ZDP-189 - Best blade steel so far

Harry Callahan

Harry Callahan

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ZDP-189 is the best blade steel (by far) that I've ever used in a folding knife, bar none, end of story. I have cut with, scraped with, performed "twisting" cuts on zip ties (you name it) with my burgundy Calypso Junior. The edge stays laser sharp for long periods of time and touch-ups on the Sharpmaker are a snap. Now when ZDP actually gets dull dull, it admittedly takes the diamond triangles to get the party started, but if you only need a touch up, the dark triangles will suffice to get the touch-up going with the white stones finishing things off.

There is no wire edge problems. No edge rolling. None of that nightmarish stuff associated with sharpening and maintaining the old 440V and to some extent today's S30V. And VG-10, while a good blade steel, DOES NOT hold an edge anywhere near as good as this ZDP stuff. Take a look at your VG-10 edge after a couple of days of EDC using a jeweler's loupe. See those "flat" places? Yup, 90% of your edge is still screaming sharp. The other 10% is flat spotted and ready for a touch up. As much as I like VG-10, after using ZDP the stuff seems soft and in need of "kid glove" treatment.

In my honest opinion, after having used ZDP (and using it hard), I think it is the best bargain in the pocket cutlery world. Some of these Spyderco models that use this blade steel are quite simply, for what you are getting, a world class steal.

Can't wait for the full flat ground Endura with ZDP. Sheesh. That's gonna be a workin' man's knife fer shure!

Anybody else blown away by this steel?? :cool:
 
Just got my first ZDP-189 knife yesterday, a Kershaw Blur composite. Also a Blur in CPM-154. I was pretty jazzed about getting both a ZDP-189 and in a composite however, out of the box the CPM-154 was quite a bit sharper and after equal time on my Sharpmaker it's still cutting smoother and with less effort than the ZDP-189.

All I've done with both blades is put them on the dark stones at 40 degrees followed by the F and then UF rods. It may be that the factory grind on the 154 is just closest to my Spyderco angle. May try putting the ZDP on the diamond rods to make sure it's at 20 on each side and go back through the other rods.

Don't know if Spyderco uses a different source for theirs and or a different heat treat and if so that may make the difference as so far I'm not as impressed with the ZDP as I was hoping to be?

That being said I still intend to give a Spyderco model in this steel a try.
 
ZDP-189 is great stuff, but for the way I use my knives, S90V leaves it in the dust. YMMV. ;)
 
I really like ZDP, and S90V.

But for the way I use a knife, CPM M-4 can't be beaten.

I can't wait for the new CPM M-4 Millie! :p
 
Harry Callahan said:
There is no wire edge problems. No edge rolling.
Click to expand...

Oh, ho, ho! I have to disagree with you there! In my experience, especially when reprofiling, ZDP makes a HUGE, crusty burr. It's so rough that when I strop it on my jeans to get the metal dust off of the blade, it catches fibers from my pants.

And you're right about the edge rolling: it seems to like to microchip better.

I still like the steel. It was good and I never had any corrosion problems. Maintenance isn't a problem. The only thing is that for me, a knife that can't catch the nail at the slightest touch isn't a sharp knife. Even ZDP can't do that after one cut into cardboard, so ZDP, VG-10, 420HC... It's all practically the same to me.
 
I must be doing something extremely right as I've not experienced any burrs or microchipping to speak of with ZDP. In fact, I haven't noticed any appreciable drawbacks to this blade steel as yet and I've really been abusing my burgundy Caly Jr. As for nail catching after cutting cardboard, that's one of the things ZDP seems to excel AT! Very strange. We must live in parallel universes. :) Are you using a sandwiched model or the solid blade? May have something to do with it (although I wouldn't know why).
 
I've not had to reprofile yet so all of my sharpening has been at the 40 deg setting on the Sharpmaker. When it gets time for a reprofile I'll go 30 deg with the diamonds. But that's a long way into the future as this steel holds a useable edge at least twice as long as anything else I've used. I'm impressed with this stuff.

It would be interesting to see how well ZDP would handle a pure 30 degree edge. May have to look in to that... :cool:
 
The first time I tried to resharpen my ZDP Delica it gave me a rolled wire edge so horrid it was easily visible to the naked eye, and would catch on the edge of my nail. I'm glad you like it but I find myself far less than impressed with the samples I have used.
 
When I started sharpening ZDP-189 I had terrible results as well. I finally figured out that I was using too much pressure against the hones. The hardness of the steel made it feel as though it was simply sliding over the hone, but the diamonds were in fact abrading it. Bearing down enough to feel the level of abrasion I was used to gave poor results. Using very light pressure and lots of strokes has given me excellent results. It will take a wicked edge and hold it a long time - as long as you keep it away from drywall, ceramic tile, concrete block, porcelin, and fiberglass. All those materials that I deal with on a daily basis. I find the S90V to have better abrasion resistence giving a longer-lasting edge when scraping caulking off tiles, cutting out damaged sheetrock and scraping (actually more like filleting) paint and texture off the surounding wall to make repairs. But what I call normal use seems to freak other people out for some reason. :D
 
ZDP189 is too chippy IMHO. I'd like to see it a couple RC lower than it is now, even if that's heresy to some. I've had lots of rust issues as well, but this summer even VG10 had problems with in that around here. For me, it's a great steel for a low to medium-use smaller gentleman's folder, and I got rid of all my EDC and heavy-use knives in the steel.
 
I like ZDP. I particularly like ZDP in the Caly Jr model. My first Caly Jr ZDP came with a 0.012 behind the edge bevel measurement. I always sharpened it at 30 degrees with no trouble.
 
I do love ZDP. No question it's my favorite stainless steel. Overall I like CPM M4, and even ingot M2 better for folding knives, and smallish , medium duty fixed blades. I seem to be able to get the super sharp, biting edges I like on these steels much easier than any other that compare wear resistance wise.

I've thought long about this and I've come to the conclusion that I really like the tungsten steels best. Vanadium carbides are harder, but overall, I like the whole package the tungsten steels give. With CPM M4 and M2 there is moly and vanadium as well and they do their part.

I've figured out that's why I like vascowear better than the similar, but all vanadium carbide CPM 3V. The Blue steels also can take some wicked edges that I like too.

Yes, ZDP is still a great supersteel that has greater performance than most high carbide stainless steels when it comes to thin, but strong edges.
 
so far my FFG ZDP endura 4 is holding it's edge very well , im very happy with with this steel .

p.s. i have the edge at approx 17 degrees on each side (34-35 total) , the edge is finished at 6000 grit and aligned on leather .
 
I still think that Spyderco's VG-10 is the best overall steel for folders and small fixed blade knives. It is as easy to sharpen as plain carbon steel, yet is very rust resistant and with superior edge retention. A pleasure to use and to maintain...
 
I really like ZDP for taking clean, very sharp edges at very acute angles and holding them a long time. In slicing for extremely long periods of time on very abrasive materials I've found S90V to last longer, but it takes a worse edge. Like Mastiff, CPM M4 is my favorite steel. It gets sharper than any other steel I've tried, is pretty tough (especially compared to stainless), and has excellent, if not ZDP grade edge retention. Super Blue is another steel that is a tremendous performer, and like Mastiff said it is Tungsten based as well. All hard M2 is another great performer. I guess I'm a Tungsten steel fan myself.

Mike
 
I love ZDP-189, but as mentioned above, it's a pain to sharpen. Forget about using ceramic sharpeners - I've found diamond sharpeners are the only way to go with this steel.

- Mark
 
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