Benchmade's S30V

Les

Les

Joined
Apr 6, 2003
Messages
432
Let's talk Benchmade's S30V blade steel.
I have a 943 on the way, so I am wondering about how well the BM version of S30V has been holding up to use.

Edge retention through use? Are you polishing your edges? Stropping or stoning/DMT?

I have some S30V from custom makers, and so far so good. I've been impressed.
I hope the BM version of this steel is nice as well! I'm spoiled with M2 for my current EDC working knife.
 
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My 615 has a great heat treated S30V! I porposely dulled mine not real bad just enough for a touch up and then slightly thinned the edge down to the way I like it. I didn't do anything special, and found it easy to work with. It's held up great:thumbup:!
 
The BM 943 in S30V is excellent.
Once you get the bevel to your preference.
I just touch it up on a Spydy large ultra fine ceramic.

-Ron
 
My Rukus 610 is the second sharpest knife I have ever received out of the box. I know there have been some chipping issues with the S30V in the past, but it must have been taken care of before my 610 was built as I have no chipping. Now I haven't used it really hard, but I tend to put my knives on my Sharpmaker after being used that day, so that may have removed any small chipping on the 610.
 
I did some very extensive edgeholding tests using a huge amount of cardboard and sisal rope. Among others, I included in the group a mini-Ritter, Spyderco Para, and Buck AG PBS Crosslock. Out of this sampling of S30V blades, the Para and Crosslock were very close, and the mini-Ritter was a step below them. My brother has done some testing and found his mini-Ritter to be on the same level as his Para. There seems to be a little variability in the heat treat by BM.
 
After reading about how tough S30V is to sharpen and how brittle it is, I was pretty wary of it. After i got my Dejavoo, that all changed. Ive had to sharpen it once, and it was pretty easy, it holds a great edge and hasn't chipped yet.
 
StringsMartyr said:
After reading about how tough S30V is to sharpen and how brittle it is, I was pretty wary of it. After i got my Dejavoo, that all changed. Ive had to sharpen it once, and it was pretty easy, it holds a great edge and hasn't chipped yet.
Click to expand...

I've had the same experience as you. The 740 had a wonderful blade geometry and the S30V was easy to sharpen an form a burr. It got super sharp very easily.
 
Early on there were reports of S30V chipping on Benchmades, but that seems to have changed, maybe the heat treating process was adjusted some.

In any case, I also have two Deja's, 745 and 740 - and have no problems at all. My 943 with that thin clip point blade in S30V cuts like a razor.

The higher hardness of the S30V steel BM uses provides for a long lasting edge and I'm very satisfied with how long they cut before needing touchups.
 
no problems. they do an excellent job although its not quite as hard as id prefer. id say about 59 on mine. not quite 60
 
I have a MiniSkirmish BM635 with the S30V steel and it's one of THE sharpest folders I own. Almost scalpel sharp and it holds an edge very well.

Excellent steel, excellent heat-treat - Benchmade does S30V right...
 
I have several knives, both custom and production in S30V, and I have never had a chipping problem with any of them. Not saying others haven't just not me. My BM Dejavoo is one of my favorites right now and the S30V is holding up very well. Funny thing - the S30V chipping incident rate seems to have dropped off starting about the same time one particular forumite was banned. Not saying the two are connected though. Could just be an coincidence.
 
My 615 was very sharp out of the box, and remains that way. I've just touched it up on the white ceramic rods on a Lansky turn-box. It saw a lot of use when I first got it, and I think I'll start putting it back in my carry rotation.
 
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