CFV vs 3v vs 20cv vs 154

OBX351

OBX351

Platinum Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2014
Messages
1,137
Just curious but what is your favorite S!K steel and why?

CFV is becoming my favorite steel because it's close enough to 3v and it can be sharpened pretty quickly. It's certainly easier to sharpen then the original 3v. I am dying to see how the new 3v Delta, with a rockwell of 60-61, will sharpen. I haven't tried the 154 but I've read good things about it. Everything's a trade off....
 
Now I cant compare all of those as used by S!K, but I have used 3V and 20cv by S!K and cpm154 and 154cm by other makers. 154 never impressed me.

3V has proven to be (for me) the only steel I want in a general use outdoors knife. Super tough, takes a great edge and seems to hold it forever and is not difficult for me to resharpen. It also has enough corrosion resistence that you dont have to worry about it even for some extended trips without maintenance. When you can carge wood for an hour, baton wood into kindling and then work food on a cutting board and then still shave your arm hair you have a pretty good steel!

I really dont see a need for any other steel, unless I was going to have a dedicated water knife or a thin flexible fillet knife.
 
Good points all! I am not in the field as much and forgot how low maintenance 3v is compared to old school high carbon steels.
 
I have Nathan's Field Knife and Light Chopper in the delta 3V, and while I can't compare to 20cv or 154, they're both fairly easy to sharpen--I'd say comparable to a couple of Busse infi blades I have. The field knife is slightly harder to sharpen, but it's also hardened a bit higher than the Light Chopper. I'm guessing Survive's delta 3V will be similar to the Light Chopper.
 
I can say my D3V 4.1 keeps an amazing edge! (But then, I haven't used it! It is remaining a collector piece for me ;) )

#sorrynotsorry
 
I seem to have a little easier time sharpening my 20CV knives than the older 3V, but I'm a novice at best when it comes to sharpening.
 
OBX351 said:
Just curious but what is your favorite S!K steel and why?

CFV is becoming my favorite steel because it's close enough to 3v and it can be sharpened pretty quickly. It's certainly easier to sharpen then the original 3v. I am dying to see how the new 3v Delta, with a rockwell of 60-61, will sharpen. I haven't tried the 154 but I've read good things about it. Everything's a trade off....
Click to expand...

Resharpens like a dream, or at least my D3V FK does. :thumbup:
 
^^Just because. I have users, and collectors. Given this is the very first one ever in the wild, I wanted to keep it pristine.
 
I'll know. Not particularly bothered if anyone else on the planet knows. :)

But there are a few guys around here who will also remember where this knife is forever. A few folks just seem to keep track of things like that. I doubt it adds to the value in any way whatsoever, but it will be remembered.

Anyway... back to the regularly scheduled programming.
 
I will always remember that you were the first . And I wouldn't use it either if I were you especially considering how many gems you own. I used to think the same as Revolverrodger but over time there are some that I just don't want to ding up because every time I look at that scratch or dent it will bug me
 
sfrigon1 said:
I will always remember that you were the first . And I wouldn't use it either if I were you especially considering how many gems you own. I used to think the same as Revolverrodger but over time there are some that I just don't want to ding up because every time I look at that scratch or dent it will bug me
Click to expand...

If I remember the story correctly he is technically the second, since he bought it used, although the knife is still the first. :p
 
Fancier said:
If I remember the story correctly he is technically the second, since he bought it used, although the knife is still the first. :p
Click to expand...

See, I knew there are guys around here who remember this kind of stuff.
 
Good thread OBX!

I also haven't been impressed with 154 from other makers Riz, but I've heard some promising things about the PHT version.

So basically I'll take the 3V 4.7 on hiking and camping trips inland, then the 154 4.7 will come along for fishing and camping trips on the beaches. Maybe the 20cv would have been a wiser choice in some instances (better wear resistance), but I'd like to give this 154 a try and see how it goes.
 
So after reading this thread I don't think I stated what my favorite steel is, which is and has always been 3v but, as I stated above, CFV is a very close second. My second gen 5.1 and new 4.7 is 3v and I've been very impressed with the performance of the heat treat over the old 3v heat treat.

Karoi - I think you're right on about beach and fishing (brackish & salt water for me). My custom 5.1 is 20cv with the new heat treat and it's also better than the old 20cv by a fair margin. I would also like to try Guy's 154 but only in a small knife. Maybe Guy could make me a fish/fillet knife??!! I am pretty hard on my knives and I think I'll be disappointed with 154, based on comments above, especially with the increased performance in the new 20cv.

FWIW here's my S!K steel stack rank based on (in order of preference) edge strength, ease of sharpening, edge retention and ease of maintenance/corrosion resistance:
second gen heat treat 3v
CFV
second gen 20cv
original 3v
original 20cv for light to med tasks ONLY otherwise I don't like the steel.

So this begs the question, how would you rank the following: edge strength, edge retention and ease of sharpening and ease of maintenance/corrosion resistance (meaning of these 4 properties what's your order of preference)? Again I think the new 3v is the king of the heap.
 
Last edited:
for me, it has to be ease of sharpening (i suck at it), then retention and corrosion resistance. Lastly is strength, because I'm just not a hard user.
 
I only have the new gen and old gen in both 3v and 20cv. I do like the new heat treat on the new gens. It's a toss up for me on what's my favorite steel between the two. I use my 3v during the late Spring, Summer, and early Fall. When I expect to be in rain or snow, than I prefer the 20cv because they don't rust. At least in the older 3v my 4.1 would get surface rust from being placed in the sheath slightly damp. It cleans off with a little steel wool, but I prefer not to have a rusty knife when I'm out.

Edge retention for basic batonning, feather sticks, and normal use camp chores really isn't noticeable to me. However, I do tend to be OCD about keeping my knife edges with my DC4 and stropp, when I'm out playing around. I will say that my new gen 5.1 was used and the edge was slightly dull when I received it. I tried to get the edge back by hand, but ended up having to take out the Work Sharp to get the edge back. It's fine now and just needs touch ups. I think both steels are great and are suitable for almost any task we throw at them.

I'm heading out on a winter backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevada's in a few weeks with a couple buddies. Both are into Survive! as well, so we'll be testing our knives in 3v, 20cv, and CFV. I'm probably only going to bring my 5.1 and 4.7 in 20cv, but the other guys have 4.7's in 3v and CFV. I don't have any experience with CFV or cpm154 with Survive!, but I'm just planning to stick with the 3v and 20cv.
 
Revolverrodger said:
What's the point of having it if you are never going to use it
Click to expand...

He's keeping it in good shape so he can give it to me when he pops out of my birthday cake :D



I need more GSO's in 20cv to make a better decision, but from my experiences I'd have to go with 3v all the way. In actual use on wood, my steel sense isn't any where near the level of a lot of you and I like CFV and 3v the same in what I need them for. Of course I still have to give the edge (:)) to 3v because corrosion resistance is in another league.

This really is a pretty cool thread. I don't think I've organized my thoughts on the topic, so I'm glad to be doing it. I do value corrosion resistance, but it's still coming in last.


edge strength
edge retention
ease of sharpening
corrosion resistance
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top