRC but I am quite happy with Spyderco's level. As to who heat-treats S30V the best conventional wisdom says that Paul Bos has the best method but then again you are going to pay the premium price.

[Jimmy_Dean]

I have never handled a Chris Reeve knife but from what I've read, I'd be willing to bet the farm they are nasty little cutters :)

As far as Strider goes, they are great knives but they are also the hardest knives I've had to sharpen/keep sharp so far. The edge is pretty thick and the steel is harder than ****. However, when you do get it sharp, get out of there!

I posted a thread here some time ago because I had a hard time to sharpen Paul Bos' S30V and everybody here replied they had absolutly no problem with their Spyderco....so I guess it gives them the edge...mouhahaha :rolleyes:

I don't think the B-S line uses S30V...ATS-34 in their Cadillac if I'm not mistaken.

-Dean

[JDEE]

Yes! ATS34 for the Buck Striders at 60-61HRC - I have the Mini-Strider SP and whilst it takes a while to get the right edge (given the thick profile of the blade) it certainly has great edge-holding abilities but I wouldn't put it too far in front of my ParaM in that department.

[Jimd]

My experience has been the Paul Bos's heat treat holds an edge very long. Plus, I like the hardness of the blades because they're very tough and won't become damaged as easily.

Just the same, Spyderco's heat treat seems to work very well, too. I don't have a complaint with either one.

[thombrogan]

Crucible Services makes the best S30V.

My favorite heat-treatment of S30V was provided by Phil Wilson, but I only have S30V done by him, Spyderco, and Benchmade. Mr. Wilson hardens S30V to RC 62-63 and tempers it down to RC 61. FWIW, Paul Bos charges less than Phil Wilson to reharden S30V blades, but he prefers RC 59.5.

BTW, a Yojimbo at RC 61 will pierce materials that will damage the tip of the blade if it were softer. It's quite a treat to cut through the thickest pieces of a plastic bottle and have the delicate blade hold up. A Chinook II at RC 60.5-61 can take a very fine convexed edge, stay hair-popping sharp for weeks (including being chopped into a frozen pine branch cross-grain) and then, when it's merely shaving sharp, come right back up to hair-popping with a light stropping. Haven't resharpened the ATR, so I have no idea what it can do at RC 61... :rolleyes: :)

Once those Caly J's and Delicas come out in ZDP-189 at RC 65-67 with less fragility issues than S30V in RC 55-62, this will all be a moot point.

[dialex]

Crucible Services makes the best S30V.

I think they are the only ones to make S30V too