CPM154 vs S30V

Josh K said:
I'm saying can you correctly determine relative edge retention given a blind test.
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Yes I can. :)

All the blades that I have tested were RC tested after I cut with them, not before except for one and my results have been dead on.
 
I look forward to seeing Ankerson's tests. Even imperfect verification helps the industry go forward, and practice makes us better at testing, too. Thanks to Jim for doing this and sharing his results.

Bill
 
Bill1170 said:
I look forward to seeing Ankerson's tests. Even imperfect verification helps the industry go forward, and practice makes us better at testing, too. Thanks to Jim for doing this and sharing his results.

Bill
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It's not perfect, but it pretty accurate at least for information to give a general idea.

I don't think there is any perfect test.
 
Ankerson said:
S30V at 58 RC performs like AUS-8A from my testing, just tested it at 58 RC today.

There is a huge difference between 58 and 60 RC.

That's not going to touch CPM-154 at 60 RC, not even close.
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So can I conclude then that buying an S30V knife is iffy? If happen to get one at 58 rc then it's just like I got one with AUS-8A? That sucks since there's a range of maybe 3 points on most S30V blades.
 
singularity35 said:
So can I conclude then that buying an S30V knife is iffy? If happen to get one at 58 rc then it's just like I got one with AUS-8A? That sucks since there's a range of maybe 3 points on most S30V blades.
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The ones that I bought have been good at 60 RC, both Militaries.
 
Incahiker said:
I see you say military at 60.... do you just have to get lucky to get a military at 60? I thought most of the spyderco militarys came with S30V at 57-58 HRC??
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I have a 3rd one coming. :D

They should around 60 RC.
 
singularity35 said:
So can I conclude then that buying an S30V knife is iffy? If happen to get one at 58 rc then it's just like I got one with AUS-8A? That sucks since there's a range of maybe 3 points on most S30V blades.
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Again, this is misleading. S30V has other advantages over other steels aside from edge retention.

You only have to look at composition to see how much different it is.
 
Incahiker said:
I see you say military at 60.... do you just have to get lucky to get a military at 60? I thought most of the spyderco militarys came with S30V at 57-58 HRC??
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Spyderco aims for (IIRC) 60-61 RC on their S30V knives.
 
Josh K said:
Again, this is misleading. S30V has other advantages over other steels aside from edge retention.

You only have to look at composition to see how much different it is.
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Yeh but isn't the main reason for choosing S30V over AUS-8, because it's the "better" steel in terms of edge retention? Which leads me to say that:

1. S30V=AUS-8A(@ 58 RC)
2. Then if I get S30V @ 58 RC, it's like getting AUS-8A that's hard to sharpen.

I don't really know much about steel composition, but expected "real world" performance is what matters to me when I choose the premium steel.
 
singularity35 said:
Yeh but isn't the main reason for choosing S30V over AUS-8, because it's the "better" steel in terms of edge retention? Which leads me to say that:

1. S30V=AUS-8A(@ 58 RC)
2. Then if I get S30V @ 58 RC, it's like getting AUS-8A that's hard to sharpen.

I don't really know much about steel composition, but expected "real world" performance is what matters to me when I choose the premium steel.
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The reality is that S30V is more stainless, tougher, and has better edge retention then AUS-8 at a given hardness. What is the RC of the AUS-8 you're comparing S30V @ 58?
 
Josh K said:
The reality is that S30V is more stainless, tougher, and has better edge retention then AUS-8 at a given hardness. What is the RC of the AUS-8 you're comparing S30V @ 58?
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I'm not actually comparing both steels. I read what Ankerson posted, and I do find Ankerson to be credible. When he says that in his experience S30V has similar edge retention to AUS-8A, I'm inclined to believe him.

My posts were not statements or opinions but rather questions. I wanted to know that if I got S30V @ 58 RC, is it like I'm just getting AUS-8A?
 
singularity35 said:
I'm not actually comparing both steels. I read what Ankerson posted, and I do find Ankerson to be credible. When he says that in his experience S30V has similar edge retention to AUS-8A, I'm inclined to believe him.

My posts were not statements or opinions but rather questions. I wanted to know that if I got S30V @ 58 RC, is it like I'm just getting AUS-8A?
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I am a big fan of Chris Reeves S30V, which is 57-58 HRC. Gets a really sharp edge and holds it as long as I want it to. Better then VG-10.

But.... to tell the truth in all reality going from each steel to the next isn't going to give us HUGE performance difference unless we have really crappy flea market knives. Buck's 420HC is no slouch at all and I wouldn't be sad if that is all I had in the woods knowing what I know now. I would be perfectly happy with it.
 
Incahiker said:
I see you say military at 60.... do you just have to get lucky to get a military at 60? I thought most of the spyderco militarys came with S30V at 57-58 HRC??
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That sounded low, so I went searching. It took me like an hour of googling, but I finally found a quote from Sal on the subject (via www.spyderco.com/forums/showpost.php?p=285691&postcount=15)

sal said:
Hi guys,

we're pretty anal about Rc. Ask our heat treaters ;)

S30V will run 59/60, checked twice.

Our machine is calibrated daily.

FYI the DLC coating is quite hard, in the 70's.

No offense Mr. Vu, but I think you might have something askew. Getting good accuate Rc readings on hard steel is more difficult than it might appear.

sal
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Incahiker said:
I am a big fan of Chris Reeves S30V, which is 57-58 HRC. Gets a really sharp edge and holds it as long as I want it to. Better then VG-10.

But.... to tell the truth in all reality going from each steel to the next isn't going to give us HUGE performance difference unless we have really crappy flea market knives. Buck's 420HC is no slouch at all and I wouldn't be sad if that is all I had in the woods knowing what I know now. I would be perfectly happy with it.
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According to the birth date cards I have, CRK aims for 58-59, not 57-58.
 
singularity35 said:
I'm not actually comparing both steels. I read what Ankerson posted, and I do find Ankerson to be credible. When he says that in his experience S30V has similar edge retention to AUS-8A, I'm inclined to believe him.

My posts were not statements or opinions but rather questions. I wanted to know that if I got S30V @ 58 RC, is it like I'm just getting AUS-8A?
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If S30V was like AUS-8, why would they make S30V? Something isn't clicking in there, try as I might to get it to.

I'm sure Ankerson means the best, as does all knife testers. At the end of the day it comes down to your experience with your knives. I am completely happy with CRK's HT of S30V at 58-59 RC. Considering he helped design the steel I'm also more confident in his judgement then anyone else's.

I'm suspicious of anyone who says a steel has to hit a certain RC to become different. It doesn't. Frankly no numbers or other proof he provides will convince me his testing is correct.
 
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