CPM S35VN Feeback

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microtech85

Joined
Dec 1, 2015
Messages
468
Hello,

I just purchased a new spyderco native 5 with g10 grip and s35vn blade. I have had it for almost a month now and so far it has held its edge better than my delica 4 ffg in vg10. I used to sharpen my delica twice a month with light use. It has been almost a month (with the same type use as my delica) with s35vn and the edge is steel razor sharp. I would like to get feedback from others who have experience with this steel or the native 5 and discus how it compares with other knives and or steels from personal experiences. I have yet to touch the s35 to a stone yet, but when I do sharpen, I sharpen with dos equis, I mean spyderco 2x8" fine stone.
 
Good to hear, because I'm expecting a ZT with S35VN. And I've never had that steel before. [emoji3]
 
Like the others have said, S35VN is an excellent all-around steel. I've had it from several makers and I've always been pleased with its performance. The fine benchstone should work well keeping it sharp. S35VN also responds well to stropping if you just need to straighten and refine your edge.
 
I have several Kizer Cutlery knives, all in S35VN. So far they have been a good knife steel. They hold an edge and sharpening is moderately easy for those occasions when they need a tough-up.





 
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In response to "dalefuller" regarding stropping the knife in between sharpening, I have been using a knife block steel by zwilling ja henckels to maintain the edge. Is there a better way or a better product to use for edge maintenance in between sharpening? I've become proficient at freehand sharpening over the past 10 years and get very nice results with my spyderco 302f 2x8" stone. However, I prefer to take the knife to the stone as little as possible. Any recommendations?
 
Micro, welcome aboard!

There is Plenty of information here for you to comb over at your leisure. Take a look at the stickies (yellow posts) at the top of this link:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/794-Maintenance-Tinkering-amp-Embellishment
There are threads about sharpening, stropping, and general maintenance.

In regards to touching up your knife between sharpenings, take a good long look into building or purchasing a strop.

I have had my sebenza for almost a year and I have only touched it to a ceramic rod once, but I have used my strop Plenty of times.
 
microtech85 said:
In response to "dalefuller" regarding stropping the knife in between sharpening, I have been using a knife block steel by zwilling ja henckels to maintain the edge. Is there a better way or a better product to use for edge maintenance in between sharpening? I've become proficient at freehand sharpening over the past 10 years and get very nice results with my spyderco 302f 2x8" stone. However, I prefer to take the knife to the stone as little as possible. Any recommendations?
Click to expand...

I use a couple of balsa strops from HandAmerican loaded with 3 micron and 1 micron diamond compound. Then I finish up with a few strokes on a bare horse leather strop. S35VN has always responded nicely to the fairly firm surface of balsa wood and the diamond compound. Sometimes I just straighten the edge on the bare leather strop.

A steel will straighten an edge, but it won't "refine" it the way a loaded strop will. The loaded strops will do a little better job of shaping the edge because they'll remove just a small bit of metal, but much less metal than a stone will remove. The bare leather mostly straightens, removes a burr, and polishes and edge.

I like to work in edge trailing strokes and I'll work both from heel to tip and tip to heel when stropping.
 
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Don't forget that there are other factors besides the steel contributing to the edge retention and performance of your knife, such as edge and blade geometry.
 
This also brings up other factors such as rockwell hardness and blade geometry to consider when talking about edge retention and durability. But say you do the regular 20dps edge all other things being equal like blade grind hardness a lot of the middle tier steels or however you define them really act about the same. I usually go for a little better edge retention with the same ease as sharpening when preferring a knife. It's why I often go with 440C, Elmax, VG10, S35V, Sandvik etc...not the latest and greatest but very easy to use and sharpen up while producing a very fine edge. I'm in the minority but 440a with a good heat treat is great with budget knives as well.

That said I like S35v and Elmax a lot I find that all in all they are about the same in terms of powdered steels when looking for non-toothy fine edges that are easy to sharpen. But I don't always buy knives based on knife steel (quite often I do though) how about that for a committed answer? Lol
 
Very committed answer cchu518. I just sharpened my native 5 for the first time and I found it sharpened almost as easily as my vg10 knives. However, I was surprised to find how sharp of an edge I could get with this steel. I got this knife in s35vn sharper than I have ever been able to get my vg10. That is a trait from this steel that I was not expecting. I must say that I am very happy with this steel. All in all, the edge held razor sharpness about twice as long as my delica vg10 and took a sharper edge from my spyderco 302f stone than I could get with my vg10.
 
microtech85 said:
Very committed answer cchu518. I just sharpened my native 5 for the first time and I found it sharpened almost as easily as my vg10 knives. However, I was surprised to find how sharp of an edge I could get with this steel. I got this knife in s35vn sharper than I have ever been able to get my vg10. That is a trait from this steel that I was not expecting. I must say that I am very happy with this steel. All in all, the edge held razor sharpness about twice as long as my delica vg10 and took a sharper edge from my spyderco 302f stone than I could get with my vg10.
Click to expand...

Use lighter pressure with VG10 would be my advice.

All and all, I enjoy both steels. Cost vs performance VG10 is a fine steel.

Some time ago Ed Schempp discussed his Schempp Rock and also gave his opinion on VG10 and some of its history.

[video=youtube;ZNulyy1dn90]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNulyy1dn90[/video]

That said. I enjoy S35VN but prefer RWL-34. Personnel preferences vary and enjoy them all in good health.
 
I deffy like all of the above steels but if I were forced to give an answer for edc folders it would be s35v and Elmax all the way. I find that they're really easy to sharpen take an incredible fine edge and holds that edge longer than the other steels that I mentioned. But definitely give Elmax a go if you like s35v. The native is on my next to get list of Spydercos. I had picked up a pm2 and loved it. I think it's the best Spyderco out there. But for me as an edc I would just never carry it as I like more compact knives. So I hope the native fits the bill. I can't carry a delica as I would just grab/use that knife over any other knife and that takes the fun out of the knife hobby.

I don't like to nitpick too much as I don't do anything crazy normally with my knives. And some of the non suggested stuff like prying o reserve for my cheaper knives with a aus8 or 8cr13mov those steels act a lot like 440c which is to say they are pretty darn good so long as you are getting stuff from the major makers like Spyderco or kabar. I particularly like aus8 as a "budget steel".
 
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