CPM3V vs. A2

3V has twice the impact toughness and maybe better than twice the wear resistance of A2. It's my favorite.

Jack
 
All in the heat treat! 3V is just fantastic when heat treated properly!


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
CPM 3V is an incredible steel. It is far tougher than A2 which is no slouch in that department. It holds an edge aas well as anything out there. 52100 is my overall favorite when it is forged by Ed Fowler, but 3V is my second favorite. Because of it's toughness and strength you can use thinner pieces of 3V to make big knives. This way they are lighter, but every bit as good for chopping as heavier blades made out of A2 or the other well respected high carbon tool steels.

A2 is a fine steel as well and will make some excellent knives. It is also less expensive than 3V so you should not have to pay as much for a knife made from A2.
 
For a tool steel A2 is fairly easy to sharpen. It also takes a particularly sharp edge. I would expect 3V to take a lot more effort.
 
And what about corosion resistance? I hear 3V doesn't take well to moisture. This worries me because I'm taking a 3V Lightfoot Nightstrike ocean kayaking next week.
 
What I have heard is that 3V does not rust easily, but when it does, it tends to pit very quickly (because of the grain structure?). I have a Martin Vanguard Odyssey in 3V, and despite cutting some brush with it, and fondling it intensively, it has not stains or marks, so I would say that if you keep your knife clean and prevent any rust from starting, it will not be a problem.
 
I currently own:
-Walter Brend Model 4(Bush Hog)
-2 Walter Brend Model 2's (10")
-Trace Rhinaldi(Armageddon)
-2 RJ Martin (Wasabi's)
All in CPM3V and have used all of them(exept one of the Wasabi's).Got one thing to say,"CPM3V Rocks"!!!!
After using this stuff it definately has my vote especially in larger knives.
I haven't seen any rust at this point,but I really clean my knives after using them.
John
 
HJK, given that it's ocean kayaking, and will be salty, I would definitely Tuff-cloth the blade before you go out, and wipe it off immediately afterwards. You also (not that it's any of my business) might want to consider some sort of lanyard. I'd hate to lose a couple hundred bucks overboard.
 
Burke, your suggestions are welcome.
I wouldn't normally take a CPM 3V with me on the ocean because it can take hours before the knife can be cleaned, and that can be too long, even with Tuff cloth, Ren wax and everything else I've tried. I usually take a cheaper knife or a talonite or stellite blade, in addition to my PFD or neck knife. But Greg made this one for me on a rush for a different trip that got cancelled and to make it up to him I promised him some pictures of his knife from antarctica, which is where I'm going this time.
Lanyard? You've got that right :)
 
King Grinch :

What about sharpening the two?
Click to expand...

Ease of sharpening is far more a factor of suitability of a steel for a particular type of blade, the actual type of steel makes little difference as all of them are easily cut by quality abrasives. Given the high toughness, strength and wear resistance of CPM-3V, assuming the maker ground the blade according to how it is intended to be used and it is heat treated to optomize that range of performance, it will sharpen very easily.


-Cliff
 
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