Does anyone Preferr H1 over VG10 For EDC

[buddy54ck]

Hi All,
Outside the obvious corrosion resistance aspect, does anyone preferr H1 over G10? Why?
Thanks and just wondering,
Charlie

 

[dcycleman]

only if I'm near the ocean. other than that vg 10 trumps it

 

[guyfalks]

Hi All,
Outside the obvious corrosion resistance aspect,

The corrosion resistance is the big aspect. Take it away and there is a lot of rough competition out there.

I am a H1 fan. Despite reports of not so great edge holding, I personally find H1 to be one of the easier steels to sharpen and its edge holding to be adequate for my uses with no noticeable difference from VG10. (And better than my Swiss Army Knife.) This does not mean that VG10 does (or does not) hold an edge better; just that I find the difference insignificant for my own use. YMMV.

I have also heard that H1 has better impact resistance; but if true, it is kind of unimportant in a small folding knife like the Salt or Pacific Salt.

 

[thombrogan]

Serrated H1 will cut the wire wraps for childrens' toys without losing a tooth. That's good enough for me.

 

[dgulbra]

I like H1 better only if it is a fully SE blade

 

[D1omedes]

For plain edge, I prefer VG10. It holds an edge a bit better and is just as easy to sharpen, IMO, as H1.

It really comes down to corrosion resistance. H1 is so nice to carry in the summer and around water. I haven't used H1 with serrations so I can't comment on that.

If Spyderco offered H1 models with full flat grinds, which I know is not possible, then the I'd recommend the Salt 1 as a first knife for knife newbies. The ease of sharpening and superior corrosion resistance are very nice features for an EDC. But the Delica FFG gets the nod because of the superior slicing abilities.

 

[The Deacon]

No, primarily because none of the models I prefer for EDC come in H-1.

 

[phillipsted]

No.
TedP

 

[singularity35]

I have no problems with my knives rusting, so no, I don't need nor am I interested in models with H1.

OTOH, I love VG-10.

 

[Ponyex]

If Spyderco offered H1 models with full flat grinds, which I know is not possible

BTW why is it not possible?

 

[The Deacon]

BTW why is it not possible?

Don't know for sure, beyond the fact that Sal has repeatedly said it's a no-go. Custom makers can regrind an H-1 blade to full flat grind, but apparently H-1's characteristic of "work hardening" does not lend itself to the methods used to create one in a production environment.

 

[unit]

BTW why is it not possible?

It is possible, Sal says it is not possible for Spyderco to do it yet. That can be interpreted several ways.

1. It may prove too expensive and laborious to offer a FFG on a work hardened steel considering the desired price point.
2. It may induce changes in the steel that Spyderco deems undesirable and therefore they have not yet figured out a way to offer a product in H-1 that holds the attributes they demand.
3. It may be some other reason entirely.

I can envision a lot of things that could go wrong with FFG and H-1, but I am not nearly on the level of some knife makers.

I know that H-1 gets really hard, really fast when you start machining it. I tried to drill a hole in a blade once with a bit intended for hardened steel. The bit cut like a champ for about half a mm then it behaved as if it burned the tip off. I tested this on a second hole and found the same results...I concluded that the metal work hardened to the point that the bit would no longer cut. I can only imagine FFGing it and how that process must wear tools.

Further, H-1 holds one attribute that I find VERY useful in a hard use application...it will bend quite a bit without breaking. If you work it excessively, it may harden up and become more brittle. The current Salt series is convex saber grind. Perhaps a flat saber grind could be done, but a FFG might result in VERY different blade attributes.

Just sharing some thoughts.

Regarding the OP...I used to prefer the Salt for my EDC. When I am working out (lots of sweat), I still demand H-1...and my son only has one knife and it is H-1 so you might say it is his favorite steel (but he knows nothing else)

H-1 is good stuff, but there are many aspects to knife/steel preference. Those who prioritize edge holding on a plain edge will likely have a different preference from the guy that perhaps needs very high resistance to corrosion and a blade that will take a LOT of abuse without breaking.