3V vs S35VN characteristics?

[bearcut]

Is this your opinion, or do you have some facts to back up your statement?

Many knife well known knife makers told us that S30V was bear to work with. Their statements were there on various forums for all to see, I guess you missed it. They hated grinding the stuff but loved the final results.

I thought it was common knowledge that S35VN was developed to address the manufacturing challenges that S30V imposed. It certainly wasn’t because S35VN was a leap in performance. Chris Reeve himself claimed an approximat 5% increase in overall edge holding, nothing more.

I’m not arguing about Kershaws ability to develop this steel correctly. That remains to be seen. I am arguing that the main reason for the “upgrade” to S35VN was, and is, strictly financial.

 

[Noctis3880]

Many knife well known knife makers told us that S30V was bear to work with. Their statements were there on various forums for all to see, I guess you missed it. They hated grinding the stuff but loved the final results.

I thought it was common knowledge that S35VN was developed to address the manufacturing challenges that S30V imposed. It certainly wasn’t because S35VN was a leap in performance. Chris Reeve himself claimed an approximat 5% increase in overall edge holding, nothing more.

I’m not arguing about Kershaws ability to develop this steel correctly. That remains to be seen. I am arguing that the main reason for the “upgrade” to S35VN was, and is, strictly financial.

Oh I wouldn't know about that. If they heat treat it harder, wouldn't that inevitably end up costing more than S30V in the long run? Also curious if S35VN is any cheaper than S30V.

 

[toady97]

So between D2 , S35Vn and 3V which would be better suited for a high end EDC knife?

 

[painkilleraz]

I love my 3v knives but also love my s35vn quite bit as well.

However, solid spring steel as in truck springs can be tempered amazingly, for instance, khuhkri by Ex Gurka House are amazing. Additionally, I really love my S30V as well. I also love my Moraknivs and Opinels...anyhow


Hard to sharpen, use diamond! Japanese wetstones- afterwords use strops with black compound (rougher) and green or white (lighter)

Anyhow, thats it

 

[Trenton]

I noticed in the Production Schedule thread that some upcoming knives are being made out of 3V and S35VN. Assuming that you had two (nearly) identical knives, one made from each steel,（e.g. ZT 0100 VS Chris Reeve Knives Green Beret Knife CPM S35-VN), what would you expect the performance difference to be? Is S35VN more corrosion resistant? (I notice it's being used in some kitchen knives later in the year.)

From the videos below, you can see that they're very close in edge retention, which was somewhat unexpected for me, considering s35vn is a stainless steel, however you have to take into account that the 3v; represented by bark river, is made to be able to be pounded through wood when needed, so hardness should be taken into account when comparing apples to oranges like so, I realize.
Videos from Cedric & Ada Gear and Outdoors
Edge Retention Test s35vn

Edge Retention Test 3v (Bark River)

 

[NJBillK]

Awesome, a thread from 2011...
Surely the is a newer thread about 3v or s35vn, or even the comparison of them. Even if not, most have been out long enough for most folks on here to offer the basics on them.

Either start a new thread, or message the OP, but considering he hasn't been on here since November 11, 2015, I doubt he will get your message or want to respond...

 

[Bluegrass Survival]

Some people back in the day reporting issues with CPM S35VN, but I guess the issues were worked out. Take this SOG Pillar for example made in the USA.

 

[Fupse R.]

I beg to differ. I have tested various S30V knives, and also 2 S35VN knives. Same test.

S35VN doesn't hold a candle to S30V in terms of edge retention. It just doesn't hold it's edge, period. Even 154cm out performs S35VN. 19 other knives have done this test, and I would venture to say that ALL other steels that I have tested out performed s35VN. Yes, even 420hc stayed sharp longer than S35VN.

I have no problem with the steel, but I do feel like it is not ran as hard as it should be.



[video=youtube;z1oq7PzjJkY]

[video=youtube;q3nfCJtAcLI]

May I ask what knives you used to make this test, I have quite a few s30v and s35vn blades too, but I found some makers just suck (sometimes on purpose) in using these steels. If the steels don't reach their ideal heat treatment and hardness it's not going to turn out well, and some steels are less forgiving then others for messing up. I know from people that Chris reeves likes to keep his steels on the low hardness zone and seems to not heat treat his knives enough, leaves it as a very durable knife but it sacrifices potential edge retention. While on the other hand my benchmade s30v knives (have many) are edge beasts, I find my demko s35vn blades doing better. S35vn was made to be the better steel and though s30v is confirmed to have a slightly better edge retention in a perfect world where both are equally shaped, heat-treated, and sharpened equally. S30v should be like what 5? Maybe 10 percent longer edge retention? But s35vn boasts a 30ish roughly estimate tougher blade. I definitely see it when putting up my s35vn ad20.5 against the s30v super freak I chose that one because I feel the edge is close enough. Cutting into wood the s35vn seems to take less punishment from it and keep an edge longer. But I mean if your cutting lighter stuff all day, I doubt you'd ever notice a difference when they are properly made and treated. Both feel like though could cut cardboard, tape, zip ties forever without a care.

 

[knarfeng]

May I ask what knives you used to make this test, I have quite a few s30v and s35vn blades too, but I found some makers just suck (sometimes on purpose) in using these steels. If the steels don't reach their ideal heat treatment and hardness it's not going to turn out well, and some steels are less forgiving then others for messing up. I know from people that Chris reeves likes to keep his steels on the low hardness zone and seems to not heat treat his knives enough, leaves it as a very durable knife but it sacrifices potential edge retention. While on the other hand my benchmade s30v knives (have many) are edge beasts, I find my demko s35vn blades doing better. S35vn was made to be the better steel and though s30v is confirmed to have a slightly better edge retention in a perfect world where both are equally shaped, heat-treated, and sharpened equally. S30v should be like what 5? Maybe 10 percent longer edge retention? But s35vn boasts a 30ish roughly estimate tougher blade. I definitely see it when putting up my s35vn ad20.5 against the s30v super freak I chose that one because I feel the edge is close enough. Cutting into wood the s35vn seems to take less punishment from it and keep an edge longer. But I mean if your cutting lighter stuff all day, I doubt you'd ever notice a difference when they are properly made and treated. Both feel like though could cut cardboard, tape, zip ties forever without a care.

CTS has not been here since 2014. And yes, his measurements were questionoed and found not to match anyone else's experience. It was a fair scandal at the time.

Now I am putting this thread back to bed and nailing the coffin shut.