Best s30v or CPM154 folder for around $50

RWT said:
I reviewed the Spyderco and believe them to be a great knife, just cannot get over putting a hole in a perfectly good piece of steel. I've had two of them and once they were lost to the gremlin that lives in my truck I moved onto the Camillus sizzle and the Blur. If someone found some s30v's for $60 I am game. Send me the info. The Buck just does not do it for me. I have an old 110 and that will be my grail for the Buck line. The reason I am looking for a different steel is I noticed my s30v stays sharp considerably longer than anything I have short of Sr101 and my INFI. Sharpening has always been a struggle for me so that is the reason of the hard steel. If I can get it sharp, I want it to stay sharp for as long as possible. My nephews struggle with the same issue. Sad thing is my grandfather used to sharpen drill bits with his beard ..... yeah beat that Chuck Norris, so I know making a knife sharp is not genetic. Serioulsy he could sharpen anything, I have an old unknown fixed blade he left me and I have not touched it for 16 years out of respect and the fact it will always be the sharpest knife I own. I may be purchasing 4 of the Blurs and moving the younger 2 nephews down to a CRK Drifter, Delica or Native.
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I assure you that the hole in the steel does not affect the integrity of the blade in normal use(that is, no prying or chopping or whatever a knife isn't meant to be put through). If anything, that hole is less obstructive when sharpening as opposed to thumb studs. And unless your nephews can sharpen their own knives, I wouldn't bother with S30V given that it's difficult enough to sharpen it on a stone as it is.
 
Upgraded blur steels (CPM154 / S30V) and upgraded Leek steels (S30V / CPM-D2 Composite) will be your best bet. 14C28N performs right up there with VG-10 in edge retention that I've seen though.
 
If sticking with your criteria, Id go with the CPM-D2 Leek, I know of 2 places online you can get them for $52-57 and free shipping, CPM-D2 will also have better edge holding than CPM-154 and at least equal to S30V.
 
If you're sharpening challenged, really think about kershaw. Those knives sharpen up IMHO easier than aus8 and hold that edge much longer as well. At the $50 price, I'd look at all the classics (skyline, leek, blur) as well as the soon-to-be classic Ram.
 
michaelm466 said:
If sticking with your criteria, Id go with the CPM-D2 Leek, I know of 2 places online you can get them for $52-57 and free shipping, CPM-D2 will also have better edge holding than CPM-154 and at least equal to S30V.
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Given that it's for his nephews(whom I will assume are not knife oriented), S30V might be the best overall choice given its monstrous level of corrosion resistance. I've seen my coworker's knives and most if not all of them are rusted to hell and has so many chips in the blade that you'd think it was serrated to begin with. S30V(especially Buck) is tough enough and corrosion resistance enough to handle that. Though I would recommend a coarse DMT sharpening "card" for each of them to go with their knife.
 
another vote for the buck vantage pro, amazing quality for the price. i ca'nt speak for other s30 by buck but on the vantage pro they certainly did the homework.--dennis
 
RWT said:
I am looking for a decent American made folder in s30v or cpm154 around $50.00 as graduation gifts for a long list of nephews. I expect to purchase 6 of them and hand them out over the summer. I recently purchased the Kershaw Blur for myself and love the blade, however, I am looking for something a little smaller as some of these will be going to teenagers. I have searched the web and the Blur and a Buck Vantage are the only models I can find that are close to my criteria. I am not found of the thumb hole on a blade so I am removing the Buck and any Spyderco's from contention. I have a maximum of $350 for all of them. My order of perferences are.

1. s30v or CPM 154 steel. Just want a steel more unique than Aus 6 or 8 that anyone can get at Wally world
2. American made
3. ROM $50 +shipping
4. Roughly same size or smaller as the Blur

Opinions, experience and photos are requested.

If someone on the forum produces a semi-custom neck knife in 1095 or a D2 that meets the criteria I would consider them as well. Are the all the Becker's American made?
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Good Luck! :D
 
Does anyone know where Camillus knives are made? I see Japanese VG10 steel in their folders. I know I am purchasing at least 1 of the Buck Vantage Pro's as I like the blade design and size. Dislike the hole in the blade and handle config, but will give it a try.
 
"Camillus" is now a brand name owned by an importer, as the Camillus Co went belly-up in 2007. That being the case, it is impossible to say who is making what "Camillus" product.
 
RWT said:
I know I am purchasing at least 1 of the Buck Vantage Pro's as I like the blade design and size. Dislike the hole in the blade and handle config, but will give it a try.
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you don't have to use the hole in the vantage pro to open it, it's also a flipper.
 
gundude73 said:
you may be able to hunt around and find a CPM154 kershaw blur blem.

blurstamps.jpg
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Do you know if the Blur comes with scales other than the standard, "grippy" ones?
 
The orange Blur in 154CM has some soft non slip yet not skateboard tape type of inserts.
 
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