S110V & ZDP-189: Not Down & Out IMO

[Bolster]

I have been building a house for the past several months, carrying several Spyderco knives to work, most often in SPY27. Good stuff. Though recently thought I'd 'change it up' a bit and started carrying some of my older knives in S110V and ZDP-189. Wow! Their performance in the work environment is simply excellent, sort of a "sharpen it and forget it" experience as both steels retained their edges impressively. I know that S110V and ZDP-189 are not the hot new steels, but man, they perform. Add to the fact that S110V shrugs off rust, and it's a real winner when you want the knife to perform day after day while maintaining it as little as possible. So here's a tip of the hat to some of yesterday's steels that have excellent performance in a work environment, regardless of their trendiness.

[Giygas]

Funny coincidence. Three of my last five new knives have been in ZDP189 and s110v so I've been using those steels now more than I ever have and I've come to the exact same conclusion.

They're both steels that I kinda "wrote off" a few years ago without doing enough testing. Glad I gave them a second chance.

[jdw]

I enjoy both steels quite a bit and I have a particular fond place in my heart for ZDP. I have always found it relatively easy to sharpen as opposed to some of the posts that I have read about its difficulty. A couple of folks were kind enough to point out this is likely because of the high chromium content. I have used both steels pretty hard and I have not had some of the chipping issues that others have experienced with S110V in particular but I make a concerted effort not to hit metal on metal if at all possible. Long answer to say that I hope we continue to see knives made with both steels and ZDP in particular as it seems to be fading away faster than 110V.

[Albertaboyscott]

Was carrying my s110 pm2 earlier today. It's one of my favorite knives. S110v won't go out of style anytime soon in my house. Zdp is good stuff too. We're so "steel spoiled". It's great

[MFlovejp]

Love me some ZDP. Easy to sharpen, takes a stupid sharp edge for me and keeps it a while. Have never managed to rust it either.

[olywa]

Agreed! Past Spyderco goodness never really fades away. I have, and continue to use, both steels in multiple models.

[Igi964]

Tried ZDP one time, but did not impress me S110V on the other hand was my main EDC for almost two years. Great stuff, but a bit harder to get sharpThen I had some tool steel passion next. K390 is best steel. Much better than M4, Rex 45 IMHO. Amazing edge holding, toughness and super easy to sharpen. Only it will stain Tried M390 lately and was stoked how much more time it need to get sticky sharp. Edge holding and stainless quality is very , very good.
LC200N is coming my last hero of a super steel. Corrosion proof, very good edge holding, in my use better than VG10/ S30V and unbeliveble easy to get scary sticky sharp It feels like some tool steel to sharpen

[elena86]

Was carrying my s110 pm2 earlier today. It's one of my favorite knives. S110v won't go out of style anytime soon in my house. Zdp is good stuff too. We're so "steel spoiled". It's great

How fast does it loose the “razor” edge ?

[Wandering_About]

Still a fan of S110V, although I haven't been carrying it much lately. Takes some skill and the right abrasives to get it sharp, but it does very well for me. Maybe I'll have to get my S110V Native back out for some fun.

[Albertaboyscott]

Was carrying my s110 pm2 earlier today. It's one of my favorite knives. S110v won't go out of style anytime soon in my house. Zdp is good stuff too. We're so "steel spoiled". It's great

How fast does it loose the “razor” edge ?

Hard to answer. I don't really pay attention to that as much as edge stability and durability these days

[jdw]

Was carrying my s110 pm2 earlier today. It's one of my favorite knives. S110v won't go out of style anytime soon in my house. Zdp is good stuff too. We're so "steel spoiled". It's great

How fast does it loose the “razor” edge ?

In my experience ZDP loses it's fine edge relatively quickly but holds a working edge for a very long time. While it is sharp it is wickedly sharp. Depending on your use it is relatively easy to maintain that really sharp edge with a daily touch up but like a lot of other steels you can't let it get dull or it is a giant PITA to bring back to life.

[TomAiello]

I'm actually a big ZDP fan. I am somewhat disappointed to see it moving out of the regular production line up.

[bdblue]

I like S110v and I'm carrying that in my Manix2 LW right now. I normally think in terms of carbon steels such as M4 or even K390, thinking I'm getting good edgeholding and better toughness although in reality the numbers don't say there is that much difference. We talk about steels such as Maxamet and 15V being so great in edgeholding, but the numbers say that S110V is still near the top of the heap itself.

[Skidoosh]

S110V never was good for me. It would look at cardboard and chip

[JoviAl]

I’ve brought my S110V UKPK (blade swapped into the HH G10 handle) everywhere for the last few
weeks after using it for a trip back to the UK. It’s most excellent for run of the mill EDC tasks like cutting up fruit and making cardboard boxes into suits of armour for my kids, but is capable of carving up carpet tiles in a pinch (my grandmother had her toilet replaced while I was visiting). A great blade steel that only lost its mojo after brutalising its way through over twenty carpet tiles after a solid week of EDC use. A quick sharpen on the diamond plates once I got back to Singapore and now it’s come on holiday with me to the tropical islands of eastern Malaysia, where it is quietly laughing at salt water. Top stuff for EDC

[Giygas]

S110V never was good for me. It would look at cardboard and chip

I've been using my ZT 0562 in S110V exactly the same way I use my XM24 and I've never experienced any chipping.

I've even taken my s110v pm2 down to 13dps and not experienced chipping. The only real damage I ever saw was when I hit a staple, but that was just a medium sized roll that came right out during a touchup on a 3k stone.

[kennethsime]

I like ZDP a lot, and would love to see more new Seki knives in it. In another thread, Sal mentioned that he put in a request for a SS Stretch 2 in ZDP, and I’m certainly looking forward to it!

[olywa]

I thought I heard that future ZDP-189 releases would be laminates?

[prndltech]

S110V never was good for me. It would look at cardboard and chip

I have a s110v g10 native, had it reground to .010” BTE, specifically for my “cardboard killer” at the house… and its fine. It has cut TONS of cardboard over the years now.

[Bolster]

I have a s110v g10 native, had it reground to .010” BTE, specifically for my “cardboard killer” at the house… and its fine. It has cut TONS of cardboard over the years now.

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