15v or S90 for Military 2 ?

[Catchadroppimgknife]

Hi

I’m looking at getting either a 15v or S90 Military and I am having a hard time deciding.

Both new. The S90 is cheaper (by $20) I do not have diamonds for heavy re sharping - but I do have the Sharpmaker. One is G10 the other Carbon Fiber

My uses are fairly light - but want to be able to do heavy duty as needed. Part collector - Part user.

Please help me work this through - positives and negatives

Thanks



.

[WilliamMunny]

Both great steels, 15V being a bit tougher IMO, but the big difference is corrosion resistance.

1. Will you use it regularly in wet conditions?
2. Do you mind extra time cleaning and drying your knife?
3. Do you mind patina?

If you will use it in dryer conditions mostly and don't care about patina, then 15v is absolutely the way to go. Plus, I think it's a bit tougher and will take more abuse.

If you will use this fishing, gardening, and don't have time to clean it then S90V might be the better choice. 15V will work fine but you will need to take more time in knife care and embrace patina.

Finally, you will need CBN or Diamond rods to sharpen either of these. Just get a pair for your Sharpmaker and you will be all set, neither of these steels will need much sharpening with regular daily use.

If it was my money, general use, 15V would be an easy choice. Plus, I like G-10 more than CF.

[Catchadroppimgknife]

Yes - there are considerations

I too like the G10. I have a Military 2 in the salt black for wet use. 15v is limited but the S90 is also hard to find.

Himmmmmmm

.

[Deadboxhero]

Trick question.

Get both :p

[WilliamMunny]

Yes - there are considerations

I too like the G10. I have a Military 2 in the salt black for wet use. 15v is limited but the S90 is also hard to find.

Himmmmmmm

.

If you already have a Military 2 Salt then I think 15V is an easy choice especially if you don't already have some 15V.

[VandymanG]

According to @Larrin ’s charts S90V and 15V have the same toughness. 15V has a slight edge in edge retention. S90V wins hands down on corrosion resistance. But 15V will patina. S90V will be around and will continued to be produced whereas 15V will no longer be produced and will run out eventually. At least that’s what been published, written, video interviews and blogged about.

[WilliamMunny]

According to @Larrin ’s charts S90V and 15V have the same toughness. 15V has a slight edge in edge retention. S90V wins hands down on corrosion resistance. But 15V will patina. S90V will be around and will continued to be produced whereas 15V will no longer be produced and will run out eventually. At least that’s what been published, written, video interviews and blogged about.

On paper 15V has the same toughness as S90V but a few times Sal has said BBB 15V is different than 15V. The heat treat helped bring up edge stability and toughness a bit. At least that is what I took away from it, could be wrong.

[VandymanG]

Trick question.

Get both :p

Best answer ever. Now if only I had the funds for both.

Question for you. Does your heat treat change Larrin’s test results and if so then how?

[VandymanG]

According to @Larrin ’s charts S90V and 15V have the same toughness. 15V has a slight edge in edge retention. S90V wins hands down on corrosion resistance. But 15V will patina. S90V will be around and will continued to be produced whereas 15V will no longer be produced and will run out eventually. At least that’s what been published, written, video interviews and blogged about.

On paper 15V has the same toughness as S90V but a few times Sal has said BBB 15V is different than 15V. The heat treat helped bring up edge stability and toughness a bit. At least that is what I took away from it, could be wrong.

Totally forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder. I guess it depends on if a person is trying to collect at least one of each type of CPM steels before they run out. For me I have 2 PM3 knives in 15V but no knives with S90V . But it would still be a tough decision for me because the 15V steel performs so well.

[BeggarSo]

Trick question.

Get both :p

BINGO! I have the S90V but that didn't stop me from getting the 15V Happy to have both.

[Deadboxhero]

Trick question.

Get both :p

Best answer ever. Now if only I had the funds for both.

Question for you. Does your heat treat change Larrin’s test results and if so then how?

It wasn't sent to Dr Larrin.

The heat treatment is proprietary and the data is not publicly available.

The BBB HT did better than the data sheet HT that Spyderco had done in their internal testing.

That's what led to the collaboration. it's quite a peculiar thing to do a heat treatment collaboration directly with a custom knife maker.

Of course, I would be even more flattered if they just did that just because they thought I was cool guy rather than there being data to support the difference.

It's been out since 2022 and it's been thoroughly vetted and enjoyed by some of the most discerning and demanding customers and enthusiasts in the knife industry.

The benefit for you guys is that you just get to buy something off the shelf that's already been figured out. No R&D needed from the customer, all done. Enjoy.

I was very demanding with what needed to be accomplished in the production setting to achieve that.

Very grateful to Spyderco for dealing with me.

[Catchadroppimgknife]

Ok Dead Box - you convinced me. 15v it will be

(And then I will get the S90 Military later )

.

[Red Leader]

Appreciate that answer, thanks Shawn.

[Deadboxhero]

Ok Dead Box - you convinced me. 15v it will be

(And then I will get the S90 Military later )

.

Welcome to the obsession
Strong choice.

[Deadboxhero]

Appreciate that answer, thanks Shawn.

Thanks, Red,

Keep up all the great posts

-shawn

[JARHEAD]

Trick question.

Get both :p

Best answer ever. Now if only I had the funds for both.

Question for you. Does your heat treat change Larrin’s test results and if so then how?

It wasn't sent to Dr Larrin.

The heat treatment is proprietary and the data is not publicly available.

The BBB HT did better than the data sheet HT that Spyderco had done in their internal testing.

That's what led to the collaboration. it's quite a peculiar thing to do a heat treatment collaboration directly with a custom knife maker.

Of course, I would be even more flattered if they just did that just because they thought I was cool guy rather than there being data to support the difference.

It's been out since 2022 and it's been thoroughly vetted and enjoyed by some of the most discerning and demanding customers and enthusiasts in the knife industry.

The benefit for you guys is that you just get to buy something off the shelf that's already been figured out. No R&D needed from the customer, all done. Enjoy.

I was very demanding with what needed to be accomplished in the production setting to achieve that.

Very grateful to Spyderco for dealing with me.

Thank you for sharing BBB 15v .
Really cool stuff

[BeggarSo]

BBB I think it is a pretty forgone conclusion your a pretty cool guy, I remember years ago when you first started posting here and following your exploits, there were some pretty cool and thin LC200N knives you made as I recall.

I am pretty sure Sal thinks so also and of course data didnt hurt. Seems to me you took a dead steel and brought it to life.

Great job and thank you I certainly do enjoy the pieces I have in 15V.

Hopefully it will be produced in the future a real shame to see it dissappear.

[Deadboxhero]

BBB I think it is a pretty forgone conclusion your a pretty cool guy, I remember years ago when you first started posting here and following your exploits, there were some pretty cool and thin LC200N knives you made as I recall.

I am pretty sure Sal thinks so also and of course data didnt hurt. Seems to me you took a dead steel and brought it to life.

Great job and thank you I certainly do enjoy the pieces I have in 15V.

Hopefully it will be produced in the future a real shame to see it dissappear.

Hey right on, thanks man, I appreciate that.

[Evil D]

15V unless you need corrosion resistance but I wouldn't turn down either.

[Synov]

I think BBB 15V is the best-performing high hardness steel you can get on the market right now, good choice.