Spyderco Forums

I have a Manix 2 LW and Sage 5 in Maxamet and 15V beats it hands down. It doesn’t glass out and is so much easier to sharpen, is tougher, and way less chippy off the bat.

I got a LeafJumper on sale the other day and it was a great intro to K390. It seems way more corrosion prone than 15V or Maxamet but as the edge was poop from factory, I had the easiest time sharpening it.

I’d love to see K390 used more in the non-Seki models but I’d also like to see them emulate the Seki heat treatment or turn it over to Shawn Houston. It’s almost as amazing as 15V but it needs that BBB stonewash for corrosion resistance. I think I got pitting on the round hole just from my finger oils.

I will provide this link for validation.

https://arcticknife.com/blog/goodbye-cpm-15v/

The just of it, 15V is going down with Crucible. No more 15V will ever be made. Another interesting tidbit, it's quite possible SPY27 will suffer the same fate.

ProfessorSharp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:43 pm

I will provide this link for validation.

https://arcticknife.com/blog/goodbye-cpm-15v/

The just of it, 15V is going down with Crucible. No more 15V will ever be made. Another interesting tidbit, it's quite possible SPY27 will suffer the same fate.

And REX-121…

...which from the ashes will come new developments and new steels, which (in time) will be better than anything that has come before. I think Magnamax is just the start. Lots of good things to come.

ProfessorSharp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:43 pm

I will provide this link for validation.

https://arcticknife.com/blog/goodbye-cpm-15v/

The just of it, 15V is going down with Crucible. No more 15V will ever be made. Another interesting tidbit, it's quite possible SPY27 will suffer the same fate.

There is one major problem with that article "Posted by Harley on 13th May 2025" - Goodbye CPM 15V

The part where he writes about 15V: "It requires extremely high smelting temperatures and specialised equipment that, up until now, only Crucible Industries had." - Is simply not a true statement.

Red Leader wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 7:08 pm

...which from the ashes will come new developments and new steels, which (in time) will be better than anything that has come before. I think Magnamax is just the start. Lots of good things to come.

You're right. Our great granddaddies were sitting around wringing their hands about the collapse of the buggy whip industry and cast iron engine blocks. How many things were the shizz in our lifetimes that are now ridiculous? VHS tapes? Carburetors? Typewriters? All those things are gone, and have been replaced by things that are a thousand times better. Don't for a minute assume that metallurgy has come to a screeching halt. It's shifted into eighth gear and stomped on the gas. Onward!

ProfessorSharp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:43 pm

I will provide this link for validation.

https://arcticknife.com/blog/goodbye-cpm-15v/

The just of it, 15V is going down with Crucible. No more 15V will ever be made. Another interesting tidbit, it's quite possible SPY27 will suffer the same fate.

Kinda hard to stow my cynicism that this person is just trying to capitalize on FUD and FOMO

FOMO or not, I stocked up accordingly. There are only a few select supersteels at the very top. They do not change often. They are not easy to find in a model you like, even when you are willing to pay serious custom money.

A few stars aligned to give us 15V with an optimised heat treatment, good hardness, in a few popular models, at production prices. Some were even discounted!

You have to strike the iron while it's hot, or wait a decade for another opportunity. I remember 10 years ago (2015) I passed on CPM-10V in the Farid Mehr K2...

Some things "gone forever" really jump in value. As a car guy, I can state the: '57 Chevy, '58 Porsche Super Speedster, AC Ace Bristol, etc.

A Spyderco "PIG" model sold new for $50 MSRP in '84 and I've seen them go for $1K?

sal

SteveMidwest wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:35 pm

ProfessorSharp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:43 pm

I will provide this link for validation.

https://arcticknife.com/blog/goodbye-cpm-15v/

The just of it, 15V is going down with Crucible. No more 15V will ever be made. Another interesting tidbit, it's quite possible SPY27 will suffer the same fate.

There is one major problem with that article "Posted by Harley on 13th May 2025" - Goodbye CPM 15V

The part where he writes about 15V: "It requires extremely high smelting temperatures and specialised equipment that, up until now, only Crucible Industries had." - Is simply not a true statement.

I thought that I remember reading that it was the atomization temp required of 15V, that only Crucible had, was the main reason for the steel’s demise? I thought that this info had come straight from Sal/Larrin/Shawn?

sal wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 18, 2025 9:10 am

Some things "gone forever" really jump in value. As a car guy, I can state the: '57 Chevy, '58 Porsche Super Speedster, AC Ace Bristol, etc.

A Spyderco "PIG" model sold new for $50 MSRP in '84 and I've seen them go for $1K?

sal

These purchases this year are in part because you said you don’t think we will see these steels being around in the future. Not to make money on them but to have before they are gone and can’t be purchased at a reasonable price.

Red Leader wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 18, 2025 10:12 am

SteveMidwest wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:35 pm

ProfessorSharp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:43 pm

I will provide this link for validation.

https://arcticknife.com/blog/goodbye-cpm-15v/

The just of it, 15V is going down with Crucible. No more 15V will ever be made. Another interesting tidbit, it's quite possible SPY27 will suffer the same fate.

There is one major problem with that article "Posted by Harley on 13th May 2025" - Goodbye CPM 15V

The part where he writes about 15V: "It requires extremely high smelting temperatures and specialised equipment that, up until now, only Crucible Industries had." - Is simply not a true statement.

I thought that I remember reading that it was the atomization temp required of 15V, that only Crucible had, was the main reason for the steel’s demise? I thought that this info had come straight from Sal/Larrin/Shawn?

Agree, i just can’t remember where I read it.

WilliamMunny wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 18, 2025 10:40 am

Red Leader wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 18, 2025 10:12 am

SteveMidwest wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:35 pm

ProfessorSharp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:43 pm

I will provide this link for validation.

https://arcticknife.com/blog/goodbye-cpm-15v/

The just of it, 15V is going down with Crucible. No more 15V will ever be made. Another interesting tidbit, it's quite possible SPY27 will suffer the same fate.

There is one major problem with that article "Posted by Harley on 13th May 2025" - Goodbye CPM 15V

The part where he writes about 15V: "It requires extremely high smelting temperatures and specialised equipment that, up until now, only Crucible Industries had." - Is simply not a true statement.

I thought that I remember reading that it was the atomization temp required of 15V, that only Crucible had, was the main reason for the steel’s demise? I thought that this info had come straight from Sal/Larrin/Shawn?

Agree, i just can’t remember where I read it.

You know, I think it just might have been in that video where Dr Thomas interviewed Bob Shabala of Niagra Specialty Metals. I’d have to go back and watch it, but I think that is the source.


BTW you have good taste. I have also picked up the 15V Manix LW and have the Sage in R121. I’m glad you found one! I still think I am going to keep an eye out at the 2nds sale for one because surely some other Spydie Afi may be in your position in the future and not be able to find one. We’ll see! I found 2 last year in total and put one back, can’t horde em all hah!

Jayrod1980 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2025 1:14 am

Please consider making this a regular steel offering for my wallet and sanity’s sake. I’ve already purchased 3 models in the last couple of months and probably will own every release of it this year. Spyderco’s stonewash is my absolute favorite and the only finish offered that hides scratches that inevitably come from actually using a knife. If I had my way it would be the default finish, but I digress.

Yeah, feel the same. The 15v edge retention mixed with the stonewashed finish turns it into a perfect marriage. To date I've picked up a para3, microjimbo, and manix2 LW in this steel. As others have said, the future seems uncertain, so the default behavior seems to be "stock up" while you can. The prices are amazing, if you ask me. MidwayUSA for example has most of the 15v models in stock and 20% off right now with a standard coupon. I just bought a 2nd 15v manix2 LW for $120. Smoke em if you got em!

Hi MOPs_Overlord,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

I get that people have favorite steels du jour but just a friendly reminder that an even better steel is right around the corner.

sal wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 18, 2025 12:17 pm

Hi MOPs_Overlord,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

Hey Sal! Big fan!

zhyla wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 18, 2025 1:48 pm

I get that people have favorite steels du jour but just a friendly reminder that an even better steel is right around the corner.

How dare you! Let us blissfully soak in all 15 of the V's! In all seriousness, yeah you're probably right, but we'll cross that bridge if/when.

zhyla wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 18, 2025 1:48 pm

I get that people have favorite steels du jour but just a friendly reminder that an even better steel is right around the corner.

Yeah, but maybe they'll take a long time to make it in a model I want (if ever). Or maybe it'll only be available from one Spyderco factory. Or maybe better on paper won't be better in the real world. Or maybe I won't like the way it sharpens. Or maybe Spyderco picks a weird color for that steel. Or....

Hey Skywalker,

Maybe you'll like it?

sal

sal wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 18, 2025 7:37 pm

Hey Skywalker,

Maybe you'll like it?

sal

I'm looking forward to the opportunity to try it out... And picking up K390 and 15V as I can afford it in the meantime