CPM 440V, who long should an edge last?

C

chrisJohn

Joined
Oct 4, 1998
Messages
296
Finally got around to sharpening my Starmate, and it took about ten minutes with a three DMT stones to get it back in shape.

What I am interested in, is there any way to gauge how long an edge should last with CPM 440V? The Starmate is the first knife I've used with this steel, and according to reports, it cuts forever. I didn't exactly have that same experience. Coming from Golden, the edge was hair popping sharp, one of the sharpest production knives I have ever seen. I cut three cardboard twelve pack boxes, and the edge near the serrations would no longer shave. Is this normal? Wouldn't surprise me with ATS-34, but is this the wunder steel that CPM440V is supposed to be?

The belly stayed shaving keen until I cut one 12 gauge shell open, and after it would shave no more. A previous post about an old Military stated that perhaps the heat treat was off. I don't want to give my Starmate up, but wonder realistic edge holding others have experienced.

------------------
"Women bring life into the world
and much death, for they sway the
destinies of men." -Anneas
 
Chris,

Nope! Doesn't pass the sanity check. If that's all you cut to make the knife dull, something isn't right. Check with the folks at Spyderco.

-=[Bob]=-
 
HEllo,

The sharpness of CPM440V is really fantastic !
The Starmate can stay listenning Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" without to lose his edge !
C'est fantastique !

Seriously, don't forget
Cardboard is really abrasive matter because of the sand particules inside.
It can dull a knife very quicly.

Cheers,
JM
 
Chris, why not do a simple comparasion to an ATS-34 blade and see if the 440V is not significantly better. What you cut did not seem like an awful lot of work to me, but as Nemo said maybe it was just some abrasive boxes and ATS-34 may not have went through one and retained a high finish.

-Cliff
 
Chris,

I'd have to say that the performance of the "wunderbar" <?> CPM440V steel in my BF Native was disappointing. Mainly, I think, because I was expecting it to cut like a laser and never get dull - based on reports from the forums. Well, it ain't happening with my knife!

Yeah, it'll hold a decent edge for a long time, but forget shaving after a few cuts through cardboard. Oddly enough, though, after sharpening it back to a razor edge a few times (yeah, I said "a few"; it has been dulled regularly), it seems to hold a sharper edge longer than from the factory. Makes me wonder if the edge geometry was to blame for the initial ho-hum edge holding. But, anyway, I'm still disappointed in the performance of my BF Native's blade in comparison to what I've heard here. Or it might be that I just prefer to have my edges sharper than most people (a couple of my friends are repeatedly incredulous of the edges I keep on my knives). However, I find that hard to believe after Joe Talmadge's feats with his Calypso Jr. "scalpel".

However, I wouldn't give up the BFN for anything, and actually would REALLY like to get another one (or two
redface.gif
). But, not because of the edge holding of the CPM440V.

------------------
Work hard, play hard, live long.
Outlaw_Dogboy

[This message has been edited by Outlaw_Dogboy (edited 18 August 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Outlaw_Dogboy (edited 19 August 1999).]
 
Cliff,

Have to agree with you on the performance. Maybe I just have exceptionally fine arm hair...?

------------------
Work hard, play hard, live long.
Outlaw_Dogboy

 
Chris,
Regarding Starmate's edge retention.

I had a recent experience with my plain edge Starmate that I would like to relate.

Three of us went ocean fishing and came home and set up a production line.

One person began washing the boat. One person began cutting filets off the fish. My job was to separate each filet's skin from the meat. The long knife for me to use was not sharp and the only knife I had with me was my Starmate plain edge (new from the factory).

As you may know, the Starmate's blade is really too short,thick and stiff for this job. But it was my only alternative to using the dull filet knife.

I began with the 56 sand bass (5-8 lbs) filets and finished with the 44 yellowtail (10-14 lbs)filets. The knife performed better than I had expected. Around the 40th Yellowtail filet it began to grab, indicating it was loosing its razor sharpness. When I was finished it was still sharp but not razor sharp.

I have resharpened it with Spyderco's 204 Sharpmaker which did a fine job in short order. I previuosly noticed that the factory edge had a definite wire edge. This may account for the previous messages regarding factory razor sharp but not for long. I am anxious to try it again with my 204
resharpening and no or little wire edge.

I have used many knives and the Starmate 440V is without a doubt a superior product.

Good luck!


------------------
John F Jensen
"Your Quality Distributor"



[This message has been edited by JOHN F JENSEN (edited 19 August 1999).]
 
Chris - Doesn't sound right. Do you have a way to rockewell the blade? If not, you may have to send it back. My apologies. Check it out with your DMT edge. Perhaps there was a wire from the plant? If you still esperience poor edge retention, we'll have to "fissit".
sal
 
Thanks Sal, I'll be sure to let you know how long the present edge lasts. Haven't had a real chance to test it against anything yet.

------------------
"Women bring life into the world
and much death, for they sway the
destinies of men." -Anneas
 
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