Donovan: I'm just getting started with the 3V-have only made one "special" blade from it, and, I havn't done a similar blade in my pet A2, so, it's hard to compare right now. However, I found nothing difficult about this steel, either in the pre-heat treat grinding, or the post-heat treat grinding. One of the advantages of the CPM alloys is the very fine distribution and size of the carbides. This is touted to contribute to relative ease of grinding hardened material-a big advantage to users of tool bits made from the CPM alloys. Certainly, the carbides in CPM3V are finer and better distributed than those in D2.
As to coatings, this steel should be about as stain resistant as A2, so, coatings are certainly an option. I powder coated the one blade I have made so far, and particularly liked not being concerned about the 400F cure temp of the coating-3V tempers at 975F, so, this heat was utterly inconsequential.
Ed Schott visited my shop tonight with his first 3V "test" blade, and we beat the %#$^@&^## out of it. He had slammed it into his driveway, and I whacked it hard on my vise jaws (hardened). I did mash the edge some, but, no major chipping or blade failure. What was most interesting is that we were able to bend the Rc60 blade to about 30 degrees (no pipes-just hand pressure). it actually took a small set, and did not snap. This was fantastic to me. It means that this steel will take a real beating. Ed is going to really go at it, and, I'm sure we'll hear from him on the bend to failure test.
So far, it doesn't appear that this steel will get quite as scary sharp as A2, but, maybe I'm just trying to limit my expectations. When I have made some KOZUKAS and KWAIKENS from this stuff, I'll know better. I believe this will be a fine steel for working knives.
RJ Martin
