Better steel for fixed blades S30V or ATS-34?

DgrantD · Mar 17, 2003

Which steel is better for a combat knife that is about 12 inches over all length, and sometimes a little bit shorter or longer. I want a knife that is tough and would not be brittle, and would also hold a good edge. Thanks alot.

Grant

Mike Hull · Mar 17, 2003

Between the two you list, hands down, S30V.

Kit Carson · Mar 17, 2003

S30V with a good heat treat.

japansteel · Mar 19, 2003

Quenching temperature of S30V is higher than ATS-34.
So distortion is easy to occur.
Anyway,which steel making maker makes S30V?

Kit Carson · Mar 19, 2003

Crucible makes it.

DgrantD · Mar 20, 2003

I will not be heat treating my own blades so thats not a problem.

Trace Rinaldi · Mar 20, 2003

Like Kit said.. S30V with good HT... Dont matter what steel you use if its not HT'd properly..

RHINOKNIVES · Mar 20, 2003

of course with paul bos doint the heat and cryo-treatment. s30v is the finer steel. but with higher cost steel, higher amount of belts etc. it makes that blade cost go up %50 so the $300 knife is now a $450 knife. i try to have both on the table so the buyer can decide.

japansteel · Mar 21, 2003

If chemical composition imfomation of spyderco is right,S30V is not easy to be retensive.And also it seems to be expensive.
So if you finish it completely,it is miracle thing and one of masterpiece.But nobody understand your effort and recognize that it is one of masterpiece,because every body cannot sympathizes things of
miner steel.So in fact,your effort will become meaningless.