Para 3 4V issues

[Rockstarter]

Have a St. Nicks Para 3 LW that has a blade that chips from just general EDC use, is this normal for this steel? The reason I bought this knife because I heard this was a pretty balanced steel.

[vivi]

what have you been using it for?

[TkoK83Spy]

That's pretty brutal damage for 4V. I've had (3) different models. One of them I kept the factory edge, the other two I put my own edge on and never had anything like that. That was back in my warehouse days too. Interested to hear what he's been cutting for that kind of damage.

[WilliamMunny]

Looks like it was smashed on a rock or something. Maybe cutting a rope above a rock, went through the rope and hit the rock????

This is not normal for everyday use with the cheapest of steels.

Only advice I have is to sharpen and give it a new edge, sometimes a knife/steel needs a few sharpening's to get the true performance from the steel. In this case it seems way beyond that.

[8th_Note]

looks like it's been used to cut thru macadam or concrete

[Rockstarter]

All this knife has cut is Amazon box’s (no staples), bags of food, food when I’m out camping, zip ties, etc…..nothing hard. This is probably my 30th or so Spyderco and this is without a doubt the single worst blade I have even had.

[USMC-88]

Have a St. Nicks Para 3 LW that has a blade that chips from just general EDC use, is this normal for this steel? The reason I bought this knife because I heard this was a pretty balanced steel.
IMG_6492.jpegIMG_6495.jpeg

Dumb question but do you have a strop? It looks like a really big burr that deformed!

[Rockstarter]

Yes, I have a strop. Unfortunately those are legit chips.

[Guts]

That's unfortunate. Factory edge? Can't say I've had that happen with any of my 4V models. It's been an excellent steel in my personal experience with it. Only time I did experience something like that was with my Maxamet PM2. Had to sharpen it a few times to get to the "good" steel. I'd at least give it a sharpen or two before making any final judgement on it.

[USMC-88]

Yes, I have a strop. Unfortunately those are legit chips.

Wow that aint right!

[vivi]

All this knife has cut is Amazon box’s (no staples), bags of food, food when I’m out camping, zip ties, etc…..nothing hard. This is probably my 30th or so Spyderco and this is without a doubt the single worst blade I have even had.

if that's really all you've cut with it, you need to send it in to spyderco. ive seen folders in weaker steels take less damage chopping into rocks, no joke. send it in.

[Flash]

4V is a pretty tough steel so the edge shouldn’t be chipping like that from general use.
Burnt edge from grinding maybe?

It’s stability may improve with a few sharpenings but that edge is pretty badly damaged so I’d be more inclined to send it back.

[Rockstarter]

4V is a pretty tough steel so the edge shouldn’t be chipping like that from general use.
Burnt edge from grinding maybe?

It’s stability may improve with a few sharpenings but that edge is pretty badly damaged so I’d be more inclined to send it back.

I have now sharpen it 3 times on my Sharpemaker. Most of the chips are out but it really won’t hold an edge for very long just cutting cardboard (it needs to be sharpened after about 30-40 feet), but it hasn’t chipped again. I’ll probably try one more time. If it doesn’t improve it will be time to send it in or just retire it, we’ll see whether I want to even spend the money to ship it back.

[TkoK83Spy]

Somethings not right here, back when the G10 Manix was first released, I did quite a bit of cutting and mine still cleanly cut paper after this.

[The Mastiff]

It looks bad. Sort of like what those carbide pull through sharpeners do. 4V is indeed an excellent steel and one of the last I'd expect to see very poor performance from. If you can please send that in to Spyderco. If there is something wrong they are equipped to diagnose and remedy it. You just may be helping the next group of guys in the future as well as yourself.

Good luck.

[WilliamMunny]

4V is a pretty tough steel so the edge shouldn’t be chipping like that from general use.
Burnt edge from grinding maybe?

It’s stability may improve with a few sharpenings but that edge is pretty badly damaged so I’d be more inclined to send it back.

I have now sharpen it 3 times on my Sharpemaker. Most of the chips are out but it really won’t hold an edge for very long just cutting cardboard (it needs to be sharpened after about 30-40 feet), but it hasn’t chipped again. I’ll probably try one more time. If it doesn’t improve it will be time to send it in or just retire it, we’ll see whether I want to even spend the money to ship it back.

Are you sharpening it on the 30° or 40°?

Also even with the brown rods, I would think those big chips would be hard to take out with the Sharpmaker. If they are coming out reasonably easy, maybe it’s a heat treatment issue?

[Skar]

Sounds like a burnt edge to me.
Needs about ten sharpening sessions to reach the good steel.

I had a cv20 (still have) that really put me through a headache with chipping on the edge.
It would chip cutting papers it seemed worthless.
After sharpening it out I have good performance.

Unless you got it from aliexpress or amazon and is a knockoff ?

[vivi]

4V is a pretty tough steel so the edge shouldn’t be chipping like that from general use.
Burnt edge from grinding maybe?

It’s stability may improve with a few sharpenings but that edge is pretty badly damaged so I’d be more inclined to send it back.

I have now sharpen it 3 times on my Sharpemaker. Most of the chips are out but it really won’t hold an edge for very long just cutting cardboard (it needs to be sharpened after about 30-40 feet), but it hasn’t chipped again. I’ll probably try one more time. If it doesn’t improve it will be time to send it in or just retire it, we’ll see whether I want to even spend the money to ship it back.

Are you sharpening it on the 30° or 40°?

shouldn't matter. I run certain hatchets and machetes at 15dps without any issues.

[Naperville]

4V is a pretty tough steel so the edge shouldn’t be chipping like that from general use.
Burnt edge from grinding maybe?

It’s stability may improve with a few sharpenings but that edge is pretty badly damaged so I’d be more inclined to send it back.

I have now sharpen it 3 times on my Sharpemaker. Most of the chips are out but it really won’t hold an edge for very long just cutting cardboard (it needs to be sharpened after about 30-40 feet), but it hasn’t chipped again. I’ll probably try one more time. If it doesn’t improve it will be time to send it in or just retire it, we’ll see whether I want to even spend the money to ship it back.

Well, if you're an honest man and have an honest beef, I'd write a letter to Sal and send it back. No harm no foul.

[BeTheExample731]

4V is a pretty tough steel so the edge shouldn’t be chipping like that from general use.
Burnt edge from grinding maybe?

It’s stability may improve with a few sharpenings but that edge is pretty badly damaged so I’d be more inclined to send it back.

I have now sharpen it 3 times on my Sharpemaker. Most of the chips are out but it really won’t hold an edge for very long just cutting cardboard (it needs to be sharpened after about 30-40 feet), but it hasn’t chipped again. I’ll probably try one more time. If it doesn’t improve it will be time to send it in or just retire it, we’ll see whether I want to even spend the money to ship it back.

You're not the only one this happened to. It happened to me to with my Manix 2 exclusive, and it happened again even after sharpening the factory edge away. Not sure why, but I agree, I thought 4V was supposed to have better edge stability. Unless it takes 3+ sharpenings for it to not happen.