It seems with CPM S60V, things have changed in recent years especially new batches of CPM S60V versus the original mid to late 1990s batches. So, in reflection of this I have been asked at Sal's request to make him a high performance custom knife to evaluate the current state of CPM S60V thanks to Matt Maola sharing his experience with a CPM S60V I gave him to try.
Honestly,I am quite flattered, perhaps no greater honor than to make a "mule" for the godfather of exotic steel production knives. Sal has certainly spoiled all of us over the years by getting impossible materials into production knives for us edge junkies to play with and to answer the ultimate question: "What is the limit of edge performance?"
My mind raced with what design I was going to make.
Needs to be something pure, a true slicer and cutter.
I looked at my CPM S60V supply and realized I needed a bigger piece for the design I wanted.
CPM steels are very expensive in comparison to more common cast ingot carbon steels.
The EDC community makes up their own value system for knives of different steels that has zero reflection to the actual costs involved in buying materials to make the blades.
For example the piece of CPM S60V I needed cost me $150, that's more than the price then what most regular people spend on a complete knife.
52100 in the same dimensions for example would cost $40
That should really help put into perspective to some people that don't understand the cost involved but that's another topic.
