does k390 have any advantages over 10v?

[Mugman16]

I am curious if there is any advantage to k390 over 10v. I know that 10v has outperformed (hardly) k390 in edge retention, wondering if k390 perhaps makes it up in corrosion resistance or toughness. I know they are very similar steels, but curious about little difference. Thanks

[TkoK83Spy]

Oh boy, Larrin lovers to the rescue.

[sal]

Hi Mugman,

Our customers seem to like K390 more than 10V. That may not be the kind of advantage you are thining of, but in the overall picture, it is one.

I'll let Larrin elaborate on any performance advantages.

sal

[z1r]

Curious to hear but I have no complaints of K390 performance. I have not had the opportunity to try 10V.

[Josh Crutchley]

Well you can actually get a Spyderco in K390 good luck finding one in 10v.

[Matt Deaner]

I find 10v to be a good bit more stainless. But when 10v does corrode it tends to pit. I like the way k390 sharpens better.... Takes a refined edge easier than 10v. Really they are very similar in my use. Edge holding I can't tell a difference.

For reference I have a pm2 and several K2s in 10v, and a couple police 4s in k390.

[TomAiello]

I haven't been able to tell any difference between K390 and PM A11 (very similar to 10v) in actual use, with my Mules.

I have compared K390 to Vanadis 8 in identical test blades (not Spyderco Mules) and was able to notice the difference there, though.

So, for me, at least K390 = 10v < Vanadis 8.

[Gtscotty]

Hi Mugman,

Our customers seem to like K390 more than 10V. That may not be the kind of advantage you are thining of, but in the overall picture, it is one.

I'll let Larrin elaborate on any performance advantages.

sal

Interesting, were they offered in the same model around the same time? Or was this more Mule Team or focus group response? I didn't know that Spyderco ever offered mainline 10V, it's a steel I'm curious about, but I only really see Kizer offering it now.

[TkoK83Spy]

Someone did an exclusive with a 10V PM2 a couple years ago, I can't remember who it came from though.

[JRinFL]

I managed to get one in 10V when they dropped, but that was before I realized that I never carry my PM2s.

[Nuh Nups]

Someone did an exclusive with a 10V PM2 a couple years ago, I can't remember who it came from though.

It was REC. They called it the “Scorpion.”

Here’s a link...
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=86175&hilit=REC+Scorpion

[Harkwit]

iirc (I think Michael Christy noted this), K390 has a slight toughness advantage over 10v, but they're not terribly dissimilar. They seem to patina differently too.

All anecdotal though, at least from my end.

[kennethsime]

I'm no expert, but my impression was that the relationship between CPM-10V & Bohler's K390 was very similar to the relationships between CPM-20CV/M390/CTS-204P: in other words, they are so metallurgically similar as to be indistinguishable to the end line user.

I've used K390 a fair amount in the past two years, just in EDC knives, and like it quite bit. Seems to be easy enough to sharpen while offering pretty incredible wear resistance. If that's any indicator, I'd love to try 10V at some point.

[yablanowitz]

Hi Mugman,

Our customers seem to like K390 more than 10V. That may not be the kind of advantage you are thining of, but in the overall picture, it is one.

I'll let Larrin elaborate on any performance advantages.

sal

Interesting, were they offered in the same model around the same time? Or was this more Mule Team or focus group response? I didn't know that Spyderco ever offered mainline 10V, it's a steel I'm curious about, but I only really see Kizer offering it now.

C185P Farid Mehr K2 was CPM-10V.

[wrdwrght]

I'm no expert, but my impression was that the relationship between CPM-10V & Bohler's K390 was very similar to the relationships between CPM-20CV/M390/CTS-204P: in other words, they are so metallurgically similar as to be indistinguishable to the end line user.

I've used K390 a fair amount in the past two years, just in EDC knives, and like it quite bit. Seems to be easy enough to sharpen while offering pretty incredible wear resistance. If that's any indicator, I'd love to try 10V at some point.

Our thinking is pretty much aligned.


While I do have a 10V PM2 (PM2s are my mules), I haven’t used it all since my interest swung hard from steel to model a few years ago. But I suspect I will not detect a meaningful difference between it and my much-loved K390 PM2.

[Harkwit]

I'm no expert, but my impression was that the relationship between CPM-10V & Bohler's K390 was very similar to the relationships between CPM-20CV/M390/CTS-204P: in other words, they are so metallurgically similar as to be indistinguishable to the end line user.

I've used K390 a fair amount in the past two years, just in EDC knives, and like it quite bit. Seems to be easy enough to sharpen while offering pretty incredible wear resistance. If that's any indicator, I'd love to try 10V at some point.

The chemistry is actually quite different.



20CV/M390/204P are literally the same chemistry rebranded, but K390 and 10V have noticeable differences in chemical makeup. Coincidentally though, it's not unlikely that these chemical makeups result in similar performances for the end user, but still.

[The Mastiff]

K390 is supposed to be a little tougher or so I read but I haven't found the limits of either and can't tell. I have liked both steels and I'm very impressed with K390. It has gotten the most carry time of all my Enduras since it was released. At around 600 grit it is a wicked, wicked slicer. I've really seen a difference between the lower carbide steels and K390 in accidental cuts when sharpening. It seems to bite through skin easier at the same sharpness levels. I have to be more careful with it.

[Rinzler]

Number one advantage in my opinion is that you can actually buy a knife in k390. Good luck finding a Spyderco in 10v. Everything else is of little concern if it’s not even possible to buy one.

[Pokey]

Number one advantage in my opinion is that you can actually buy a knife in k390. Good luck finding a Spyderco in 10v. Everything else is of little concern if it’s not even possible to buy one.

If you can make it to the Factory Seconds Sale, the REC/10V PM2’s are available. Last November I saw one before I knew what 10V was. Another customer put it in his basket.

A couple of weeks ago there were many to choose from at the OpFocus sale. As a matter of fact, there seemed to be quite a few Exclusives and even some Sprint Runs for sale.

[p_atrick]

Can a King Neo 800 handle K390?