Spyderco Forums

The upcoming Stretch XL will have VG10 Damascus and wonder if others would care to share their thoughts of this steel and experience ? MG2

Ummm...is this a play on the Wolverine claws? I'm guessing the upcoming Sprint will be like all the other damascus sprints, cosmetic layers over a VG-10 core. Performance is the same as the regular VG-10, which I would think you're familiar with by now.

It is basically a san mai using damascus as the outer layers over a vg10 core. That is the beauty of it.

Looks : subjectively nicer to some

Performance : subjectively better to some (if you grind primary bevels to thin it will be easier), subjectively worse to some (WAY easier to bend the knife and take a set because of the soft steel layers compared to homogenous hardened steel). The core steel itself is likely very similar performance wise to standard VG-10 assuming it's given the same heat treatment (perhaps not).

yablanowitz wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 18, 2023 7:58 am

Ummm...is this a play on the Wolverine claws? I'm guessing the upcoming Sprint will be like all the other damascus sprints, cosmetic layers over a VG-10 core. Performance is the same as the regular VG-10, which I would think you're familiar with by now.

No , just asking in reference to the steel as far as performance and corrosion resistance . I guessed performance should be same but just curious how the outer layer holds up over time . Thanks Yab . MG2

Since the core is VG-10, it's basically a VG-10 blade and will perform as such. So, if you like VG-10 and like the look of Japanese damascus with an extremely high contrast etch, then you'll like it. Otherwise, not so much. Personally, I love VG-10, not crazy about the look of Japanese damascus, and am even less fond of the high contrast etch.

The Deacon wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:32 am

Since the core is VG-10, it's basically a VG-10 blade and will perform as such. So, if you like VG-10 and like the look of Japanese damascus with an extremely high contrast etch, then you'll like it. Otherwise, not so much. Personally, I love VG-10, not crazy about the look of Japanese damascus, and am even less fond of the high contrast etch.

Thank you Deacon , I have mixed feelings myself. Hope all is well . MG2

I actually like the looks of the VG10 Damascus, and more importantly, my wife loves it. I also like VG10 as a knife steel. I keep putting a knife in my cart and then something comes up to keep me from getting it. Now the exchange rate is terrible, so its a no go for now...again.

i don't carry mine often, but i haven't had any corrosion issues with it. it's basically vg10.

The Deacon wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:32 am

Since the core is VG-10, it's basically a VG-10 blade and will perform as such. So, if you like VG-10 and like the look of Japanese damascus with an extremely high contrast etch, then you'll like it. Otherwise, not so much. Personally, I love VG-10, not crazy about the look of Japanese damascus, and am even less fond of the high contrast etch.

I like high-contrast Japanese damascus, but I think it would look better with gray G-10 scales than with blue Nishijin. I like the blue Nishijin, but I think it would look better with a satin CruWear blade than with high-contrast damascus. I could be wrong, but I plan to find out. Either way, I'm pretty stoked.

Oh, and I'm excited that the base steel is VG-10.

I really like the VG-MAX Damascus on my Shun chef’s knife. I think that Spyderco’s damascus San mai looks nicer. I think you’ll like it just fine on the nishijin sprint, Dan.

Bought this for a song on the secondary market. Previous owner hit a large staple while cutting up cardboard and didn’t feel like fooling around so it became my project. Lost a lot of steel but it sharpened up nicely and has seen quite a bit of use.

Hopsbreath wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 19, 2023 10:07 am

[img]https://i.imgur.com/DS3aSes.jpg[]
Bought this for a song on the secondary market. Previous owner hit a large staple while cutting up cardboard and didn’t feel like fooling around so it became my project. Lost a lot of steel but it sharpened up nicely and has seen quite a bit of use.

To my eye, that looks much better than the factory high contrast etch.

Enactive wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 19, 2023 10:43 am

Hopsbreath wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 19, 2023 10:07 am

[img]https://i.imgur.com/DS3aSes.jpg[]
Bought this for a song on the secondary market. Previous owner hit a large staple while cutting up cardboard and didn’t feel like fooling around so it became my project. Lost a lot of steel but it sharpened up nicely and has seen quite a bit of use.

To my eye, that looks much better than the factory high contrast etch.

Mine, too. The high-contrast etch is garish; I prefer a more subtle Damascus pattern.

Looks cool