15v v k390

[kobold]

Now I ordered a K390 wharnie Endela. Thanks

[BeggarSo]

While the above data provide a good starting point, keep in mind that Larrin's tests use CATRA and knife blanks with very specific geometry and very controlled motion. Also, CATRA tests measure cutting performance using silica-embedded cardstock. Since pretty much none of us use that exact same geometry, nor precisely controlled cutting motion, nor do we go around cutting silica-embedded cardstock, your mileage may vary, and the rankings might not be the same as shown above.

Spyderco does and while we are tossing names about I herby invoke Sal, who has said many times we go by our own findings.

Without doubt or reservation while others are authorities in there respective fields, I will defer to what Spyderco produces and what Sal has to say.

Maybe Sal will chime in on the collaborative 15V KNIVES with BBB or maybe BBB will. I am certain they broke out the ol card slicer on there stuff.

They have the machine so it's hard to believe they didn't.

[Wowbagger]

"one measurement . . ." and all that
Tells me it is ok to do this to the top two knife blades , M4 and K390 , respectively
but
not
do that to the bottom 15V knife . I must emphasize this leaf shape is the PERFECT shape for this 15V blade and I would not change a thing . The edge geometry was pretty much perfect and SHARP ( ! ) from the factory . A master piece !

As far as patina and 15V ; the Manix has a beautiful Blue patina that I can not begin to capture in my image .
The whole patina is varying shades of blue and very little dark gray ; sorry my image sucks so bad .

I recommend patina on 15V !

PS: you probably didn't tell it from my images (these and past ones) but (hahaha) I am kind of stuck on black handled knives (mechanic's hands and all that ; very unsightly) so . . . black just works out better . . . after all , can't be washing non stainless bladed knives all the dambed time .

[Wowbagger]

Now I ordered a K390 wharnie Endela. Thanks

HECK YES !

[Wowbagger]

One of my favorite quotes is : One measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions .

From Dr . Larrin Thomas's Web Site :
https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/10/19/ ... esistance/

17735422707891975092522743920611.jpg

Just keep in mind that Larrin hasn't tested BBB 15V, so it should be better than those ratings.

Welllllll !
The layabout !
Let's Geeteer done !!
I had to poke him with a pointy stick to test M4

honestly

(((Dr. Thomas : you know I'm kidding . We love ya' )))

[Wowbagger]

How can anyone honestly say harder to sharpen? I sharpen REX121 very easily

. . . well . . .
you did . See below .
(((maybe you were just lying to me)))
I can forgive you for that .
Quick ; tell me one of my favorite lies .

I don't think so. With button CL you have reversed lock, like regular CL for lefties and probably blade surface on tang is machined to match that direction.

Yes this is true I compaired them. = No blade Swap. I like SPY27 better than REX 121. It is very stubborn stuff to do touch ups on.

I only bussssyouout cause you don't love my stove as much as we do .

[BeggarSo]

Dang what a fine beauty. :) and yes REX121 is more stubborn. 🫏

[sal]

Both blade-steels are exceptional and are an oddity in the industry.

Shawn's 15V is a it of an anomaly. It looks like we won't be able to get more of it due to Crucible's bankruptcy. So if you want a sample of Shawn's special 15V, I would say to get it while you can.

K390 was not a steel being used when I first found it, (looking at the chemistry). It took a long time to actually get, test and use it in production. It is still available and we'll use it as long as you want it.

REX 121 is another oddball that will probably not be available in the future. It's also exceptional in it's cutting performance. None of these steels are great at corrosion resistance so care must be taken to keep them clean.

I don't know that there are any other companies using these steels at tis time.

sal

[BeggarSo]

Hey Sal any chance of getting an SE Stretch2XL in K390?

[Wowbagger]

Dang what a fine beauty. :) and yes REX121 is more stubborn. 🫏

May West .
Before your time ; but perhaps not before mine .
Hey what ?

Check out her movies ; some with WC Fields !

Here is a quote
May West to her handmaiden Beaulah :
"Beulah . . . peal me a grape ."
There is even a super good jazz song by that name . See Diana Krall (Diana married Elvis Costello) .

Here is another of her quotes that I just love :
Judge : Young lady are you showing contempt for this court !
May West : No your honor . I'm doing my best to hide it .

[Wowbagger]

Both . . . are an oddity in the industry.

as am I !
Must be why we are drawn to each other .

REX 121 . . .

I don't know that there are any other companies using these steels at tis time.

Phil Wilson ? ? ?

[Wowbagger]

K390 . . . It took a long time to actually get, test and use it in production.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSISTENCE !
And for making it so easily available and affordable in a wide range of sizes .

[Jimandchris2]

Hooah! K390 has been chosen!

[Bill1170]

I love my K390 SE Endura, and look forward to the day when Magnamax is in production and we can test its merits relative to K390. Stainlessness is nice to have.

[salimoneus]

Shawn's 15V is a it of an anomaly. It looks like we won't be able to get more of it due to Crucible's bankruptcy. So if you want a sample of Shawn's special 15V, I would say to get it while you can.

Most important bit of info you could ask for right there regarding this topic.

[Actinolite]

No SE 15v though.
SE K390 is where it's at.

I'd love to see SE 15v. (I know this will never happen from the factory, but would be cool to try)

I have a LeafJumper K390 SE. It cuts cardboard, rope, hoses, beautifully, and it just keeps cutting. Now for the downside. While I find sharpening most SE knives quite quick and easy with a Sharp Maker (especially the Chaparral and the new Gooney), I can't say the same about the Leafjumper. The edge angle is close to 20 degrees (not a problem), but the serrations are relatively small and steeply cut compared to others I have. Combine that with K390, and I find sharpening to be a challenge. It takes more patience.

[BeggarSo]

Might want to get the CBN rods and tame those teeth.

[cabfrank]

I feel like I should get a set too.

[BeggarSo]

I have the CBN rods for the sharpmaker and the Gauntlet.

I like the way the ones on the Gauntlet work much better, while Sal has said the Gauntlet was not made for Knife people I often find it as good or better than the sharpmaker even though it is a 20 degree system.

Truth of the matter is unless you are using a true fixed angle sharpening system with a digicube the angles are arbitrary to a large extent as the way you hold the knife changes the angle.

[lambertiana]

...I’m considering trying out 15v. What should I expect as differences between that and my k390?

My subjective opinion based on several months of use on both. A K390 Endela wharncliffe and a 15V Manix. I used both in the same role, to cut mostly cardboard and packaging every other day for household recycling. Not EDC, just recycle duty. I used the Endela for perhaps a year in this role, and the Manix for about 6 months.

They both stayed sharp for a loooong time. I could go about 3 months on each before I felt like they needed fresh edges. In that time I did not touch the edges, no stropping, no micro-bevels. They were both running 1000 grit diamond edges, at 15 dps. Initially, both factory edges did not last long, but that was not unexpected. Also, I had to sharpen the 15V Manix four times (4x complete new edges), before I got stable long lasting perfomance. I don't recall that this was necessary for K390.

Eventually 15V stayed sharp slightly longer than K390, but it was almost too close to call. Say a week or two longer than K390 over a 3 month period. Also, 15V seemed to develop micro-chips more frequently than K390. Nothing serious, just a tiny chip here and there that I could feel with a fingernail as the edge wore down. Not impact related that I recall. I don't recall seeing micro chipping on K390.

Despite these minor differences, they were for all practical purposes interchangable in that role. I liked both. They were both easy to sharpen and to deburr on diamonds. Easier than S30V. If I had to pick only one steel, I'd go with Seki K390, because of the increased toughness. There is not much in it though, pick the model you prefer, whether Seki City K390 or Golden Colorado 15V.

Finally, I much prefer the wharncliffe over the drop point blade shape for cutting cardboard and packaging.





I am well provisioned...

Your results are similar to mine. Granted, 15V is a beast in the CATRA test, and if you are cutting a lot of silica embedded card stock or similar abrasive material, you will definitely notice an improvement with 15V.

But in normal real world use I can't tell any difference, with one exception that I will note later. I recently did a test comparing a K390 Delica and a BBB 15V PM3 LW (also included an S90V N5 LW alongside those two). I cut a mix of cardboard, 3/8" sisal, hard plastic jugs, and seasoned cedar wood. I cut and cut and cut, with each knife cutting a lot more than I normally cut in a year, until my hands were very tired. I don't have carefully controlled jigs to maintain the same angles between the knives while cutting, but that also reflects real world use. The Delica and N5 had my edges on them, and the PM3 had been sharpened by Shawn Houston (and I might add that he can put a fantastic edge on a knife). In the end I couldn't see any significant difference in how much force it took to cut, and the edges were similar sharpness at the end. The only difference I could tell was that with the sisal rope the 15V had more perceived bite at the end, even though the edges were of similar sharpness.

So my take on it is that in normal real world use, you won't see a huge difference either way. But as Sal has said, it doesn't look like they will be getting any more 15V, so if you want to add some to your stable now would be the time.