Golden Age of Supersteels Over???

[Larrin]

Crucible hadn't developed new knife steels for several years after their bankruptcy in 2009. They then released several steels in short succession starting with CPM-S45VN in 2019 followed by SPY27 in 2020 and MagnaCut in 2021. It could be argued that Crucible was not leading the development of knife steels at least in terms of volume of new products.

The following list shows some key steels used in knives along with an approximate date for each. If a "golden age" existed I would vote for 1900-1940 as that was the period during which many of the major alloying categories were created including high speed steel, stainless steel, and most of the common tool steel types like O1, A2, and D2. There are many steels that were developed in this time period I have not included just because they wouldn't be that common in knives. Since the late 1980s there has been a new steel released virtually every year that has been or is being used in knives. However, not all of these are "major developments" (according to my estimation), meaning some of those are relatively minor composition changes to earlier steels. One example would be Nitro-V, which is basically AEB-L with a small addition of vanadium and nitrogen. Other steels may have relatively unique compositions but were designed to fit the same niche as prior products. An example of this would be Maxamet which is a 70 Rc high speed steel with 6% vanadium released in 2000, but ASP60 is also a 70 Rc high speed steel with 6% vanadium and it came out around 1975. Some steels are simply powder metallurgy versions of earlier conventional steels, such as RWL-34/CPM-154 (154CM/ATS-34), CPM-3V (Vasco Die), CPM-D2 (D2).

Year Steel
1902 F2
1905 O1
1905 52100
1907 O7
1908 O2
1912 D3
1912 420
1924 1.4116
1924 440A
1926 AEB-H
1928 D2
1930 440C
1932 S5
1937 M2
1937 T15
1938 M4
1938 A2
1953 S7
1957 154CM
1959 BG42
1960 Chipper knife steel (A8 mod)
1964 12C27
1964 Vasco Die
1968 AEB-L
1968 AUS-4 and AUS-6
1970 Powder Metallurgy
1970 ASP30 (Rex 45)
1972 Vasco Wear
1975 ASP60 (Vanadis 60)
1970s AUS-8
1976 CPM-10V
1980 VG10
1982 Cobalt Special
1983 CPM-S60V
1987 Vanadis 4 (non-extra)
1988 M390
1989 Niolox
1990 Elmax
1991 CPM-15V
1991 Cronidur 30 (LC200N)
1993 440-XH
1995 CPM-S90V
1995 RWL-34
1997 CPM-3V
1997 Rex 121 and Rex 86
1998 Super Gold 2
1988 ATS-55
1999 Vancron 40
2000 Maxamet
2000 ZDP-189 and Cowry-X
2001 CPM-S125V
2001 CPM-S30V
2001 CD#1
2002 S290
2002 CPM-1V
2003 Vanadis 4 Extra
2004 Nitrobe 77
2004 CPM-154
2004 K390
2005 Vanax 35 and 75
2005 K890
2007 CPM-D2
2008 CruForgeV
2009 14C28N
2009 CPM-S35VN
2009 CTS-XHP
2010 CPM-S110V
2010 K490
2010 Z-Wear (CPM-CruWear)
2013 Vanax
2014 BD1N
2015 Vanadis 8
2017 Nitro-V
2019 M398
2019 CPM-S45VN
2020 Vancron
2020 CPM-SPY27
2021 MagnaCut
2022 H2
2022 ApexUltra
2022 VG XEOS
2023 SPG STRIX
2024 Nitro-X7
2024 K888
2025 Pops ProCut

[bearfacedkiller]

One nice thing about capitalism is that voids in a market get filled when it makes sense. It’s sad to see crucible go down but in the end we will keep going.

In many areas of life we resist change and maybe even fear it. In other areas we fully embrace it. The fact that cannot be denied is that progress is inevitable. It’s a defining quality of us as humans. We keep pressing forward. I don’t know what the future holds but I’m here and going along for the ride.

[riclaw]

Crucible was good to us... I'm not complaining!





Ignore the impostors (K390 & Maxamet)

Wow! Cool pics. Really highlights Crucible's contributions.

[Red Leader]

I'd rather spyderco stop goofing around with carbon tool steels in folders, run every model in a salt version like the millie 2 & manix xl, and leave it at that.

This is an interesting take, Vivi. Probably in the past 6mo I have started to value the idea of corrosion resistance far more than I had before (which was near zero, prior). Given that I live in Colorado, it wasn't something on my radar. And then I started getting corrosion spots on my 15V, even here in our semi-arid climate. I do think there is something to the idea of a knife that 'doesn't corrode', for the most part. It is a bit of a mental release, so to speak. And it was a fun thought experiment the other day w/ my son musing about what it would have been like to be in the 1840s or 1870s or whatnot and try to conceptualize a 'rust proof' knife.

So, on one hand, I completely agree with you - I think that the ENTIRE Golden line (by model) should get the Salt treatment. Imagining a Salt Bodacious or a Salt Shaman is really fun, and honestly I think Spyderco will get there. For a popular as something like the Shaman is, it seems like a natural progression.

And...I also think that Spyderco should keep goofing off with tool steel. They keep pushing the edge envelope and giving stainless new target to reach. But I also have also seen posts that they are very stretched right now, and I believe there is room for consolidation. I've talked about it before, but maybe reduce the number of steel offerings in the regular production line to a few in each category (a few in tool steels and a few in stainless) and leave the rest for exclusives.

I don't own any steels in Magnacut, although I did pickup a Salt N5 in MM for the wife. Seems to have a nice balance of properties from all the research I've done. Probably my only critique, but the the name 'Magnacut' to me is off-putting because it sounds gimmicky and marketing hype-ish. Same with 'Magnamax', if I am being honest. That, combined with how many knife companies not known for knife steel have latched onto it seems to perpetuate an expectation that at the same time is letting some people down who have experience w/ more exotic steel levels of edge performance. Magnacut is to most in the knife community what R121/Maxamet is to Spyderco - their bleeding edges, respectfully.

But at the end of the day - if the steels perform, for the given task or expectation, that is all we can ask for. I am very interested in getting my hands on Magnamax, even though I wish the name had less marketing vibe. Given that it sits well within Spyderco's envelope of edge performance expectations from the initial testing we've seen, I can see Spyderco readily adopting it. However, I'm very curious to see how other manufacturers try to approach it, if it ends up driving a hype train similar to Magnacut. I don't know the target HRC, but could we end up w/ the same debacle that Magnacut saw where people were taking this performance steel and just running it to 60HRC? How is it to grind? Will 'normie' knife manufacturers jump on the bandwagon only to find themselves in a world of hurt trying to put out a steel that they far underestimated in terms of production difficulty?

However, I am grateful for it and for Larrin's (any many others) work.

[Mage7]

Crucible hadn't developed new knife steels for several years after their bankruptcy in 2009. They then released several steels in short succession starting with CPM-S45VN in 2019 followed by SPY27 in 2020 and MagnaCut in 2021. It could be argued that Crucible was not leading the development of knife steels at least in terms of volume of new products.

The following list shows some key steels used in knives along with an approximate date for each. If a "golden age" existed I would vote for 1900-1940 as that was the period during which many of the major alloying categories were created including high speed steel, stainless steel, and most of the common tool steel types like O1, A2, and D2. There are many steels that were developed in this time period I have not included just because they wouldn't be that common in knives. Since the late 1980s there has been a new steel released virtually every year that has been or is being used in knives. However, not all of these are "major developments" (according to my estimation), meaning some of those are relatively minor composition changes to earlier steels. One example would be Nitro-V, which is basically AEB-L with a small addition of vanadium and nitrogen. Other steels may have relatively unique compositions but were designed to fit the same niche as prior products. An example of this would be Maxamet which is a 70 Rc high speed steel with 6% vanadium released in 2000, but ASP60 is also a 70 Rc high speed steel with 6% vanadium and it came out around 1975. Some steels are simply powder metallurgy versions of earlier conventional steels, such as RWL-34/CPM-154 (154CM/ATS-34), CPM-3V (Vasco Die), CPM-D2 (D2).

Year Steel
1902 F2
1905 O1
1905 52100
1907 O7
1908 O2
1912 D3
1912 420
1924 1.4116
1924 440A
1926 AEB-H
1928 D2
1930 440C
1932 S5
1937 M2
1937 T15
1938 M4
1938 A2
1953 S7
1957 154CM
1959 BG42
1960 Chipper knife steel (A8 mod)
1964 12C27
1964 Vasco Die
1968 AEB-L
1968 AUS-4 and AUS-6
1970 Powder Metallurgy
1970 ASP30 (Rex 45)
1972 Vasco Wear
1975 ASP60 (Vanadis 60)
1970s AUS-8
1976 CPM-10V
1980 VG10
1982 Cobalt Special
1983 CPM-S60V
1987 Vanadis 4 (non-extra)
1988 M390
1989 Niolox
1990 Elmax
1991 CPM-15V
1991 Cronidur 30 (LC200N)
1993 440-XH
1995 CPM-S90V
1995 RWL-34
1997 CPM-3V
1997 Rex 121 and Rex 86
1998 Super Gold 2
1988 ATS-55
1999 Vancron 40
2000 Maxamet
2000 ZDP-189 and Cowry-X
2001 CPM-S125V
2001 CPM-S30V
2001 CD#1
2002 S290
2002 CPM-1V
2003 Vanadis 4 Extra
2004 Nitrobe 77
2004 CPM-154
2004 K390
2005 Vanax 35 and 75
2005 K890
2007 CPM-D2
2008 CruForgeV
2009 14C28N
2009 CPM-S35VN
2009 CTS-XHP
2010 CPM-S110V
2010 K490
2010 Z-Wear (CPM-CruWear)
2013 Vanax
2014 BD1N
2015 Vanadis 8
2017 Nitro-V
2019 M398
2019 CPM-S45VN
2020 Vancron
2020 CPM-SPY27
2021 MagnaCut
2022 H2
2022 ApexUltra
2022 VG XEOS
2023 SPG STRIX
2024 Nitro-X7
2024 K888
2025 Pops ProCut

I was just writing a reply to justinstone20's question about why no one had tried to design an all-around good steel specifically for the knife industry and I guess the forum must have ate it, but weirdly I was trying to find a list of which steels were created specifically for the knife industry and which were just improved upon.

For example, 14C28N... Kershaw asked Sandvik to make that specifically for them, but it was basically a tweak if 13C26N right?

I can't really think of many steels that were created just for the knife industry, that's weren't just minor modifications.

Which if your list fit that bill?

P.S.
I have been meaning to buy your book that would probably answer my question

[Larrin]

I was just writing a reply to justinstone20's question about why no one had tried to design an all-around good steel specifically for the knife industry and I guess the forum must have ate it, but weirdly I was trying to find a list of which steels were created specifically for the knife industry and which were just improved upon.

For example, 14C28N... Kershaw asked Sandvik to make that specifically for them, but it was basically a tweak if 13C26N right?

I can't really think of many steels that were created just for the knife industry, that's weren't just minor modifications.

Which if your list fit that bill?

P.S.
I have been meaning to buy your book that would probably answer my question

The first commercial stainless steel was 420. The patent for the steel is titled, “Cutlery.” Not even alloy for cutlery but just “Cutlery.” That steel was invented around 1912. Early stainless steels were all associated with knives. https://patents.google.com/patent/US1197256A/

If we go back further than this there were simple carbon steels optimized for knives and all as “cutlery steel” in the late 1800s. Those were the same as other carbon steels but in the carbon range the manufacturers wanted and the right dimensions, etc.

But if we go back to the beginnings of steel you could argue the very earliest steels were made for knives and swords. There is no first knife steel. The first steel was knife steel.

When I was first getting into knives around 2001 they released S30V and it was being promoted as the first steel designed for knives. I guess the claims will never end.

[Mage7]

But if we go back to the beginnings of steel you could argue the very earliest steels were made for knives and swords. There is no first knife steel. The first steel was knife steel.

Ha, I never thought of it that way! Surprising because I remember reading a book called, "Guns, Germs and Steel," for an anthropology class that covered that pretty well.

Yeah I was reading your blog post about the history of S30V and its kind of interesting how it seems like it was all the inspiration of what seemed like campfire/coffee-table banter. Were there many others between S30V and MagnaCut that hit that sort of marketing strategy?

I find it interesting that there's seemed to be this dual circumstance of the knife industry supposedly not being big enough for steel companies to want to produce for, but yet we do seem to see a ton of formulations and renditions specifically for cutlery.

[Evil D]

Crucible hadn't developed new knife steels for several years after their bankruptcy in 2009. They then released several steels in short succession starting with CPM-S45VN in 2019 followed by SPY27 in 2020 and MagnaCut in 2021. It could be argued that Crucible was not leading the development of knife steels at least in terms of volume of new products.

The following list shows some key steels used in knives along with an approximate date for each. If a "golden age" existed I would vote for 1900-1940 as that was the period during which many of the major alloying categories were created including high speed steel, stainless steel, and most of the common tool steel types like O1, A2, and D2. There are many steels that were developed in this time period I have not included just because they wouldn't be that common in knives. Since the late 1980s there has been a new steel released virtually every year that has been or is being used in knives. However, not all of these are "major developments" (according to my estimation), meaning some of those are relatively minor composition changes to earlier steels. One example would be Nitro-V, which is basically AEB-L with a small addition of vanadium and nitrogen. Other steels may have relatively unique compositions but were designed to fit the same niche as prior products. An example of this would be Maxamet which is a 70 Rc high speed steel with 6% vanadium released in 2000, but ASP60 is also a 70 Rc high speed steel with 6% vanadium and it came out around 1975. Some steels are simply powder metallurgy versions of earlier conventional steels, such as RWL-34/CPM-154 (154CM/ATS-34), CPM-3V (Vasco Die), CPM-D2 (D2).

Year Steel
1902 F2
1905 O1
1905 52100
1907 O7
1908 O2
1912 D3
1912 420
1924 1.4116
1924 440A
1926 AEB-H
1928 D2
1930 440C
1932 S5
1937 M2
1937 T15
1938 M4
1938 A2
1953 S7
1957 154CM
1959 BG42
1960 Chipper knife steel (A8 mod)
1964 12C27
1964 Vasco Die
1968 AEB-L
1968 AUS-4 and AUS-6
1970 Powder Metallurgy
1970 ASP30 (Rex 45)
1972 Vasco Wear
1975 ASP60 (Vanadis 60)
1970s AUS-8
1976 CPM-10V
1980 VG10
1982 Cobalt Special
1983 CPM-S60V
1987 Vanadis 4 (non-extra)
1988 M390
1989 Niolox
1990 Elmax
1991 CPM-15V
1991 Cronidur 30 (LC200N)
1993 440-XH
1995 CPM-S90V
1995 RWL-34
1997 CPM-3V
1997 Rex 121 and Rex 86
1998 Super Gold 2
1988 ATS-55
1999 Vancron 40
2000 Maxamet
2000 ZDP-189 and Cowry-X
2001 CPM-S125V
2001 CPM-S30V
2001 CD#1
2002 S290
2002 CPM-1V
2003 Vanadis 4 Extra
2004 Nitrobe 77
2004 CPM-154
2004 K390
2005 Vanax 35 and 75
2005 K890
2007 CPM-D2
2008 CruForgeV
2009 14C28N
2009 CPM-S35VN
2009 CTS-XHP
2010 CPM-S110V
2010 K490
2010 Z-Wear (CPM-CruWear)
2013 Vanax
2014 BD1N
2015 Vanadis 8
2017 Nitro-V
2019 M398
2019 CPM-S45VN
2020 Vancron
2020 CPM-SPY27
2021 MagnaCut
2022 H2
2022 ApexUltra
2022 VG XEOS
2023 SPG STRIX
2024 Nitro-X7
2024 K888
2025 Pops ProCut

Very cool list, thanks for putting that together. I know many of those steels but never knew their age.

[Brock O Lee]

I'd rather spyderco stop goofing around with carbon tool steels in folders, run every model in a salt version like the millie 2 & manix xl, and leave it at that.

This is an interesting take, Vivi.

A very narrow take…

It is precisely Spyderco’s “goofing around” with different steels that brings me back for more. No other knife manufacturer on the planet gives us this variety.

[vivi]

I'd rather spyderco stop goofing around with carbon tool steels in folders, run every model in a salt version like the millie 2 & manix xl, and leave it at that.

This is an interesting take, Vivi.

A very narrow take…

It is precisely Spyderco’s “goofing around” with different steels that brings me back for more. No other knife manufacturer on the planet gives us this variety.

not narrow, just honest. different strokes. I'd trade every maxamet and 15V model run so far for a magnacut police.

[Larrin]

Very cool list, thanks for putting that together. I know many of those steels but never knew their age.

Making the list was a lot easier after writing the book.

[JARHEAD]

I'd rather spyderco stop goofing around with carbon tool steels in folders, run every model in a salt version like the millie 2 & manix xl, and leave it at that.

This is an interesting take, Vivi.

A very narrow take…

It is precisely Spyderco’s “goofing around” with different steels that brings me back for more. No other knife manufacturer on the planet gives us this variety.

not narrow, just honest. different strokes. I'd trade every maxamet and 15V model run so far for a magnacut police.

Really like the Police magnacut idea. G10 of course!

[JoviAl]

Very cool list, thanks for putting that together. I know many of those steels but never knew their age.

Making the list was a lot easier after writing the book.

Possibly the most boss comment ever written on a forum brilliant!

[JoviAl]

As for supersteels I find myself in agreement with Vivi - corrosion resistance (or functional imperviousness) is the deal breaker for me over all other factors. Edge retention is nice, but sharpening Magnacut and H1/2 is a breeze with a CBN double stuff and 5 mins. I enjoy using my 15V Shaman and my smorgasbord of CPM Cruwear and K390 knives, but for my work tools Magnacut (and SE H1) is hard to beat.

[sal]

Hi Jarhead,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

[LorenzoL]

Crucible hadn't developed new knife steels for several years after their bankruptcy in 2009. They then released several steels in short succession starting with CPM-S45VN in 2019 followed by SPY27 in 2020 and MagnaCut in 2021. It could be argued that Crucible was not leading the development of knife steels at least in terms of volume of new products.

The following list shows some key steels used in knives along with an approximate date for each. If a "golden age" existed I would vote for 1900-1940 as that was the period during which many of the major alloying categories were created including high speed steel, stainless steel, and most of the common tool steel types like O1, A2, and D2. There are many steels that were developed in this time period I have not included just because they wouldn't be that common in knives. Since the late 1980s there has been a new steel released virtually every year that has been or is being used in knives. However, not all of these are "major developments" (according to my estimation), meaning some of those are relatively minor composition changes to earlier steels. One example would be Nitro-V, which is basically AEB-L with a small addition of vanadium and nitrogen. Other steels may have relatively unique compositions but were designed to fit the same niche as prior products. An example of this would be Maxamet which is a 70 Rc high speed steel with 6% vanadium released in 2000, but ASP60 is also a 70 Rc high speed steel with 6% vanadium and it came out around 1975. Some steels are simply powder metallurgy versions of earlier conventional steels, such as RWL-34/CPM-154 (154CM/ATS-34), CPM-3V (Vasco Die), CPM-D2 (D2).

Year Steel
1902 F2
1905 O1
1905 52100
1907 O7
1908 O2
1912 D3
1912 420
1924 1.4116
1924 440A
1926 AEB-H
1928 D2
1930 440C
1932 S5
1937 M2
1937 T15
1938 M4
1938 A2
1953 S7
1957 154CM
1959 BG42
1960 Chipper knife steel (A8 mod)
1964 12C27
1964 Vasco Die
1968 AEB-L
1968 AUS-4 and AUS-6
1970 Powder Metallurgy
1970 ASP30 (Rex 45)
1972 Vasco Wear
1975 ASP60 (Vanadis 60)
1970s AUS-8
1976 CPM-10V
1980 VG10
1982 Cobalt Special
1983 CPM-S60V
1987 Vanadis 4 (non-extra)
1988 M390
1989 Niolox
1990 Elmax
1991 CPM-15V
1991 Cronidur 30 (LC200N)
1993 440-XH
1995 CPM-S90V
1995 RWL-34
1997 CPM-3V
1997 Rex 121 and Rex 86
1998 Super Gold 2
1988 ATS-55
1999 Vancron 40
2000 Maxamet
2000 ZDP-189 and Cowry-X
2001 CPM-S125V
2001 CPM-S30V
2001 CD#1
2002 S290
2002 CPM-1V
2003 Vanadis 4 Extra
2004 Nitrobe 77
2004 CPM-154
2004 K390
2005 Vanax 35 and 75
2005 K890
2007 CPM-D2
2008 CruForgeV
2009 14C28N
2009 CPM-S35VN
2009 CTS-XHP
2010 CPM-S110V
2010 K490
2010 Z-Wear (CPM-CruWear)
2013 Vanax
2014 BD1N
2015 Vanadis 8
2017 Nitro-V
2019 M398
2019 CPM-S45VN
2020 Vancron
2020 CPM-SPY27
2021 MagnaCut
2022 H2
2022 ApexUltra
2022 VG XEOS
2023 SPG STRIX
2024 Nitro-X7
2024 K888
2025 Pops ProCut

Super interesting, as always. Thanks.

[James Y]

Crucible hadn't developed new knife steels for several years after their bankruptcy in 2009. They then released several steels in short succession starting with CPM-S45VN in 2019 followed by SPY27 in 2020 and MagnaCut in 2021. It could be argued that Crucible was not leading the development of knife steels at least in terms of volume of new products.

The following list shows some key steels used in knives along with an approximate date for each. If a "golden age" existed I would vote for 1900-1940 as that was the period during which many of the major alloying categories were created including high speed steel, stainless steel, and most of the common tool steel types like O1, A2, and D2. There are many steels that were developed in this time period I have not included just because they wouldn't be that common in knives. Since the late 1980s there has been a new steel released virtually every year that has been or is being used in knives. However, not all of these are "major developments" (according to my estimation), meaning some of those are relatively minor composition changes to earlier steels. One example would be Nitro-V, which is basically AEB-L with a small addition of vanadium and nitrogen. Other steels may have relatively unique compositions but were designed to fit the same niche as prior products. An example of this would be Maxamet which is a 70 Rc high speed steel with 6% vanadium released in 2000, but ASP60 is also a 70 Rc high speed steel with 6% vanadium and it came out around 1975. Some steels are simply powder metallurgy versions of earlier conventional steels, such as RWL-34/CPM-154 (154CM/ATS-34), CPM-3V (Vasco Die), CPM-D2 (D2).

Year Steel
1902 F2
1905 O1
1905 52100
1907 O7
1908 O2
1912 D3
1912 420
1924 1.4116
1924 440A
1926 AEB-H
1928 D2
1930 440C
1932 S5
1937 M2
1937 T15
1938 M4
1938 A2
1953 S7
1957 154CM
1959 BG42
1960 Chipper knife steel (A8 mod)
1964 12C27
1964 Vasco Die
1968 AEB-L
1968 AUS-4 and AUS-6
1970 Powder Metallurgy
1970 ASP30 (Rex 45)
1972 Vasco Wear
1975 ASP60 (Vanadis 60)
1970s AUS-8
1976 CPM-10V
1980 VG10
1982 Cobalt Special
1983 CPM-S60V
1987 Vanadis 4 (non-extra)
1988 M390
1989 Niolox
1990 Elmax
1991 CPM-15V
1991 Cronidur 30 (LC200N)
1993 440-XH
1995 CPM-S90V
1995 RWL-34
1997 CPM-3V
1997 Rex 121 and Rex 86
1998 Super Gold 2
1988 ATS-55
1999 Vancron 40
2000 Maxamet
2000 ZDP-189 and Cowry-X
2001 CPM-S125V
2001 CPM-S30V
2001 CD#1
2002 S290
2002 CPM-1V
2003 Vanadis 4 Extra
2004 Nitrobe 77
2004 CPM-154
2004 K390
2005 Vanax 35 and 75
2005 K890
2007 CPM-D2
2008 CruForgeV
2009 14C28N
2009 CPM-S35VN
2009 CTS-XHP
2010 CPM-S110V
2010 K490
2010 Z-Wear (CPM-CruWear)
2013 Vanax
2014 BD1N
2015 Vanadis 8
2017 Nitro-V
2019 M398
2019 CPM-S45VN
2020 Vancron
2020 CPM-SPY27
2021 MagnaCut
2022 H2
2022 ApexUltra
2022 VG XEOS
2023 SPG STRIX
2024 Nitro-X7
2024 K888
2025 Pops ProCut

Very cool, thank you for posting that, Larrin. I've now learned that many of those steels have been in existence for MUCH longer than I thought they were.

Jim

[vivi]

As for supersteels I find myself in agreement with Vivi - corrosion resistance (or functional imperviousness) is the deal breaker for me over all other factors. Edge retention is nice, but sharpening Magnacut and H1/2 is a breeze with a CBN double stuff and 5 mins. I enjoy using my 15V Shaman and my smorgasbord of CPM Cruwear and K390 knives, but for my work tools Magnacut (and SE H1) is hard to beat.

I have a bunch of tool steel spydercos ive enjoyed using too. cruwear temp, k390 police, m4 manix xl, 4v manix xl, rex45 chief, etc.

it was fun messing around with those steels, watching patinas develop, etc.

but if I had to choose just one version of each model, hands down it's the salt versions for me.

and, prior to those releasing, I would have gone with dlc s30v military, manix xl, etc. as my one and done for each model I like.

Corrosion resistance is a lot more important to me than edge holding, because for me fighting rust is a lot more work than touching up as edge.

in an ideal world we could order any model in any steel spyderco works with, and choose the scale color too. Custom shop dreams.

With their limited capacity, if I were calling the shots, I'd release 3 versions of the core models in this particular order:

1. Salt version.
2. Budget version (frn & bd1n or something along those lines)
3. premium tool steel version (15V and a special color micarta with uniquely colored hardware)

that said spydercos strategy of offering premium, high end steels in inexpesnive frn folders is pretty cool. it lets people working from all budgets access very high end blade performance. I think my goof around comment came off a bit too broad and negative - I was just expressing what I'd personally rather own.

[James Y]

As for supersteels I find myself in agreement with Vivi - corrosion resistance (or functional imperviousness) is the deal breaker for me over all other factors. Edge retention is nice, but sharpening Magnacut and H1/2 is a breeze with a CBN double stuff and 5 mins. I enjoy using my 15V Shaman and my smorgasbord of CPM Cruwear and K390 knives, but for my work tools Magnacut (and SE H1) is hard to beat.

I have a bunch of tool steel spydercos ive enjoyed using too. cruwear temp, k390 police, m4 manix xl, 4v manix xl, rex45 chief, etc.

it was fun messing around with those steels, watching patinas develop, etc.

but if I had to choose just one version of each model, hands down it's the salt versions for me.

and, prior to those releasing, I would have gone with dlc s30v military, manix xl, etc. as my one and done for each model I like.

Corrosion resistance is a lot more important to me than edge holding, because for me fighting rust is a lot more work than touching up as edge.

in an ideal world we could order any model in any steel spyderco works with, and choose the scale color too. Custom shop dreams.

With their limited capacity, if I were calling the shots, I'd release 3 versions of the core models in this particular order:

1. Salt version.
2. Budget version (frn & bd1n or something along those lines)
3. premium tool steel version (15V and a special color micarta with uniquely colored hardware)

I would love having a Salt version of the Military 2 and the PM2, but unfortunately, the texturing of the G10 at the clips' contact points of those models doesn't look pocket friendly, as if the touch points weren't taken into consideration during the design phase for the texturing.

That said, I very well might one day purchase a Magnacut-bladed Spyderco, if by that time Magnacut is still available. It may not be; in which case, hopefully, there will be an alternative that's pretty much equal in every way to Magnacut by another manufacturer.

Jim

[vivi]

As for supersteels I find myself in agreement with Vivi - corrosion resistance (or functional imperviousness) is the deal breaker for me over all other factors. Edge retention is nice, but sharpening Magnacut and H1/2 is a breeze with a CBN double stuff and 5 mins. I enjoy using my 15V Shaman and my smorgasbord of CPM Cruwear and K390 knives, but for my work tools Magnacut (and SE H1) is hard to beat.

I have a bunch of tool steel spydercos ive enjoyed using too. cruwear temp, k390 police, m4 manix xl, 4v manix xl, rex45 chief, etc.

it was fun messing around with those steels, watching patinas develop, etc.

but if I had to choose just one version of each model, hands down it's the salt versions for me.

and, prior to those releasing, I would have gone with dlc s30v military, manix xl, etc. as my one and done for each model I like.

Corrosion resistance is a lot more important to me than edge holding, because for me fighting rust is a lot more work than touching up as edge.

in an ideal world we could order any model in any steel spyderco works with, and choose the scale color too. Custom shop dreams.

With their limited capacity, if I were calling the shots, I'd release 3 versions of the core models in this particular order:

1. Salt version.
2. Budget version (frn & bd1n or something along those lines)
3. premium tool steel version (15V and a special color micarta with uniquely colored hardware)

I would love having a Salt version of the Military 2 and the PM2, but unfortunately, the texturing of the G10 at the clips' contact points of those models doesn't look pocket friendly, as if the touch points weren't taken into consideration during the design phase for the texturing.

That said, I very well might one day purchase a Magnacut-bladed Spyderco, if by that time Magnacut is still available. It may not be; in which case, hopefully, there will be an alternative that's pretty much equal in every way to Magnacut by another manufacturer.

Jim

I felt exactly the same when I first saw the Military. I was pretty annoyed to see that aspect of the design seemingly overlooked after I raised the issue with long FRN folders like the Police 4 over 5 years ago.

After carrying a Military Salt I wouldn't say that concern is totally unfounded, but I would say you shouldn't let it hold you back from owning one.

The difference between unclipping my Military Salt and my stock G10 Military 2's is absolutely not big enough to not buy the Salt version in my opinion. I'm running my Military Salt with stock scales too - 5 minutes with some 400-600 grit sandpaper would definitely get it as smooth to clip and unclip as a stock model.

I know you don't buy many knives these days - I don't either when it comes to folders. But after trying out this knife, I'd say a Military Salt would be the first folder I'd buy if all my spydies got lost in a fire and I was starting from square 1. I can't recommend it or the PM2 equivalent enough depending on your size preference.