CPM s30V question/testimonials needed

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samuraiprose

Joined
May 21, 2007
Messages
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I'm kinda new to the knife world, and I've been browsing for a while to find some to my liking for my collection. I stumbled on the Relentless page and took a look at their line, and instantly noticed the M9 Trench Knife, since I liked the WWI era US Mark 1 Trench Knife but did not find any quite like it in any other place I had looked. The price difference is hefty between the two steels available, and I figured this would be the best place to ask around as to the quality of the products they sell, so here are my questions:

What qualities set CPM s30V above the other available steel, L6? Is L6 more suitable to certain tasks than CPM s30V? Is CPM s30V worth the additional 200 bucks they're asking for?

And, to the Relentless blade owners out there, how well did yours perform?

Thanks in advance.
 
L6 should be much tougher, rust much more quickly, and is probably a good bit softer (though I don't have a clue as to how they're treating their S30V)
 
L6 actually has a maximum hardness of 65/66 HRC. L6 would have a much higher edge stability than S30V which would give it superior edge retention in various applications. It is also far tougher and thus more resistant to chipping. The downside is that the wear resistance is low thus the long term slicing aggression will be behind S30V and the corrosion resistance of L6 is pretty much zero.

-Cliff
 
What do you plan to do with it? $200 will leave you room to get another knife made in S30V. One to dig trenches with and one to cut with. E-mail them and ask what the HRC is, it should be around 58, it could be higher. It should perform well enough for you if you do not mind the rust issue.
 
The price difference is large, more than 50% for various models. Silly enough, you get a much better knife with the less expensive steel.

-Cliff
 
If you are looking for a knife in L6, take a look at the Idaho Knifeworks line. Mike Mann runs his L6 really hard compared to some other makers. Holds a nice edge, sharpens up crisp.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
L6 actually has a maximum hardness of 65/66 HRC. L6 would have a much higher edge stability than S30V which would give it superior edge retention in various applications.
Click to expand...

Doesn't that only hold true if they're running their L6 at that hardness? I've seen one maker run 8670-modified around RC54. That's not going to be stable on anything but hay.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
The price difference is large, more than 50% for various models. Silly enough, you get a much better knife with the less expensive steel.

-Cliff
Click to expand...

You get a knife made with a different steel for the less expensive price.

IF corrosion resistance is important(marine environment, rain forest) than an L6 blade would not be a better choice.

Corrosion resistance is very, very important in some situations.

For instance, I went sea kayaking 2 months ago, and a carbon steel would have pitted by day 2.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Pick the cheaper steel, once you realize how uncomfortable that design is to use, you will be glad you saved the money.
 
thombrogan said:
Doesn't that only hold true if they're running their L6 at that hardness?
Click to expand...

No, since the carbide fraction is lower, it would have a higher edge stability even if it was softer than S30V. At some point thought yes, the loss of compressional strength would be too much and the edge would dent with similar extent and frequency as the S30V blade would microchip.

-Cliff
 
Heh, well, that about answers the question about the s30V. Thanks for the input, guys.

And the trench knife wasn't my final decision, regarding what to get there. I may get the M9 Fighter in 5160 steel instead, but I have yet to make a decision between the two. Any Relentless owners who can comment on performance?
 
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