Spyderco Forums

Am I correct that even with all the great new alloys of steel, VG10 is still the foundation blade steel used by Spyderco, the default?

Can VG10 itself be improved?

SpyderEdgeForever wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2024 5:51 am

Can VG10 itself be improved?

Yes!

From Spyderco Byte October 2020:
"As a starting point for the new steel, Sal Glesser chose a time-tested Spyderco standard—VG-10 stainless steel. Produced by Takefu Special Steel Company, Limited, VG-10 has long been the trusted blade material for Spyderco’s Japanese-made knives. A cobalt-enriched stainless steel, it offers an outstanding combination of edge holding, toughness, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening, while remaining economical and easily machinable. As a workhorse blade steel for real knife users, VG-10 is tough to beat and is sure to remain a reliable Spyderco standard for many years to come.

Sal’s thought was to take the basic alloy composition of VG-10—a traditional ingot steel—and give it the benefit of Crucible’s particle metallurgy process. Rather than pouring the molten steel into an ingot and rolling it into its finished form, this state-of-the-art method involves rapidly cooling the molten steel with pressurized nitrogen to create a fine powder. This remarkable process “freezes” the alloys of the steel in their perfectly mixed state and helps prevent segregation—the separation of the alloys that inevitably occurs in ingot steel—and ensures an exceptionally fine, uniform grain structure. The powdered steel is then re-heated in high-pressure containers to create ingots that are rolled to toughen the steel and mill it into finished form.

In addition to incorporating the Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM) process, Sal also wanted to fine-tune the alloy mix of the new steel. Working closely with Crucible’s expert metallurgists during more than a year of exhaustive research, development, and testing, Spyderco carefully adjusted the recipe to achieve the optimal balance of qualities we desired. We christened the resulting steel CPM SPY27."

Only Japanese models, and most aren't Japanese

This is absolutely amazing and uplifting info. Thank you! The CPM Spy27 is the new VG10!

phaust wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2024 7:35 am

Only Japanese models, and most aren't Japanese

I feel like most of spydercos models have been manufactured out of Japan, I could be wrong.. but I’d be surprised if I am.

Then there’s VG10 XEOS:

https://forum.spyderco.com/viewtopic.php?t=96664

The foundation steel of Spyderco is Gingami 1. That's the steel they built their reputation on. VG 10 was a later improvement, adopted after about 15 years of manufacturing. For the first 10 years of knife making, Spyderco didn't even have a US facility. Everything was made to their specifications by makers in Japan.

yablanowitz wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2024 8:17 am

The foundation steel of Spyderco is Gingami 1. That's the steel they built their reputation on. VG 10 was a later improvement, adopted after about 15 years of manufacturing. For the first 10 years of knife making, Spyderco didn't even have a US facility. Everything was made to their specifications by makers in Japan.

THIS.

And Spyderco still has MANY models that are made in Japan.

Jim

VG11

Danke wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2024 8:46 am

VG11

yablanowitz wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2024 8:17 am

The foundation steel of Spyderco is Gingami 1. That's the steel they built their reputation on. VG 10 was a later improvement, adopted after about 15 years of manufacturing. For the first 10 years of knife making, Spyderco didn't even have a US facility. Everything was made to their specifications by makers in Japan.

Oh yes. I looked into those and I have an Endura with Gingami 1 or 2 steel. Its very good. I was told though it is like AUS 6 which is not as hard as AUS8 and VG10. Did Spyderco ever use VG1 or only the other guy did?

jwbnyc wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2024 8:13 am

Then there’s VG10 XEOS:

https://forum.spyderco.com/viewtopic.php?t=96664

That is an exciting alloy.

VG10 isn't a foundation of the house. It's more walls and floors.

You're right! VG10 is like the classic rock of Spyderco's steel lineup—still solid, still reliable, and always in rotation. While they've been dropping new steels like a DJ at a metal party, VG10 remains their go-to for many of their flagship models. It’s kind of like their greatest hit, always there when you need it!

Fun fact, the original c54 calypso, one of sals best and most classic folder designs was the first Spydie folder to use vg10
For fixed blade I believe it was the bill moran

Tristan_david2001 wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2024 12:28 pm

Fun fact, the original c54 calypso, one of sals best and most classic folder designs was the first Spydie folder to use vg10
For fixed blade I believe it was the bill moran

Did it catch on after that for more widespread use because customers liked the balance of great properties such as rust resistance, edge holding, good toughness in the field, and reasonable cost?

Also a related question. Even though some of the more current new alloys like MagnaCut and Lc200N have even greater rust resistance and some of the tool steels Spyderco makes use of may have greater edge holding ability, do you think the higher current cost of those alloys will drive knife users to rely on VG10 and BD1N and the budget 8Cr13MoV knives made by Spyderco? I truly wish we could have a MagnaCut folder in the 80 to 100 dollar price range but I understand cost and other factors may prevent that at least for the time being. Also, is the liklihood of an Endura 4 in Spy27 steel low because they already manufacture them with VG10 and there is no justification for making some from CPM Spy27 alloy?

Hi SEF,

Generally speaking if our customers want it, we'll make it.

sal

SpyderEdgeForever wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2024 9:53 am

yablanowitz wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2024 8:17 am

The foundation steel of Spyderco is Gingami 1. That's the steel they built their reputation on. VG 10 was a later improvement, adopted after about 15 years of manufacturing. For the first 10 years of knife making, Spyderco didn't even have a US facility. Everything was made to their specifications by makers in Japan.

Oh yes. I looked into those and I have an Endura with Gingami 1 or 2 steel. Its very good. I was told though it is like AUS 6 which is not as hard as AUS8 and VG10. Did Spyderco ever use VG1 or only the other guy did?

GIN-1/GIN-2 is a much better knife steel than AUS-6.