CPM 4v vs CPM 3v

lobo9er

lobo9er

Joined
Jan 5, 2013
Messages
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Hows 4v stacking up in the knife world? I haven't seen to many knives in it and such I haven't seen many reviews about.
Go! Thanks for any info
 
From what I have read, it has a bit lower toughness but holds a working edge longer.
I don't know how the lower toughness translates into edge stability at lower edge angles though.

I am going to be following this for some more informed answers from those experienced with the alloy.
 
yep lower toughness better edge retention is basically all I've heard but no real reports on how its stacking up and if it will stick around. could be a stepping stone like s60v.
 
Nah, its not a stepping stone steel like s60v(440v)and s60v is an extinct alloy for knives. Only 420v survived those days and later became s90v

cpm 4v is just new and not being capitalized yet because not many understand what the advantage to it is

which is high toughness at high hardness

Also when something is newer it takes more ground work to optimize the heat treatment.

you will just have to wait to find out.
 
I would like to see how 4v stacks up against Rex 76 and hap 40.
 
I haven't tried 4V yet, but have a knife coming in that steel. But I have used Vanadis 4E, which is a similar and excellent alloy. Obviously heat treat matters, but in my own tests, Vanadis 4E is right there with 3V in terms of toughness. And because they have such a similar recipe, I'd guess wear resistance is similar, too.
 
I had a Ferrum Forge Ferox in 4V for a good while. Loved it. Held an edge like crazy. Granted I didn't "hard use" it, I carried it and used it a lot and have zero complaints and would definitely buy another 4V knife again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
From the Knife Steel Database : As Crucible states it has high impact toughness and wear resistance and should be considered for the applications where higher attainable hardness and wear resistance are
desired compared to 3V.
The only drawback to 4V is that it is not as corrosion/stain resistant as 3V.
I've got two knives in 4V from Big Chris and IMO, the 4V out performs 3V. One of the knives I have, Big Chris sent to Ankerson for testing. It's ranked in the top ten. Chris also told me the knife was tested for toughness. The blade wrinkled and had to be re ground. It suffered no damage other than it wrinkling. Don't have a clue what kind of toughness testing was done, you'd have to ask Big Chris.
Last year the knife cleaned four deer without having to put a stone to it. The other 4V knife I have has never been used yet. It's more of a show piece for me.
Big Chris is one of the few makers that has used various steels, 4V being one. I wished he'd do a few more.
 
Other than lower toughness and better edge retention, the other would be lower corrosion resistance. I have found 3V to be a great carbon steel when it comes to corrosion resistance.
 
Ajack60 said:
From the Knife Steel Database : As Crucible states it has high impact toughness and wear resistance and should be considered for the applications where higher attainable hardness and wear resistance are
desired compared to 3V.
The only drawback to 4V is that it is not as corrosion/stain resistant as 3V.
I've got two knives in 4V from Big Chris and IMO, the 4V out performs 3V. One of the knives I have, Big Chris sent to Ankerson for testing. It's ranked in the top ten. Chris also told me the knife was tested for toughness. The blade wrinkled and had to be re ground. It suffered no damage other than it wrinkling. Don't have a clue what kind of toughness testing was done, you'd have to ask Big Chris.
Last year the knife cleaned four deer without having to put a stone to it. The other 4V knife I have has never been used yet. It's more of a show piece for me.
Big Chris is one of the few makers that has used various steels, 4V being one. I wished he'd do a few more.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ajack60.
I have used a couple sheets of it and have about 15 blades in 4V waiting for heat treat right now.
I call 4V the "perfect love child of 3V and M4".
Edge retention close to that of M4 with toughness close to that of 3V.
It will take a screaming sharp edge like M4 and holds it very well.
Added bonus is that it can be ran at 63 Rc with a very thin edge (.008" - .010" BTE) and used hard.
When testing the knife that Ajack60 is referring to it had an edge thickness of .008" BTE.
I used it for batoning, chopping, carving, and drilling.
I chopped, carved, and batoned several pine and cedar knots with only minimal rolling.
The damage was nothing that could not be sharpened out easily.
Like I said earlier, 4V is a great steel and I have more knives coming up in it very soon.
The only real downside is the lack of stain resistance, almost worse than the simple high carbon steels.
 
4V has 5%Cr but % of free Cr (not bounded to carbide form) could be very low depend on ht+temper. My ht+temper aim to keep free Cr above 4%. Just to be sure, I just retested this test 4V blade - 63rc, where temperature near to upper bound of the lower/primary temper.

Visible inspection => Just a slight patina from white vinegar.

SJ4qoFl.jpg
 
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