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!54CM compared to S30V..

alejandrino

alejandrino

Joined
May 16, 2006
Messages
1,769
Is the S30V much better ? I am looking to buy a BM555 mini grip and the price difference is a lot. The Doug Ritter(S30V) sells for $107.00 and BM555(154CM) is about $57.00. Is the price difference worth it? Please give your input!!:confused:
 
Not sure if I would call the jump "worth it" anymore. The Grips used to be 440C, which was fine, but S30V was a pretty good jump and might justify the cost. Now that they're 154CM, there's less of a jump to justify the cost increase. I'm not sure if the Ritters offer any significant advantage over the plain Grips anymore. I think the Ritters have a different blade profile, with a broader, flatter grind. Which means it'll probably slice better.
 
I was going to get a Mini-RSK, until I saw reports of people having problems with blades of S30V micro-chipping, sometimes having trouble even sharpening w/o the chipping occuring. Doesn't happen with all S30V blades. Doesn't happen with all blades from a given maker. I decided to stick with something of 154cm, ats-34 or vg-10.
 
IMO the Ritter Grip and mini Grip are worth the money for the blade profile. As for S30V, I haven't had any problems with edge retention. I polish the edge, but I don't reprofile it.

Edit: Didn't mention 154CM, it's another very good steel, easy to sharpen (kitchen steel was all I needed to dress the edge) and also holds its edge better than most stainless steels. I like them both, but everything I've read says that S30V has better lateral toughness, which may contribute to edge holding.
 
IMO they're both great steels. I have good examples of both. 154cm takes a great thin edge, sharpens up fast and holds it like VG-10. S30V takes a bit longer to get the same edge but holds it longer. S30V seems to be the better work horse of the 2 from my perspective. Never had any chipping from S30V, maybe I've been lucky, dunno. If you haven't tried S30V, save your bucks and go for it, you won't regret it. Maybe try the Wally world Native for $40, a spectacular find for the money in a premium S30V steel. Good luck. :D
 
$107 vs $57? Nearly a 2x price difference. For that kind of premiu, were I counting my pennies, I'd get the 154CM and feel no regrets.
 
I really like my RSK in S30V. Since I put it down to about 17 degress per side, it does wonders with wood work (although my moras and BRKTS are better still). I havent had any problems with chipping, maybe in a fixed blade, but no in a folder. My BM 722, and 710 are both in 154cm and are good folders. Although i prefer the S30V because its edge holding over 154cm, and its a litte tougher.
 
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