A Steel Question for My 400th Post

boobar

boobar

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Nov 25, 2002
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I am a huge fan of s30v stainless steel and my question is, what are the big advantages and disadvantages between s30v, s60v, and s90v. Is it worth spending the extra money for knives that use s60v and s90v steel? Let me know what you think.

Bladeforums, where your opinion matters.

Boobar
 
I have never used S90V or S30V, but based on what I have read here:

S60V (CPM-440V) has very good wear resistance and is modified from 440 steel with a lot of extra carbon and vanadium, but is very brittle so its hardened 55-57 HRC.

S90V (CPM-420V) has even better wear resistance due to more vanadium and is tougher than S60V, but is very expensive and hard to work with.

S30V is very tough for a stainless steel and has very good wear resistance (but not as good as S90V). It is a very good balance of toughness, edge holding, and corrrosion resistance.
 
Depends on the application. I'm getting a pass-around set up of a Buck Mayo TNT, so I'll have more thoughts on S30V then. One issue with 440V is that because it has to be kept soft so it won't be brittle, although it will hold an edge like no tommorrow th edge can deform from hard impacts, like hitting a staple in a box. I have two Kershaws in 440V (S60V) and I baby them a bit because of this. For a pocketknife, I think the difference between S30V and S90V wouldn't be too noticeable, but for a bigger fixed blade the S90V might start to pull ahead. Except for my experiences with S60V, I'm speaking hypothetically, so it for what it's worth. Perhaps some knifemakers with experience working both can chime in, or you could post this in Shop Talk. That's where most of them hang out.

P.S. That avatar is awesome man, I love it.
 
From what I understand:

S90V has better wear resistance than S30V but less tough as a consequence.
S90V would be a good choice for a small knife that will only be used for cutting and will not see impact.

S30V would be better steel choice for a larger chopping blade. I read Jerry Hossom's opinion on BF and he thinks S30V is about as tough as A2. Do a search for S30V. He also did a nail chopping test with S30V and INFI and found them to be similar in toughness.

S60V performs closely to 440C but with greater edge holding.
 
See, I should have just kept my big trap shut :footinmou . I stand by my assessment of S60V though.
 
Originally posted by Roadrunner
See, I should have just kept my big trap shut :footinmou . I stand by my assessment of S60V though.
Click to expand...

Naw, you just shot from the hip, sometimes you miss.:)

I am a fan of the newer stainless steels like S30V and BG42.

I would like to get a Microtech SOCOM elite in S90V to evaluate it's performance.
 
I use S90V exculsively for stainless. So here's my opinion. I use it for knives that do not see impact. Because it was not designed for such use. So, typically, 4-5" blade utility knives do fantatic with no brittleness issues because, of the size and I'm going to expand into sushi knives from S90V.

Yes, working S90V is not real fun, mostly after heat treatment. Those I know hate putting finishes on it and it does indeed go through belts like crazy. Grinding prior to HT is pretty easy and similiar to many SS that come from the distributor/maker in the standard spheroidized annealed condition. When heat treated right, edge hold beats all stainless steels I know of and can go toe-to-toe with some HSS like M2 and close to the mean edge holders like 10V.

I am 100% sold with S90V. Just keep in mind when judging this and any steel, heat treating makes a difference.
 
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