S90V Military

[jaislandboy]

9 percent Vanadium and 2.3 percent Carbon :eek:
better have some diamonds ready for this one

[sovereign]

9 percent Vanadium and 2.3 percent Carbon :eek:
better have some diamonds ready for this one

So, will this be even more difficult to sharpen than 440v?

[kimjune01]

There was a big thread about S90V at Bladeforums some months ago. The less trivial stuff in it were:
440V(aka s60v) was replaced by 420V(aka s90v) in 2002 or so due to its edge-holding superiority.
Knife manufacturers rejected S90V due to its wear resistance(paradoxical, no?) and its tendency to wear out machines/belts that make the knife. Since Spyderco's S60V military, only custom knifemakers and some Microtech's knives were made with S90V. I have no information about any other production knife, if any existed, than the S90V Military now and the Microtechs which had S90V as being in existence.
As of now, out of the stainless steels, S90V is the best edge-holding, non-friction-forged steel.
You should not use Spyderco Sharpmaker's white rods(aluminum oxide) and the brown ones won't work as effectively. You should use the diamond rods or the duckfoot(or any other sharpener that uses diamonds). Use little pressure when using diamonds.
Having that said - S90V should be an excellent EDC for utility and hard use. And I really, really want the s90v Millie.

[Native Justice]

There was a big thread about S90V at Bladeforums some months ago. The less trivial stuff in it were:
440V(aka s60v) was replaced by 420V(aka s90v) in 2002 or so due to its edge-holding superiority.
Knife manufacturers rejected S90V due to its wear resistance(paradoxical, no?) and its tendency to wear out machines/belts that make the knife. Since Spyderco's S60V military, only custom knifemakers and some Microtech's knives were made with S90V. I have no information about any other production knife, if any existed, than the S90V Military now and the Microtechs which had S90V as being in existence.
As of now, out of the stainless steels, S90V is the best edge-holding, non-friction-forged steel.
You should not use Spyderco Sharpmaker's white rods(aluminum oxide) and the brown ones won't work as effectively. You should use the diamond rods or the duckfoot(or any other sharpener that uses diamonds). Use little pressure when using diamonds.
Having that said - S90V should be an excellent EDC for utility and hard use. And I really, really want the s90v Millie.

Me too!

Just an FYI ... The ideal stones for this steel other than the obvious (diamond) is the lowly "SiC" Silicon Carbide (Crystolon, or Carborundom) stone. This inexpensive (under $20 for a full size stone at any home improvement/hardware store) but extremely effective stone is the cat's meow for this steel and doesn't require a tremendous amount of pressure to obtain a killer edge in this fine steel. Get a quality stone in the medium and fine grits (not the coarse/fine combo most of you are accustomed to seeing as the coarse is useless unless you're changing the edge profile and need to regrind the entire edge).

Might be a good excuse to learn freehand if you don't already know how unless you already have access to the diamond SM hones, or Duckfoot stones. Might be nice to see some SiC hones for the SM!

NJ

[kbuzbee]

You should not use Spyderco Sharpmaker's white rods(aluminum oxide) and the brown ones won't work as effectively.

Just an FYI ... The ideal stones for this steel other than the obvious (diamond) is the lowly "SiC" Silicon Carbide (Crystolon, or Carborundom) stone. This inexpensive (under $20 for a full size stone at any home improvement/hardware store) but extremely effective stone is the cat's meow for this steel and doesn't require a tremendous amount of pressure to obtain a killer edge in this fine steel.

Do you guys have more information on this? Why is SC better than the white or brown SM stones?? Are we just talking efficiency here (the SM stones will cut but more slowly than SC??) or is it something more to it??? I have and will use the diamond SM stones but you've made me curious.

Thanks!

Ken

[KaliGman]

I posted a couple of (as usual, very low quality) photographs of my S90V and D2 Milies in the "Military" photo thread. The S90V is interesting. The knife is a few grams lighter than the D2 Milie. I have yet to cut anything with the knife. I was considering this as one of my SD pieces, but am unsure now. For the price, I think the FG CPMD2 Milie might be a better SD option, as edge holding in an SD situation shouldn't be that much of a concern (unless you tick off a whole bunch of bad guys:rolleyes :) . This one may get carried for SD, I may just use the ever living dog snot out of it to see what S90V will do, it might be a safe queen, or I might have one of my collector or martial artist friends talk me out of it. The jury is still out.

[yablanowitz]

Mine just completed its' first full day at work, and I must say I am impressed. One of my routine jobs is repairing cracks in drywall, usually something someone else has botched before :rolleyes: . After using the new Military to remove five layers of latex paint, sprayed on texture, joint compound, joint tape and more joint compound (and discovering the reason for so much mud was a screw that didn't get countersunk) I still had a usable edge. Not shaving sharp by a long shot, but still sharp enough to cut the new fiberglass mesh joint tape and reduce a couple of cardboard boxes to postcard sized pieces for disposal.

This one definitely falls in the "use the ever living dog snot out of it" group.

[kimjune01]

This should clear up most questions about S90V and the Sharpmaker
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... ?p=3141907
if you're not satisfied, then
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... p?t=200698

[kbuzbee]

This should clear up most questions about S90V and the Sharpmaker
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... ?p=3141907
if you're not satisfied, then
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... p?t=200698

Good articles, Thanks!

Just spent 6 hours changing to a convex edge. Man O man that stuff is tough to sharpen. Should help with any chipping issues (and I kinda like convex edges ;-).

Ken

[kbuzbee]

:spyder: Edge holding is my guess, for people who don't want to sharpen their knives? :confused: :spyder:

Maybe just the opposite?? You have to REALLY enjoy sharpening to tackle this baby..... It ain't no fast touch up knife.

Ken

[Michael Cook]

Maybe just the opposite?? You have to REALLY enjoy sharpening to tackle this baby..... It ain't no fast touch up knife.

Ken

:spyder: Ha! That made me laugh! :) :spyder:

[The Mastiff]

If you take the time to learn it's likes and dislikes, s90V isn't that bad. People talked about ZDP the same way when it first came out. Now it's EDC for lots of people. Thanks to Sal and Spyderco for making this excellent steel available to us without having to spend the big bucks, and long waiting times customs usually mean.

Mine came tighter than any of my other millies. The blade is slightly off when closed. Most wouldn't notice but I have 5 other millies to compare it to. It has broken in a bit, and always did lock perfectly. It's still harder to unlock than all my others but it's acceptable and I imagine whithin Spyderco's specs easily. The sharpener did a wonderfull job with the initial, out of the box edge. Not quite as good as the stretch 2, but still excellent. Better than any I've ever seen from that "Other" company. *cough*

It's a keeper. I still have to admit I like the stretch 2 better though. Joe

[hook63]

my s90v mili came strait but my D2 was a little offcenter I found when I loosend it the blade was strait so I tightened it just enough to so there isn't any play and its almost perfect. I touched up the s90v on the sarpmaker and it worked fine for that. Sal said something about some new stones coming out this year I wonder of they will be for the sharpmaker and work better for s90 and zdp?

[kbuzbee]

If you take the time to learn it's likes and dislikes, s90V isn't that bad. People talked about ZDP the same way when it first came out. Now it's EDC for lots of people. Thanks to Sal and Spyderco for making this excellent steel available to us without having to spend the big bucks, and long waiting times customs usually mean.

Amen to that. I love this knife. After all that time on the mouse pad, it still isn't exactly where I want it. But it's close.

Mine came tighter than any of my other millies. ... It has broken in a bit, and always did lock perfectly. It's still harder to unlock than all my others but it's acceptable and I imagine whithin Spyderco's specs easily.

+1 on both points. Lubing it helped speed along the opening but I've noticed the lock is VERY tight. I have to wonder if that was a response to the occasional grief people give liner locks??

It's a keeper. I still have to admit I like the stretch 2 better though. Joe

Thanks Joe, I'm really trying to convince myself I don't NEED a Stretch 2. YOU'RE NOT HELPING! :D


Ken

[.Chris.]

How many S90V Militaries were made? Anybody know?

[clovisc]

I'm hoping edge holding, for those of use who actually use our knives and don't have time to sharpen them ten times a day

but when you do, it'll take ten times as long... :p

[hickster]

Diamonds are an S90V owners best friend. :D I have a set of course and fine DMT 8x3 plates. They make easy work of S90V. I want to get a 306UF to put that final touch on.
hickster

[A.M.]

I've been EDC'ing my S90V Millie since I bought it. About a month now. It hasn't seen a real use but I can't get it out of my pocket. Personally, I prefer smaller blades 3-3.5" in length and I still think the Millie is too big but I just love it. Part my love for this knife is that the F&F seems a step most (not all) spyders I've owned. Perfect lock up and centered when closed. I've even disassembled once already to clean some sand out of is.

I'm really looking forward to a sprint run Ti/G-10 Millie or CF. That would probably be my ultimate EDC...

Oh, and I find the peel-ply CF scales mesmerizing.

[MCM]

"How many S90V Militaries were made? Anybody know? "

I know of two for sure......

"This has to be a collectors knife, surely no one will EDC this knife"

I didnt know! LOL LOL

Its about my favorite EDC.

Just wanted to air out an older thread........ :)

[yablanowitz]

I have two myself, one to use every day and one to use every day after I lose/wear out/break the first one.

As I recall, it was a 1200 piece Sprint.

I hadn't realized this one has been in my pocket for almost two years already.