Comparison of Factory Edges and Reprofiled Edges (VG10 & ZDP189)

[Vivi]

I've started working on my Endura 4 comparison. The article is going to compare a VG10 Endura to a ZDP189 Endura. Currently the VG10 knife has the stock profile while my ZDP189 knife has been reprofiled flat to the saber grind then given a microbevel.

The purpose of the test is to measure a few different things. Namely:

-The difference in cutting ability between the two edge profiles, specifically measured when possible
-The difference in overall toughness the profile makes
-A comparison of edge holding between the two steels
-Observing the sharpening response of each steel.

The VG10 knife will most likely be reprofiled in the same fashion after the first test run is over, then certain tests like edge holding will be repeated.

You can read what I've written so far at the following link: http://metalx.org/raum/Articles/e4comparison.html

 

[Reeek]

This is going to be interesting as it plays out . . .

 

[Vivi]

The first part is done. Regarding cutting efficiency, the reprofiled blade showed two to three times better performance in a variety of materials, such as carrots, CAT5 cable and cardboard.

The ZDP189 steel also showed a similar amount of sharpness loss as the VG10 steel after the first portion of the test. However, the ZDP189 blade cut about 8 times as much cardboard. This wasn't the edge holding test, more just a quick comparison I did before I do the full on test, but it looks like ZDP189 will be far ahead VG10.

I'm going to go to some woods for a while and baton these two knives through some branches and see how they hold up. Hopefully I can get pictures or video, but it's pretty dark out so who knows how good they'll turn out. If you look at the toughness section you can see some other durability tests I have in mind.

 

[Vivi]

Think ZDP189 is hard to sharpen? Check out these numbers:

At the end of the cutting ability comparison, the sharpness of each knife was measured. The ZDP189 Endura carved wood, cut food, was pushed through some CAT5 cable and cut about 80 feet of cardboard. The sharpness was then tested on the most used portion of the edge

ZDP189

1. 187
2. 181.6
3. 131.2
4. 189.4
5. 148.7
6. 153.2
7. 148.5
8. 189.3
9. 167.4
10. 173.1

Average: 166.94

Afterwards I resharpened the knife using one pass per side on a DMT fine.

ZDP189

1. 77.5
2. 80.5
3. 114.3
4. 86.9
5. 92.5
6. 86.5
7. 135
8. 111.1
9. 88.8
10. 117.8

Average: 99.09

Assuming my math is right, that's a roughly 60% increase in sharpness off of a total of two strokes on a fine stone (1200 grit I believe).

Go here to read more about the sharpness testing.