5" fixed blade: Elmax or 3v?

Gaspumps

Gaspumps

Joined
May 14, 2012
Messages
302
I'm going to buy a new 5" fixed blade.
I have a choice between Elmax or 3V.
Knife will be used for camping (general cutting, food prep in a pinch, trail walks, etc.), yard work (pruning, cutting plants and shrubs, cut leather, nylon straps and feed bags, etc.) some work use (cutting nylon straps, removing burrs from fiberglass pipe, cut rubber & poly hose, open boxes, cut boxes, etc.) and general in-the-truck knife use.
I don't plan on battoning- never have, probably won't ever.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
 
I'd probably go with Elmax because it has better wear resistance than 3V and is stainless.

3V is quite a bit tougher, but that's a benefit only if you're using the blade exceptionally hard.

Both are great steels. I'd be happy with either.
 
Do a google search.. I found a link to a blade forum thread on this very subject .. I'm not sure how to post a link.
The Elmax is reported to hold a better edge and is stainless, while the 3v holds a good edge and is carbon steel.
Looks like both are good steels! Good luck!
 
I haven’t used Elmax much but I was not impressed by it in the couple ZTs I have.

I have used 3V a lot from a variety of makers and really like it. I would lean towards that, especially for things like cutting strapping and hoses and deburring parts where you might twist the edge or put sideways pressure on it.

3V is near-stainless (in my experience it might stain a bit but doesn’t tend to rust just sitting around like some of the simpler steels) so I wouldn’t worry about that unless you are using near salt water.
 
Only experience with 3V is on a Benchmade Bailout. Bought it to throw in the suitcase for travel- light, easy to carry, etc. I know about the HT issues, but I haven't been able to put a great edge on it. I have no problems with S35VN, M4, M390, S90V and various carbon steels but this one gives me fits. Don't know if it's this knife or 3V in general, so that's one of the reasons I'm asking.
 
I like the edge holding of Elmax and still reasonable to sharpen. Have several knives made of it and very happy with it's performance.
 
Gaspumps said:
Only experience with 3V is on a Benchmade Bailout. Bought it to throw in the suitcase for travel- light, easy to carry, etc. I know about the HT issues, but I haven't been able to put a great edge on it. I have no problems with S35VN, M4, M390, S90V and various carbon steels but this one gives me fits. Don't know if it's this knife or 3V in general, so that's one of the reasons I'm asking.
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3V will take a nice edge.

Your Bailout may have an edge geometry issue that doesn't respond to your normal sharpening methods.

Are you able to raise a burr?
 
If you’re not going to use it for hard use, you won’t notice a difference... so logically go with what’s cheaper.

As for me: I prefer 3V in fixed blades over Elmax. I find Bark River’s 3V to be perfect for outdoors fixed blade use.
 
Twindog said:
3V will take a nice edge.

Your Bailout may have an edge geometry issue that doesn't respond to your normal sharpening methods.

Are you able to raise a burr?
Click to expand...
I can raise a burr. I started out with an extra course diamond stone to set the angle (Benchmade has been notoriously steep in my past experience with them) then progressed through the grits. I can get it sharp, just not to the point of my other knives/steels.
 
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