CPM 3V: Is it really worth it?

Revolverrodger said:
In most situations 5160, sk5 and all other high quality carbon steels are perfect for the job.

Most people theorize on hypothetical needs that has nothing in common with their actual use.

Do you really need cpm 3v: no
Is it a cool option: yes
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Revolverrogder I remember a video you did on the Ontario woodsman chopper and that people had a problem with them switching the blade material to 420HC instead of keeping the 5160. Well that video actually got me to purchase that chopper and I must say I don't understand what the fuss was about either because it's still a very tough and decent edge holding knife in 420HC, along with being pretty dang corrosion resistant as well. I like it a lot actually. So just wanted to say 2 thumbs up on that woodsman video.
 
Thank you sir... I just think that super expensive super steels are not always that important

AshesFall said:
Revolverrogder I remember a video you did on the Ontario woodsman chopper and that people had a problem with them switching the blade material to 420HC instead of keeping the 5160. Well that video actually got me to purchase that chopper and I must say I don't understand what the fuss was about either because it's still a very tough and decent edge holding knife in 420HC, along with being pretty dang corrosion resistant as well. I like it a lot actually. So just wanted to say 2 thumbs up on that woodsman video.
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Revolverrodger said:
Thank you sir... I just think that super expensive super steels are not always that important
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Very true. Super steels are not really necessities and not always a must have. I think it all comes down to if the person has the extra cash to splurge on that little extra bit of performance a super steel may provide and of course for the "cool factor" of owning a super steel. I have a small fixed blade in S35VN and I know for a fact I don't necessarily need it, but it's just nice to have around. I guess that's why 3V has my attention, because everyone raves about how great the steel is and I've been wanting a higher end knife for awhile now... So do I need it? Absolutely not. Do I want it? Most definitely lol
 
Cold Steel Knives said:
Definitely try our SRK or Master Hunter in 3V (61-62 HRC). We've got one in our showroom tested with over 7,000 cuts on the factory edge and its still sharp as a razor, not to toot our own horn or anything :)
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Thanks for the suggestion! Cold steel knives are really hard to beat for the price and I have a few including an SRK in the San Mai steel. It's a tough and well built all around knife, so I'll definitely add the Master Hunter and SRK to my list of options.
 
Cold Steel Knives said:
Definitely try our SRK or Master Hunter in 3V (61-62 HRC). We've got one in our showroom tested with over 7,000 cuts on the factory edge and its still sharp as a razor, not to toot our own horn or anything :)
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That's interesting. What did you cut 7,000 times?

CPM 3V is known for its toughness and decent edge holding, especially at 62 Rc. But it's not likely to win any edge-holding contest with the high-end steels that are now commonplace.
 
Twindog said:
That's interesting. What did you cut 7,000 times?

CPM 3V is known for its toughness and decent edge holding, especially at 62 Rc. But it's not likely to win any edge-holding contest with the high-end steels that are now commonplace.
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I always thought 3v WAS a high end steel. Of course, I've only used 3v in larger chopper type blades.
 
3V has always been thought of to me as being "high end". The price tag refects it and for many people so does the performance. It may not have the edge retention of let's say cpm 20cv, but from what I've heard it sure can hold its own pretty well.
 
Reasons to go with 3v;
You want more edge retention.
You want more stain resistance.

Other than that, nah. The alloy is stronger but who needs something stronger than 5160 and 52100? Only people doing it wrong. ;)

Oh and the one guy who’s going to quote this post with some sort of anecdotal evidence of a one off situation that they think proves the need. :p
 
3v is a very good all around steel! There are tougher steels, I use 8670, and ztuff. Both quite a bit tougher. But they don’t have the wear resistance of 3v. I would say, 3v is in my opinion the best all around steel for a hunting or general outdoor blade. You can’t go wrong with it, if the heat treat is right!
 
91bravo said:
I always thought 3v WAS a high end steel. Of course, I've only used 3v in larger chopper type blades.
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You're right, Bravo. CPM 3V is a high-end steel, but not a high-end steel known for super edge retention. It's forte is toughness, resistance to chipping and breaking. It has good wear resistance -- higher than most super tough steels -- but lots of steels are better for wear resistance, some much better: M390, K390, ZDP 189, Vanadis 4E, Elmax, Vanax SC, S90V, 10V, S30V, S35VN, M4, etc. Of course, none of those steel have better toughness than 3V.

It seems weird that so many people in this thread praise it for its wear resistance, when it's just "good" in that area.

CPM 3v is an awesome steel, one of my favorites, especially for choppers, but we don't have to exaggerate other aspects of its performance to make it appear better than it is. It loses much of its advantage in small folders that don't need extreme toughness.
 
Twindog said:
You're right, Bravo. CPM 3V is a high-end steel, but not a high-end steel known for super edge retention. It's forte is toughness, resistance to chipping and breaking. It has good wear resistance -- higher than most super tough steels -- but lots of steels are better for wear resistance, some much better: M390, K390, ZDP 189, Vanadis 4E, Elmax, Vanax SC, S90V, 10V, S30V, S35VN, M4, etc. Of course, none of those steel have better toughness than 3V.

It seems weird that so many people in this thread praise it for its wear resistance, when it's just "good" in that area.

CPM 3v is an awesome steel, one of my favorites, especially for choppers, but we don't have to exaggerate other aspects of its performance to make it appear better than it is. It loses much of its advantage in small folders that don't need extreme toughness.
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In my uses, 3v has more then adequate edge retention! But I make skinners and outdoor blades! I’ve still never needed anything more wear resistant then 4v in a hunting and butchering knife. Most of my big game skinners have been 4v. But I’m leaning more towards zwear, and that class of steels now for skinners! My personal hunting knife is ztuff run around 61 rc. Way tougher then 3v, with a little less wear resistance. But much easier to touch up in to the field!
 
rodriguez7 said:
In my uses, 3v has more then adequate edge retention! But I make skinners and outdoor blades! I’ve still never needed anything more wear resistant then 4v in a hunting and butchering knife. Most of my big game skinners have been 4v. But I’m leaning more towards zwear, and that class of steels now for skinners! My personal hunting knife is ztuff run around 61 rc. Way tougher then 3v, with a little less wear resistance. But much easier to touch up in to the field!
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I haven't seen any tests on Z-Tuff, but it looks awesome -- at least for toughness, something approaching S7.

From your experience, do you have a sense of how much less wear resistance it has than 3V?
 
Twindog said:
I haven't seen any tests on Z-Tuff, but it looks awesome -- at least for toughness, something approaching S7.

From your experience, do you have a sense of how much less wear resistance it has than 3V?
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Well, it’s 1 percent vanadium, compared to 2.5 in 3v. It might be noticeable in the long run, but not by to much! I’ve used one I made in ztuff to butcher some pigs last year, and I was impressed with it! I also have a new blade I made for my upcoming elk hunt! Hopefully it’ll be put to the test! I’ll try and get some pics posted!
 
rodriguez7 said:
Well, it’s 1 percent vanadium, compared to 2.5 in 3v. It might be noticeable in the long run, but not by to much! I’ve used one I made in ztuff to butcher some pigs last year, and I was impressed with it! I also have a new blade I made for my upcoming elk hunt! Hopefully it’ll be put to the test! I’ll try and get some pics posted!
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Yes, pics would be nice, from a fellow hunter.
 
91bravo said:
Get you a CPK of some flavor, use and sharpen it. Then you'll see what the fuss is all about for yourself.
lFRj7jO.jpg
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Wow, what a beautiful collection. I really want a CPK EDC someday.

Serious question, what do you use the top 3 blades for? I don't think I could ever justify a knife that big even though I'm an avid outdoorsman.
 
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