S30V Support Club

[TomAiello]

This exactly. Nothing wrong with s30v, I just have too many knives already and sometimes I need a little extra encouragement to pick up a new design. Sometimes a new or interesting steel can be the deciding factor.

For me it's kind of the other way. When I'm trying to restrain myself from jumping on the latest cool new knife, I can use "but it's just s30v...I should wait for a sprint in some other steel" to keep myself from impulse buying.

[Albatross]

We’re a strange breed of Knuts, that’s for sure.

I'm into steel, but maybe not that much...

[TomAiello]

It's really funny to see this thread and the LC200N thread right next to each other.

LC200N--next years s30v?

I'm honestly surprised that m390 still seems to hold a lot of appeal in the high end market. I guess not totally, because it's my favorite high end stainless, but it seems like for the average person, s110v would be a better bet. Although, I guess people buying $150 folding knives aren't exactly the average user.

[GarageBoy]

It's painfully average, but let's be honest, most people are barely exploring the limits

M390 is popular because more chromium carbides means easier to sharpen for the average consumer

It's like the difference between a car with good mid end torque and decent horsepower vs a car with no low end torque, but makes lots of hp up top on the Rev range

[JohnDoe99]

It's painfully average, but let's be honest, most people are barely exploring the limits

M390 is popular because more chromium carbides means easier to sharpen for the average consumer

It's like the difference between a car with good mid end torque and decent horsepower vs a car with no low end torque, but makes lots of hp up top on the Rev range

m390 has not an insignificant amount more carbon than s30v, so there's more vanadium and chromium carbide generally speaking. It is harder to grind than s30v. The higher chromium content generally means that m390 is very rust resistant because much of the chromium is "left over" after carbide formation.

s30v is at least as hard as D2, which is used to shred vehicle tires on an industrial scale, among other things. You want to have a relatively high edge angle on these knives. I actually just got a jig sharpening system from DMT and am finally able to really enjoy these ultra hard steels after having taken a prolonged break. The main difficulty is resisting the temptation to jump through your grits too soon before being properly apexed. You cannot rush sharpen these things like 14c28n or even VG-10, let alone 5160 or 1095.

[wrdwrght]

I didn’t get the memo. What’s wrong with S30V, apart from being a rather well-balanced steel, I mean?

[SG89]

I didn’t get the memo. What’s wrong with S30V, apart from being a rather well-balanced steel, I mean?

Every year I notice more and more people not wanting s30v to be the default steel or people saying that they would try such and such new model except they don't like s30v/already have too many knives in s30v

[TomAiello]

I actually think that s30v is a good default steel, striking a good balance of corrosion resistance/toughness/edge holding/price for a normal knife user.

I do wish some of the high end offerings were initially released in higher end steels (for example, I'd love to see the Canis in s90v or 4v) and I actually think they might sell better that way. But I think that for a base level, s30v is great. It's just that some of the high end designs really don't appeal to the 'base model' market at all anyway, so they might as well go straight to the higher end steels. A good example of this is the Watu--really not a mass market knife, straight to a high end steel, very popular.

[WRB]

A good example of this is the Watu--really not a mass market knife, straight to a high end steel, very popular.

I have a Watu heading my way for that very reason. If not for the 20CV I likely would've passed.

I have nothing against S30V (I ordered an Ikuchi the same day), but if I'm buying a more expensive knife I'd like to have a matching steel.

[Ankerson]

I didn’t get the memo. What’s wrong with S30V, apart from being a rather well-balanced steel, I mean?

Nothing at all....

Here is my old and very well used S30V Military...

[Bloke]

We’re a strange breed of Knuts, that’s for sure.

...

Doc, I’ve taken all my piercings out now so you probably wouldn’t even recognise me. My head looks like a sieve. Ah, hahaha, ah, hahaha, ah, hahaha! :eek:

[Shramp]

I'm curious. Does anyone prefer s30v to XHP? I've found XHP to perform surprisingly well.

[Naperville]

Can the Street Beat and Street Bowie be made in S30V? Is it too brittle for a knife like the Street Bowie?

I'd like to see them in 4V...although, I know we are primarily chatting here about S30V. Just throwing ideas out there.

[Tucson Tom]

I'm curious. Does anyone prefer s30v to XHP? I've found XHP to perform surprisingly well.

I don't have any XHP so I can't say. I can't even think of a knife that offers it, but that probably says more about me than the steel and the knives. Nobody uses it. There must be a reason.

[TomAiello]

I'm curious. Does anyone prefer s30v to XHP? I've found XHP to perform surprisingly well.

I don't have any XHP so I can't say. I can't even think of a knife that offers it, but that probably says more about me than the steel and the knives. Nobody uses it. There must be a reason.

Chaparral. It's one of my favorite knives, and it's XHP.

I don't have any straight across apples-to-apples comparison of XHP and s30v. I'd say I prefer XHP, but I might just be saying that I like the Chaparral.

I guess maybe I ought to buy a FFG Manix in s30v and have at it. My only s30v Manix is the old HG, but I do have an XHP Manix I could compare to, if I found myself an s30v and then did some back to back comparisons.

[Naperville]

I'm curious. Does anyone prefer s30v to XHP? I've found XHP to perform surprisingly well.

I don't have any XHP so I can't say. I can't even think of a knife that offers it, but that probably says more about me than the steel and the knives. Nobody uses it. There must be a reason.

I've got some custom made Les George daggers in XHP, and they are very nice. I also have 4 Cold Steel knives in XHP.

[samdasnake]

I'm curious. Does anyone prefer s30v to XHP? I've found XHP to perform surprisingly well.

I love XHP. It’s probably my favorite regular production steel from Spyderco, and the reason I’m chomping at the bit to buy a Hungarian folder! I love my Chap in XHP - It holds a great edge and is easy to sharpen.

[Freediver]

It works. I ain’t complaining.

[Wartstein]

I didn’t get the memo. What’s wrong with S30V, apart from being a rather well-balanced steel, I mean?

Nothing at all....

Here is my old and very well used S30V Military...

... and very often sharpened obviously... Cool! :)

[Ankerson]

I didn’t get the memo. What’s wrong with S30V, apart from being a rather well-balanced steel, I mean?

Nothing at all....

Here is my old and very well used S30V Military...

... and very often sharpened obviously... Cool! :)

Oh yeah, was my primary work knife for YEARS, so it got a lot of use.... :eek: