Triple B 15v collab?

[Spyderfreek]

I recall watching a video where Shawn stated Spyderco was planning to do a production run collab with 15v, and that the sprints were basically an "appetizer" of sorts. Anyone know if that's still the plan? I would love to see 15v as a regular offering.

[sal]

Hi Spyderfreek,

We've got quite a few BBB 15V models planned, though they are Sprints. We'll need more time to decide if we can/will do anything "in-the-line".

sal

[Bolster]

Thanks for the 15V Sal! Eagerly awaiting 15V in a LW Manix, Sage, and/or Caly!

[WilliamMunny]

I recall watching a video where Shawn stated Spyderco was planning to do a production run collab with 15v, and that the sprints were basically an "appetizer" of sorts. Anyone know if that's still the plan? I would love to see 15v as a regular offering.

Please someone correct me if I am wrong but I think the information I have is similar to what you have:

The collaboration is a planed of a knife design involving Shawn using 15V. Back in 2022 I think it was considered but due to lack of production capacity it would take a few years to actually make. This is how the first 15V BBB knife was born, the Manix G-10. It was a way to get the amazing 15V steel out to the public without waiting years for the collaboration.

Now that the factory expansion is complete in Golden I would not be surprised if we did not see it in late 25’ or maybe early 26’.

Total guess on my part, but I know I have money set aside for it.

Hopefully Sal or Shawn can chime in with more details and if the project is still in the works as I know a lot of people are excited for it.

[JSumm]

I recall watching a video where Shawn stated Spyderco was planning to do a production run collab with 15v, and that the sprints were basically an "appetizer" of sorts. Anyone know if that's still the plan? I would love to see 15v as a regular offering.

Please someone correct me if I am wrong but I think the information I have is similar to what you have:

The collaboration is a planed of a knife design involving Shawn using 15V. Back in 2022 I think it was considered but due to lack of production capacity it would take a few years to actually make. This is how the first 15V BBB knife was born, the Manix G-10. It was a way to get the amazing 15V steel out to the public without waiting years for the collaboration.

Now that the factory expansion is complete in Golden I would not be surprised if we did not see it in late 25’ or maybe early 26’.

Total guess on my part, but I know I have money set aside for it.

Hopefully Sal or Shawn can chime in with more details and if the project is still in the works as I know a lot of people are excited for it.

I think you hit it. There is a collab design rumored to be in 15V. This is a new design. Get on down to Blade Show in Atlanta and you can see a bunch of potential designs and talk shop with the Spyderco crew.

[nerdlock]

Wasn't there a prototype already made? I do hope it pushes through.

I fondled essentially every spyderco I have ever considered (and more) at the Shot Show. Probably 30 or more models, and had a surprising revelation.
.....

Liner Locks - Similarly, I hate liner locks (i generally dislike any locks in the blade-closing path), but Shawn had a really interesting prototype skinning knife. Small, like 2.5" blade, big belly, thin, but the main thing was the spydie hole was essentially inside the scale when closed. This lead to a large cutout in the scale that functioned for both spydie hole access, and easy access to the liner lock release. Although I cant say I had an epiphany with LL's like I did with frame locks, I can now say I would consider a knife with one if everything comes together perfectly, which is primarily a larger-than-average lock release cutout. (Its still my least favorite lock but went from Never-ever-buy to When-the-stars-align).

[Red Leader]

I'm newer to the 'enthusiast' side of the knife world as of this year. A lot of my hardcore research led me down the path to 15V, along w/ some others. I'd be curious to know if the chatter around 15V is happened more in smaller, dedicated enthusiast circles, or is more broadly talked about in the industry, ala Magnacut (of course, not to that level yet).

I see a lot of discussion around M390, and it makes sense because that is the defacto go-to 'high end' steel that all the Chinese ti framelocks gravitate to, which are popular right now. I wonder to what level we are seeing discussion around 15V and K390, and heck even K394/10V for that matter. I for one would like to see more support for these steels to be used in production models.

[Soban]

I'm newer to the 'enthusiast' side of the knife world as of this year. A lot of my hardcore research led me down the path to 15V, along w/ some others. I'd be curious to know if the chatter around 15V is happened more in smaller, dedicated enthusiast circles, or is more broadly talked about in the industry, ala Magnacut (of course, not to that level yet).

I see a lot of discussion around M390, and it makes sense because that is the defacto go-to 'high end' steel that all the Chinese ti framelocks gravitate to, which are popular right now. I wonder to what level we are seeing discussion around 15V and K390, and heck even K394/10V for that matter. I for one would like to see more support for these steels to be used in production models.

tool steels in pocket knives are pretty much confined to enthusiasts from what I've seen. all the common chinese steels are stainless with the exception of very cheap D2. majority of blade steels on non-chinese knives are also stainless xCr steels from what I've seen.

[Deadboxhero]

Welcome aboard to the cutting performance side.

Knives mean many things to many people.

If we compare the discussion of PM tool steels to cars it would be more akin to people that are really interested into hot rods and raw performance.

Some folks don't always care at that level of detail about a car. It's just something they need to drive to point A to point B.

We also have folks that care more practical features that contradict raw performance such as comfort, storage capacity, gas milage etc.

So, as far as 15V being a topic for a wider audience and discussion, it might be too niche to bring up in a conversation with Grandma at the dinner table. Sometimes discussing steel is of no interest to even a fellow knife enthusiast; especially folks that only care about cool looking knife shapes and fancy looking handle scales.

I think the knife community as a whole is large enough for different niches to get special attention and there is plenty of special attention for the other aspects of the knife community such as locks, action, handle scales, etc.

However, Spyderco has certainly been able to "scratch the itch" that has long been ignored for people that really care about high performance cutlery.

I've found that folks that are obsessed with sharpening and using their knives are often the folks that may engage in deeper discussions about PM tool steels.

I feel sharpening is a pretty important skill to be able to put some of these differences between these materials into context.

I'm newer to the 'enthusiast' side of the knife world as of this year. A lot of my hardcore research led me down the path to 15V, along w/ some others. I'd be curious to know if the chatter around 15V is happened more in smaller, dedicated enthusiast circles, or is more broadly talked about in the industry, ala Magnacut (of course, not to that level yet).

I see a lot of discussion around M390, and it makes sense because that is the defacto go-to 'high end' steel that all the Chinese ti framelocks gravitate to, which are popular right now. I wonder to what level we are seeing discussion around 15V and K390, and heck even K394/10V for that matter. I for one would like to see more support for these steels to be used in production models.

[Red Leader]

Welcome aboard to the cutting performance side.

Knives mean many things to many people.

If we compare the discussion of PM tool steels to cars it would be more akin to people that are really interested into hot rods and raw performance.

Some folks don't always care at that level of detail about a car. It's just something they need to drive to point A to point B.

We also have folks that care more practical features that contradict raw performance such as comfort, storage capacity, gas milage etc.

So, as far as 15V being a topic for a wider audience and discussion, it might be too niche to bring up in a conversation with Grandma at the dinner table. Sometimes discussing steel is of no interest to even a fellow knife enthusiast; especially folks that only care about cool looking knife shapes and fancy looking handle scales.

I think the knife community as a whole is large enough for different niches to get special attention and there is plenty of special attention for the other aspects of the knife community such as locks, action, handle scales, etc.

However, Spyderco has certainly been able to "scratch the itch" that has long been ignored for people that really care about high performance cutlery.

I've found that folks that are obsessed with sharpening and using their knives are often the folks that may engage in deeper discussions about PM tool steels.

I feel sharpening is a pretty important skill to be able to put some of these differences between these materials into context.

I'm newer to the 'enthusiast' side of the knife world as of this year. A lot of my hardcore research led me down the path to 15V, along w/ some others. I'd be curious to know if the chatter around 15V is happened more in smaller, dedicated enthusiast circles, or is more broadly talked about in the industry, ala Magnacut (of course, not to that level yet).

I see a lot of discussion around M390, and it makes sense because that is the defacto go-to 'high end' steel that all the Chinese ti framelocks gravitate to, which are popular right now. I wonder to what level we are seeing discussion around 15V and K390, and heck even K394/10V for that matter. I for one would like to see more support for these steels to be used in production models.

Thanks! The very first thing I ever saw on 'high performance' steels was your 'kinda sharp' video showing K390 whittling hair. Blew my mind, and since then I had wanted to replace my 10+ year EDC waved Endura w/ a K390 Endela / Stretch 2 as a gift to myself for not losing a sentimental carry piece. Since then I picked up a 15V Mule Team and a Sage 5 R121, but still don't have any K390! To be remedied soon. Grateful for your passion and collaboration w/ Spyderco. I'm still learning a lot. The next will be how to sharpen these steels, and will be DIY'ing a homebrew guided sharpener.

Appreciate you!

[Mage7]

I'm newer to the 'enthusiast' side of the knife world as of this year. A lot of my hardcore research led me down the path to 15V, along w/ some others. I'd be curious to know if the chatter around 15V is happened more in smaller, dedicated enthusiast circles, or is more broadly talked about in the industry, ala Magnacut (of course, not to that level yet).

I see a lot of discussion around M390, and it makes sense because that is the defacto go-to 'high end' steel that all the Chinese ti framelocks gravitate to, which are popular right now. I wonder to what level we are seeing discussion around 15V and K390, and heck even K394/10V for that matter. I for one would like to see more support for these steels to be used in production models.

Well, I think there's a bit of different types of enthusiasm about steels, as you've probably noted. There's those who are genuinely interested in the steel itself, but there's also those who basically want it because it's the hot new thing. Of course there's some overlap there, too, but I'm not trying to be super precise here.

Magnacut is a great example. Because the industry really worked hard to educate people about the virtues of Magnacut, but I mean, people still kind of ended up with a mostly-cursory interest, and so a mostly-cursory understanding. If you weren't aware, the creator of Magnacut is Larrin Thomas, and he also writes extensively about knife steels on his blog knifesteelnerds.com. A lot of people who were convinced that Magnacut was the best new thing since sliced bread, ran out and bought it, were satisfied, and then continued singing its virtues, have never read Larrin's blog or really understand what makes Magnacut so great.

I mean, I want to expand a little bit on Deadboxhero's (who I know is also the creator of Triple B hand-made knives, but not sure how you like to be referred to here) example...

I drive an SUV that's great in the snow and mud, which I encounter every once in a while. I don't want a Jeep, because I never go off-roading, but I need that little bit extra to drive on mountain roads every now and then, during snow storms, etc. Now, if I lived in sunny California, I might opt to just drive a Prius around to save on fuel, or get a Ferarri if I really wanted to drive fast, etc. I can use a car that's better balanced in where it can go, and how fast it can get there, etc.

Magnacut is described has having broken the rules by excelling in the three categories of steel evaluation, toughness, edge-retention and corrosion resistance. As you've likely read by now, the relationship between these three is inverse, so you usually cannot maximize one category without maximizing the other two. Magnacut manages to maximize corrosion resistance, achieve a high level of toughness, and achieve an adequate-to-high level of edge-retention depending on what other steels you compare it to. However, the simpler pitch of, "It's the best new all-around steel!" sort of misses the fact that many people do not even need a steel to excel in every one of those categories. Relating it back to the car analogies, a guy that just has a lot of cardboard to slice up in Arizona doesn't really need the toughness or corrosion resistance of Magnacut anymore than a guy that wants to drive to the grocery store in LA needs the extra ride-height and traction of an SUV.

15V instead maximizes edge-rention, but while also balancing toughness and corrosion resistance, and provides them in levels comparable to that of other popular choices. Probably the easiest example is the much-loved D2; 15V provides roughly the same levels of toughness and corrosion resistance, but with more than twice the edge-retention. I'm not much of a sports-car guy, so I would say if your D2 is a V8 Toyota Tundra, 15V is the Turbo V8 Ford F-350. But if you don't haul horses of trailers across mountain passes, whether you really will ever notice the F-350 performing better is questionable.

Despite the practical side of things, though, Magnacut has clearly also become a hot commodity and there's some people who only want it for that reason. I think 15V had a little bit of that, and I am actually kind of glad because I probably wouldn't have ever even known it was coming out if not. Before there was the 15V hype going around on selling/trading groups, I thought 10V was pretty much the highest-retention tool steel I was going to find. But I think that was more incidental, whereas I think there was definitely an industry push behind Magnacut.

[Spyderfreek]

I've found that folks that are obsessed with sharpening and using their knives are often the folks that may engage in deeper discussions about PM tool steels.

I feel sharpening is a pretty important skill to be able to put some of these differences between these materials into context.

Yeah that pretty much describes me. I also agree, I don't really know a steel until I've sharpened and dulled it two to three times, and I certainly can't make any judgements based off the factory edge.

[sal]

I would also like to point out that there is CPM-15V and there is BBB CPM-15V, which has a specialized attention to batch and heat treat.

sal

[Naperville]

Waiting for my BBB CPM-15V Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight Sprint Run.

I am intrigued. As long as it isn't more fragile than S110V I think we will be fine. This could be a regular staple.

Looking forward to more BBB CPM-15V Spyderco knives.

[Evil D]

I just want a 15V Bodacious.

[WilliamMunny]

I just want a 15V Bodacious.

A 15V Manix 2 XL would not hurt my feeling either.

[cjk]

My fingers are crossed for 15V Native 5s.

[Spyderfreek]

I would also like to point out that there is CPM-15V and there is BBB CPM-15V, which has a specialized attention to batch and heat treat.

sal

Whatever's been done to it, this stuff is special. Is it more expensive to produce than Maxamet? I would happily see Maxamet be replaced by BBB 15v, it's just better in every way.

[p_atrick]

Just saw this on YT. Nice teaser video!

[Red Leader]

Shoot, I missed Shawn Houston this week at Spyderco!! If I had known, I would have stopped by, as we have plenty of 15V in the house. Would have been a cool treat to take my son's Para 3 box if he could have signed it.