Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
I’m just curious as to what people are thinking. There is some still available, but there has been considerable retrenching.
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
Interesting, IIRC it's the steel that is supposed to make M4 obsolete.
Military/PM2/P3 Native Chief/Native GB2 DF2 PITS Chaparral Tasman Salt 2 SE Caribbean Sheepfoot SE SpydieChef Swayback Manix2 Sage 1 SSS Stretch 2 XL G10
- Brock O Lee
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Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
I would say no. Only the death knell for unpopular Wharncliffe blade shapes and serrated edges in K390.
Hans
Favourite Spydies: Military, PM2, Siren, UKPK
Others: Victorinox Pioneer, CRK L Sebenza 31, CRK L Inkosi
Favourite Spydies: Military, PM2, Siren, UKPK
Others: Victorinox Pioneer, CRK L Sebenza 31, CRK L Inkosi
- Manixguy@1994
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Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
Seems like just Wharnies took the hit ? I have been curious though myself . New catalog and Reveal may have some answers. Hate to speculate, like the the steel . MG2
MNOSD 0002 / Do more than is required of you . Patton
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
I hope that’s all it is. Not too happy about that myself. Would hate to see the rest go away.Brock O Lee wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2023 3:19 pmI would say no. Only the death knell for unpopular Wharncliffe blade shapes and serrated edges in K390.
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
When's the next reveal ? At the end of the month IIRC ?
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
Brock O Lee wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2023 3:19 pmI would say no. Only the death knell for unpopular Wharncliffe blade shapes and serrated edges in K390.
ONLY?!
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
- Manixguy@1994
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Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
Honestly have no idea , we are nearing a Reveal and catalog this year May have some interesting new knives with all the discontinued models . Definitely excited . MG2
MNOSD 0002 / Do more than is required of you . Patton
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
This. Spyderco has something special in the Japanese K390 models. I wish we would see it spread, but I don't think it is going anywhere soon. Unless it is in the shape of a wharncliffe.Brock O Lee wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2023 3:19 pmI would say no. Only the death knell for unpopular Wharncliffe blade shapes and serrated edges in K390.
- Jeff
May your feet be warm and dry and your throat warm with whiskey. A knife in hand or in the sock band.
MNOSD Member #0005
May your feet be warm and dry and your throat warm with whiskey. A knife in hand or in the sock band.
MNOSD Member #0005
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
Anybody in the line of work, such as a warehouse environment, really need to give one of those wharnies a try before it's too late. I bet K390, with a coarse finish and being a wharnie would perform extremely well!
15 's in 10 different steels
1 - Bradford Guardian 3 / Vanadis 4E Wharnie
1 - Monterey Bay Knives Slayback Flipper / ZDP 189
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31/Macassar Ebony Inlays
1 - CRK Large Inkosi Insingo/ Black Micarta Inlays
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31 Insingo/Magnacut
-Rick
1 - Bradford Guardian 3 / Vanadis 4E Wharnie
1 - Monterey Bay Knives Slayback Flipper / ZDP 189
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31/Macassar Ebony Inlays
1 - CRK Large Inkosi Insingo/ Black Micarta Inlays
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31 Insingo/Magnacut
-Rick
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
I used to use stainless steel folders exclusively for work. They just make things so much simpler: no worrying about accidentally cutting into caustic/corrosive material and ruining my knife, no immediate need to clean & oil my knife after a particularly exhausting shift at the warehouse, no worrying about my sweat rusting the blade while it's in my pocket during hot & humid summer days, etc. But K390's combination of edge stability & edge retention in a knife with the Delica 4's slicey geometry was so superior to anything I had used before that I had to incorporate it into my work knife rotation despite being a non-stainless tool steel. It's just that good.
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
I hope Spyderco keeps K390 as a regular, "high-performance, AFI-focused" production option for some of their "evergreen" models (like how S110V & Maxamet are for many of their Golden folders). I prefer K390 over M4 or Cru-Wear for a high-performance, non-stainless tool steel in a folding knife. Cru-Wear is great & is a favourite of mine, but when talking about the tasks one is most likely to do with a folder, I think K390's vastly superior edge retention at the cost of lower toughness (although AFAIK it is still tougher than any stainless particle metallurgy steel with the exception of MagnaCut) offers more practical advantages.
At the same time, I understand why Spyderco is radically scaling back its K390 offerings. Non-stainless steels are just harder to sell to the average knife user, and while K390 isn't as hard to sharpen as some people make it out to be, getting it at least factory-sharp still requires a level of skill & equipment that typical users may not be willing to invest in.
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
I must admit, it shook me that the Delica and Endura models in K390 were cut back. Those are bread and butter knives, big sellers, one would think. If those aren’t selling in K390, what is?
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
The discontinuation of serrated K390 models isn’t surprising to me. This is the result of 2000 strokes against a Congress Moldmaster 80 grit triangle in a Sharpmaker. I’d hate to try it with K390
Otherwise, it’s great
Otherwise, it’s great
- Manifestgtr
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Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
I suppose, in my collection, it doesn’t matter that much since I have every k390 model I wanted.
But it would be an unbelievable shame to ever see the k390 Delica, P4 and ESPECIALLY stretch go away. The k390 stretch is one of those knives that’s almost indescribably perfect to me. The only backlock that “beats” it in my stable is the cruwear stretch xl and that’s just because it’s the k390 stretch beefed up to tank-like proportions and offered in my personal favorite steel. But it flips around again because I would carry the k390 more often since it’s lighter, less valuable, etc.
The notion of those knives ever going away doesn’t affect me in the sense that I need more for myself…it’s the thought of people missing out on the opportunity to get great knives with arguably the best user/consumer tool steel that spyderco has ever offered. Cruwear and LC200N might always top my personal list for their sheer, frightening ability to take an obscene edge but at the end of the day, k390 is objectively equal to them in my mind. Rock solid edge stability, front end retention and surprisingly pleasant corrosion resistance/patina, etc. If I had my way, it would EXPAND to models like the shaman, manix and millie.
But it would be an unbelievable shame to ever see the k390 Delica, P4 and ESPECIALLY stretch go away. The k390 stretch is one of those knives that’s almost indescribably perfect to me. The only backlock that “beats” it in my stable is the cruwear stretch xl and that’s just because it’s the k390 stretch beefed up to tank-like proportions and offered in my personal favorite steel. But it flips around again because I would carry the k390 more often since it’s lighter, less valuable, etc.
The notion of those knives ever going away doesn’t affect me in the sense that I need more for myself…it’s the thought of people missing out on the opportunity to get great knives with arguably the best user/consumer tool steel that spyderco has ever offered. Cruwear and LC200N might always top my personal list for their sheer, frightening ability to take an obscene edge but at the end of the day, k390 is objectively equal to them in my mind. Rock solid edge stability, front end retention and surprisingly pleasant corrosion resistance/patina, etc. If I had my way, it would EXPAND to models like the shaman, manix and millie.
Crucarta: Shaman (x2), Manix 2, Lil Native, Delica, GB2 & PM2
Notable: 52100 and Cruwear Millie. “15v-arta” Shaman. REC Manix. K-carta Endura, P4, Dragonfly and Delica.
Favorites: Shaman, Sage 5 lightweight, Sheeps Caribbean, Manix, Endela and all things Stretch
Notable: 52100 and Cruwear Millie. “15v-arta” Shaman. REC Manix. K-carta Endura, P4, Dragonfly and Delica.
Favorites: Shaman, Sage 5 lightweight, Sheeps Caribbean, Manix, Endela and all things Stretch
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
This captures my feelings on K390 as well. Fantastic stuff and I'm thrilled to have it as the Seki City models' performance steel.zuludelta wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2023 6:28 pm
I hope Spyderco keeps K390 as a regular, "high-performance, AFI-focused" production option for some of their "evergreen" models (like how S110V & Maxamet are for many of their Golden folders). I prefer K390 over M4 or Cru-Wear for a high-performance, non-stainless tool steel in a folding knife. Cru-Wear is great & is a favourite of mine, but when talking about the tasks one is most likely to do with a folder, I think K390's vastly superior edge retention at the cost of lower toughness (although AFAIK it is still tougher than any stainless particle metallurgy steel with the exception of MagnaCut) offers more practical advantages.
I don't think I have any ZDP-189 anymore - tried it in a Delica, Endura, Ladybug, Caly 3 and 3.5. Didn't like that it was a "stainless" that could rust and I found it frustrating to sharpen. And I really liked the rest of the design on those Calys!
I've been much, much happier with K390 both in terms of edge retention and ease of sharpening to bring that edge out. It holds an aggressive edge for a long time and still touches up well on ceramics. Currently have an Endura, Urban, Stretch, and recently a wharnie Delica from the discontinued sales.
The wharncliffes don't do a ton for me (though I've been trying it out in the Delica) and I don't usually care for serrated edges, so I'm not hugely concerned by the discontinuations. Might pick up one more wharncliffe to try out at the lower pricing but otherwise I'll still be focused on the continued regular production models for future purchase.
Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
What is the issue here ? There's still some unremoved sharpie line, so you mean you had difficulties sharpening the outer edges of the serrations ? Asking this as a sharpening noob.
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Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
ONLY?!Wartstein wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2023 4:03 pmBrock O Lee wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2023 3:19 pmI would say no. Only the death knell for unpopular Wharncliffe blade shapes and serrated edges in K390.
ONLY?!
I've bought so many knives on a whim, just to try out and get a feel of them, but somehow I've been able to hold off on the k390 Delica PE WC... doesn't compute, and I'll probably regret it.
Didn't strikethrough your highlighting of "serrated edges" because those doesn't matter, but only to differentiate between old and new highlights. Personally I'm not as much into SE these days (which I believe is the only serrated edge type offered in k390) after discovering CE, and while I'm a bit saddened to see so many CEs on the chopping block I wouldn't have felt that way for k390 CE - which I anticipate to simply be above my level of sharpening skills.
- Traditional.Sharpening
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Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
A little more information would help understand better what you are alluding to here. What were you trying to accomplish exactly? Do you feel that 2000 strokes was excessive or are you simply saying that number would have been astronomically higher using K390??? If you are using K390 for the same sharpening then it would simply be best to use diamond to cut with.
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Re: Are We Witnessing The Death Knell of K390 In Production Folders?
One should differentiate between what is perceived as general sales.
K390 has never been a big thing in production folders, even less so than M4. Basically spyderco is the only company that uses it on a regular basis...
Not even lionsteel who knows the steel uses it except for sprint like runs.
Plus for the majority of people s35vn is still a top steel.
I would dare say as much that sales percentage wise nobody cares about it.
But yeah in regard to the discontinued list I think it is rather the combination of a rare steel with uncommon and not big sales producing blade shapes.
K390 has never been a big thing in production folders, even less so than M4. Basically spyderco is the only company that uses it on a regular basis...
Not even lionsteel who knows the steel uses it except for sprint like runs.
Plus for the majority of people s35vn is still a top steel.
I would dare say as much that sales percentage wise nobody cares about it.
But yeah in regard to the discontinued list I think it is rather the combination of a rare steel with uncommon and not big sales producing blade shapes.