CTS XHP vs S30V

colu41

colu41

Joined
Dec 24, 2014
Messages
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Pros and cons of each?

I've read a lot of good things about CTS XHP but, dont see a lot of knives made from it. And S30V has always been a great steel so Im just taking a quick poll on what steel I should try out next.
 
Got a Cold Steel American Lawman in CTS-XHP and am highly impressed with this steel, not to mention the American Lawman design: Tri-Ad lock, G-10 grips, slim profile, high thin grind. Difficult to compare the two steels as my S30//S35Vn blades have different profiles, but I'd venture they would be very close in edge holding.
 
Thanks. Because s30 & 35 were the 2 others I've been contemplating. But I found 3 feet of 5/32 CTS for $66. Definitely want to try it out
 
really close and that may seem odd due to the alloy "advantage" S35v should have
i run my XHP at 62-63 (kitchen knives and razors) and it just takes and holds a nice fine edge strops up nicely and due to having less carbide formers carbide pull out at the edge is a min
so depending on what will be most cut witht he knife one might edge the other by a hair
 
butcher_block said:
really close and that may seem odd due to the alloy "advantage" S35v should have
i run my XHP at 62-63 (kitchen knives and razors) and it just takes and holds a nice fine edge strops up nicely and due to having less carbide formers carbide pull out at the edge is a min
so depending on what will be most cut witht he knife one might edge the other by a hair
Click to expand...
Is CTS a certain function steel? I do mostly hunting/ camping style knives and edcs. Would it be a decent steel for that?
 
Given both steel proper heat treat, the edge holding/toughness would be very close.

CTS-XHP would be finish better and can be taken to higher hardness without brittleness issue thought.
 
CTS is carpenters abbreviation all XHP is extra fine powder steel (for get what "gen" it is off hand)
shqxk is right and since im a maker i want ease of finish when most people never see a real difference between the 2 in use
 
butcher_block said:
CTS is carpenters abbreviation all XHP is extra fine powder steel (for get what "gen" it is off hand)
shqxk is right and since im a maker i want ease of finish when most people never see a real difference between the 2 in use
Click to expand...

Ok. Thanks butcher. Although I will eventually try out s30 & s35, but as for now, the same 3 feet of CTS is nearly $40 cheaper than either of the 2. I'll be trying it out.
 
I don't think you can really go too far wrong with either of them.

Sales may be affected by perceptions; CTS-XHP is often considered "fancier" or more rare; people who've used it (including myself) consider it a really outstanding alloy and a step up from CPM-154/S35VN etc in every way... S30V got a bad reputation earlier on for chipping, which most people think was just a HT thing (but some folks still hold a grudge)... S35VN isn't really thought of as an "exotic" steel but it's widely respected, and has been used successfully in many, many knives both handmade and production. As far as that goes, good ol' CPM-154 is sort of :yawn: these days, but I think it's still a dang fine stainless for small to medium knives.

Make of all that what you will. :)
 
I'm sure you'll like it. Have you used Elmax? They're very different chemically, but CTS-XHP acts a whole lot like Elmax in machining, sharpening and use. (that's a good thing!)
 
james terrio said:
I'm sure you'll like it. Have you used Elmax? They're very different chemically, but CTS-XHP acts a whole lot like Elmax in machining, sharpening and use. (that's a good thing!)
Click to expand...

No I haven't. I just finished building my HT oven in August. So far I've only used CPM154, AEBL, and a little bit of 15N20. Just doing some research before I dive into a bunch of different steels. Where can Elmax be purchased? I vaguely recall trying to find it online and couldn't.

Edit. USAKnife sells it. :)
 
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