CPM-S35VN - CrimsonTideShooter test

knarfeng said:
The performance of AUS8 vs. S30V depends on what you are measuring.
Assuming the same hardness,
- AUS8 will hold a very fine edge longer than any steel that contains carbides will.
- Steels that contain carbides will continue to cut after AUS8 is considered dull.

This is true whether the carbide containing steel is a PM steel like S30V or a melt alloy like 440C.
I like AUS8 because it does take that razor edge and hold it.
But I also like alloys with carbides because they keep on cutting, even if not with a razor edge.
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So to average user if 8A and S30V were both hardened to the same RC level, 8A would keep its hair shaving edge a bit longer than S30V but once it looses its shaving edge it's pretty much done. S30V would continue to cut for a longer time than 8A even though it lost its hair shaving edge earlier than 8A. Is this what you are saying?
 
vwb563 said:
So to average user if 8A and S30V were both hardened to the same RC level, 8A would keep its hair shaving edge a bit longer than S30V but once it looses its shaving edge it's pretty much done. S30V would continue to cut for a longer time than 8A even though it lost its hair shaving edge earlier than 8A. Is this what you are saying?
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In my experience that's just about spot on.

S30V loses its initial extreme sharpness VERY quickly, but it retains an edge that is sharp enough to do just about anything, and it holds it for a long time.

AUS8 will retain its shaving edge longer than S30V, because it doesn't have carbides that become exposed when the matrix is torn away like S30V does. But, the flip side of that is when AUS8 dulls to the point of not shaving, it's pretty much dull to the point that it no longer cuts anything with any reasonable efficiency.
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
In my experience that's just about spot on.

S30V loses its initial extreme sharpness VERY quickly, but it retains an edge that is sharp enough to do just about anything, and it holds it for a long time.

AUS8 will retain its shaving edge longer than S30V, because it doesn't have carbides that become exposed when the matrix is torn away like S30V does. But, the flip side of that is when AUS8 dulls to the point of not shaving, it's pretty much dull to the point that it no longer cuts anything with any reasonable efficiency.
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That would explain why I like 8A and ZDP189. 8A holds a good hair shaving edge and ZDP holds a fantastic hair shaving edge. When my knives loose their hair shaving edge is when I usually sharpen them back up. I guess I prefer a steel that holds a hair shaving edge over the rest.
 
vwb563 said:
So to average user if 8A and S30V were both hardened to the same RC level, 8A would keep its hair shaving edge a bit longer than S30V but once it looses its shaving edge it's pretty much done. S30V would continue to cut for a longer time than 8A even though it lost its hair shaving edge earlier than 8A. Is this what you are saying?
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Yes, that is what I am saying and what I have experienced in use.
 
I really can't tell much difference in the 8A and S30V knives I own as far as hair shaving edge holding but 8A is lot easier to sharpen back up. I guess that would explain why S30V is so hard to get to a hair shaving edge since it has the extra carbides.
 
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I have only owned two knives made from AUS8A. Therefore I most certainly cannot claim that my experiences constitute a statistically valid sample.

Nevertheless, both of my AUS8A knives were totally incapable of holding any kind of edge after cutting two pork chops.

Both were incredilility easy to sharpen, but dulled to "butter knife" status after cutting open only two or three boxes.

I must assume, from the above comments regarding the steel, that I have been unfortunate enough to be stuck with two "lemons." Nevertheless, from those quite unpleasant experiences, I would be reluctant to ever again purchase anything made of AUS8A.:thumbdn:
 
Ben Dover said:
I have only owned two knives made from AUS8A. Therefore I most certainly cannot claim that my experiences constitute a statistically valid sample.

Nevertheless, both of my AUS8A knives were totally incapable of holding any kind of edge after cutting two pork chops.

Both were incredilility easy to sharpen, but dulled to "butter knife" status after cutting open only two or three boxes.

I must assume, from the above comments regarding the steel, that I have been unfortunate enough to be stuck with two "lemons." Nevertheless, from those quite unpleasant experiences, I would be reluctant to ever again purchase anything made of AUS8A.:thumbdn:
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I would imagine that it probably wasn't the steel that failed you in this case, per se, but the heat treat they received and the resultant hardness. That's just based on the discussion thus far, though, I'm no expert.
 
knarfeng said:
Jim told me he could not tell the difference between the performance of S35VN and S30V either.
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That would be correct in my cutting tests with the 2 Mules I used. :)

Performance was so close that it was like testing 2x S30V blades or 2x S35VN blades instead of comparing S30V and S35VN.

On AUS-8, I like that steel, I use it a lot in the garage cutting up stuff.
 
Maddogg774 said:
I was watching Modern Marvels one day and they had Cutco/ka-bar and they claimed their knives had the highest CATRA rating !?!
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This is what happens when you compare slicing performance on a serrated (DD Edge-Cutco) to a plain edge (unnamed competitors testing by Cutco). For all we know, they're testing against the $2 knives from the local dollar store.
 
Niles said:
I would imagine that it probably wasn't the steel that failed you in this case, per se, but the heat treat they received and the resultant hardness. That's just based on the discussion thus far, though, I'm no expert.
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From my readings of the experiences of other, I think that is a plausible explanation.
 
Ben Dover said:
Nevertheless, from those quite unpleasant experiences, I would be reluctant to ever again purchase anything made of AUS8A.:thumbdn:
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I had a SOG in AUS8 that was similar. The knife would sharpen up no prob, but was done after a little cardboard or plastic. No burr either. Cold Steel is supposed to have theirs down pat, but I've never been inclined to buy anything else in that steel. I guess I'm just spoiled with my other knives.
 
I had a Cold Steel Vaquero in AUS8a for a time that I used quite aggressively. Fantastic design for a pocket knife but that steel would not hold an edge, to my satisfaction.

Ben Dover said:
I have only owned two knives made from AUS8A. Therefore I most certainly cannot claim that my experiences constitute a statistically valid sample.

Nevertheless, both of my AUS8A knives were totally incapable of holding any kind of edge after cutting two pork chops.

Both were incredilility easy to sharpen, but dulled to "butter knife" status after cutting open only two or three boxes.

I must assume, from the above comments regarding the steel, that I have been unfortunate enough to be stuck with two "lemons." Nevertheless, from those quite unpleasant experiences, I would be reluctant to ever again purchase anything made of AUS8A.:thumbdn:
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In my experience, S30V is considerably superior to 154 in edge holding. Therefore, if S35VN is virtually identical, it should be superior as well.
 
S30V is a good blade steel that we've been using for many years now. It does take some experience to get the mfg down, but it works well.

When we tested the S35VN material and then made a mule team, the material tested pretty much as Crucible said as far as edge retention goes. Good, but it might give us a little less in abrasion resistance.

Those that played with the Mule Team pieces also felt the S35VN was very close to S30V. Since the question has come up from Crimson's test, we've been checking current inventory. Rc is running pretty consistent at 59.7 and discussion with our heat treater concurred. CATRA testing done yesterday still puts the S35VN close to S30V. A little less, but I don't think most would notice. We're going to run a few blades up to 61/62 and recheck.

sal
 
Recieved my N5 today and the testing will be run on it tomorrow. :thumbup:
 
I've had a lot of great experience with cold steels aus8 and sogs aus8, some of the best heat treat with aus8 on the market. Great value steel. I'd sure like to see aus10 in some fixed and folders, but no one seems to use this stuff.
 
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