Can't find any info on 8r13MoV steel.

RemyKaze

RemyKaze

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Mar 23, 2012
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I've been delving more and more into Spyderco and have wanted to try their "cheaper" steels as well, in the Tenacious and such. I can't find any info here or on google as to first-hand accounts, so I thought I'd ask. How does 8r13MoV compare to VG-10 and S30V? Is it more on par with something like Sandvik steel, or is it one of those "hard to sharpen, have to constantly resharpen" sort of steels?
 
8cr13mov does not really compare to vg10 or s30v. Its easy to sharpen but looses its edge very quickly. its not bad for a beater knife but if you've got a lot of serious cutting tasks on a daily bases you might want to pass on it. The tenacious does make a great gift to those who are not knife nuts yet although it may lead them to future purchases. Get one and try it, if you don't like it give it as a gift to a deserving friend.
 
RemyKaze said:
I've been delving more and more into Spyderco and have wanted to try their "cheaper" steels as well, in the Tenacious and such. I can't find any info here or on google as to first-hand accounts, so I thought I'd ask. How does 8r13MoV compare to VG-10 and S30V? Is it more on par with something like Sandvik steel, or is it one of those "hard to sharpen, have to constantly resharpen" sort of steels?
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Search 8cr13mov, not 8r13mov. It's a cheap steel that sharpens easily and will hold its edge for a reasonable amount of time considering the low cost. Spyderco and Kershaw use it in their budget offerings and the way they heat treat it makes it perform pretty well at the price point. If you're looking for a cheap, easy to sharpen steel, try a Kershaw or Spyderco with the 8cr13mov. I prefer to carry s30v, d2 or m4 most of the time, though.
 
SoulLessGinger said:
Easy to sharpen, and good thing, because you have to do it often
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Lol great answer. I have the Centofante 3 as I was looking for a slicer and it turned out pretty amazing. I'm now debating abandoning the idea of trying out Benchmade too in favor of getting a PM2 or Military.
 
SoulLessGinger said:
Easy to sharpen, and good thing, because you have to do it often
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:confused: I have used 4 different Byrd knives in this steel, and aside from the early (2005 or so) blades, have not had this issue. For what it's worth, I used them commercial fishing and on towboats and barges. The edge retention is reasonable, it's no "super steel" but for someone who actually uses their knives, it is inexpensive, easy to resharpen or even reprofile in the field, and has decent resistance to rust.

bpiatt said:
8cr13mov does not really compare to vg10 or s30v. Its easy to sharpen but looses its edge very quickly. its not bad for a beater knife but if you've got a lot of serious cutting tasks on a daily bases you might want to pass on it. The tenacious does make a great gift to those who are not knife nuts yet although it may lead them to future purchases. Get one and try it, if you don't like it give it as a gift to a deserving friend.
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Cutting hundreds of knots out of 2 or 3 miles of dirty 3/8 and 7/16 rope a day is pretty serious cutting and I haven't passed on 8Cr13MoV yet. It is easy to sharpen, but I have to disagree that it loses its edge quickly. I have never wasted the time or effort to mirror polish the edges of my Byrds, but have found that it does perform much better with a coarser, toothier edge.

For the price point, the Tenacious family or Byrds are great knives, probably the best bang for the buck on the market. Inexpensive enough you can have a few on hand, and you won't lose sleep if you lose or break it.

A lot of people poo poo this steel, many of whom have not even tried it, because either it isn't the latest greatest "super steel" or it has "China" stamped on the blade.
 
I like both my persistence and tenacious in 8cr. I just touch them up with a coffee mug and they are good to go for a decent while.
 
if you plan too do serious all day cutting i'd say better steel but for my general light to med. use 8cr is just fine. i may open a few packages at work or cut some smal twine or rope and my kershaw,byrd, spyderco 8cr knives work fine!
 
I use a Tenacious as my work knife. I had a Byrd Meadolark(black SS) before this. i like the Tenacious a whole lot better than the Meadolark, but the steel on either does dull down on me in about 3 days to were I notice that it is not as sharp. It takes about 5 mins max though on the sharpmaker to fix this. I do prefer my s30v,vg10, ect knives more, but for the price and I can drop and beat on this at work and not worry too much about it. Heck my Byrd Meadowlark was ran over by our fork truck and other then bending the pocket clip the knife is fine.
 
All China made blades uses this steel and they are ok. It loses hair splitting sharpness quick (but any steel loses the fresh edge on firat use) but on my use (packages, coffee pack, shaving), I rarely go to the stone. Stropping it usually brings back the edge enough to continue for weeks.

Edit to add:
Actually not ALL but most likely. Those labelled 440C usually is 9Cr14MoV. There're some lengthy diacussion on this steel under General or Review subforum (can't remember which one). From yhe steel composition chart, it's closest to AUS8.
 
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Pete1977 said:
:confused: I have used 4 different Byrd knives in this steel, and aside from the early (2005 or so) blades, have not had this issue. For what it's worth, I used them commercial fishing and on towboats and barges. The edge retention is reasonable, it's no "super steel" but for someone who actually uses their knives, it is inexpensive, easy to resharpen or even reprofile in the field, and has decent resistance to rust.



Cutting hundreds of knots out of 2 or 3 miles of dirty 3/8 and 7/16 rope a day is pretty serious cutting and I haven't passed on 8Cr13MoV yet. It is easy to sharpen, but I have to disagree that it loses its edge quickly. I have never wasted the time or effort to mirror polish the edges of my Byrds, but have found that it does perform much better with a coarser, toothier edge.

For the price point, the Tenacious family or Byrds are great knives, probably the best bang for the buck on the market. Inexpensive enough you can have a few on hand, and you won't lose sleep if you lose or break it.

A lot of people poo poo this steel, many of whom have not even tried it, because either it isn't the latest greatest "super steel" or it has "China" stamped on the blade.
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Great post! I have to say the my ambitious has been a real great cutter and user with a decent edge retention that a strope would bring back to life in a swipe or two.
 
Pete1977 said:
:confused: I have used 4 different Byrd knives in this steel, and aside from the early (2005 or so) blades, have not had this issue. For what it's worth, I used them commercial fishing and on towboats and barges. The edge retention is reasonable, it's no "super steel" but for someone who actually uses their knives, it is inexpensive, easy to resharpen or even reprofile in the field, and has decent resistance to rust.



Cutting hundreds of knots out of 2 or 3 miles of dirty 3/8 and 7/16 rope a day is pretty serious cutting and I haven't passed on 8Cr13MoV yet. It is easy to sharpen, but I have to disagree that it loses its edge quickly. I have never wasted the time or effort to mirror polish the edges of my Byrds, but have found that it does perform much better with a coarser, toothier edge.

For the price point, the Tenacious family or Byrds are great knives, probably the best bang for the buck on the market. Inexpensive enough you can have a few on hand, and you won't lose sleep if you lose or break it.

A lot of people poo poo this steel, many of whom have not even tried it, because either it isn't the latest greatest "super steel" or it has "China" stamped on the
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Yes Sir. I'm glad somebody is stopping this internet exaggeration. Like yourself, I use 8cr13mov steel knives in chinese branded as well as top notch spyderco knives everyday to cut lots of ductboard. Fiberglass and the binder they use in ductboard is a harsh steel tester. It will kill any steels edge, and 8cr13mov can hold its own, imho, with comparable steels. Its become a bit of a myth that 8cr13mov steel can't hold an edge as well as comparable steels.
 
My2 cents.
I have to agree that the hype is just that. Its really expensive for me to import knives with supersteels into my country and I have been forced to stick to AUS-8, 8Cr13MoV, and 1095 CroVan. My Scamp with the Chinese steel works just fine thru some serious abuse. Yes I have had to sharpen it but it retained a good edge through a 15 day hike. It does everything a knife should and more.
Referencing my long term opinion of the knife here.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/715067-Kershaw-Scamp?highlight=scamp
 
It's an overseas produced steel that is relatively cheap to make but has some great qualities. Everyone above has posted pretty much everything that needs to be said, but I personally have had great experience with 8cr13MoV. It doesnt hold an edge that well, but it is incredibly easy to touch up. It also takes a very fine edge because of its softness. It doesnt compare to spyderco's VG-10 or anything higher quality, its for their overseas produced knives but as a value steel I think its great.
 
Yeah, I don't get why so many people down play 8Cr13MoV. It's on par with AUS-8 and that was the S-30V of its day. I don't use my Chinese Spydies much these days but the Tenacious and Byrd Raven were my main EDCs a few years ago. I don't remember having to spend that many extra sharpening sessions as compared to now.

I love the new super steels as much as the next knife nut but sometimes, we're splitting the hairs too thin.

OP, it's a fine steel and Spyderco does a hell of a great heat treat on them. Get one and use it. It'll surprise you.
 
I'm sure a lot of people can differentiate between 8Cr13Mov and say s90v in a blind test but what I'm wondering is how many of use here won't. :D
 
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