Edge Retention Delica vs Delica vs ZT 0450

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microtech85

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Hi guys, I just did another two videos to give a perspective on the results of the edge retention test i did with the zt 0450. The delicas did better than i had expected them to do; i really don't see the difference between vg-10 and s35vn as being substantial. Though, the s35vn was the better performer and by that i mean it cut through the rope more aggressively. The results:

Delica Hollow Grind - 300 cuts
Delica 4 FFG - 360 cuts
zt 0450 - 438 cuts

The way i did the test is such that you the viewer can determine by the intermittent paper test cuts when you think the knife is dull if you don't agree with when i determined them to be dull. This is something i wanted to do for the bladeforums community and for myself after reading several posts citing poor performance from s35vn and the zt 0450. I was just curious how mine would do and figured i might as well record the test and make a youtube account to show the evidence. I will leave the blades untouched so if a lot of you think one of them could have gone on further, or i ended the test too soon, i can resume the test where i left off. here are the links, the third one is still loading but will be up in about an hour.

https://youtu.be/Rc2pXmxnsnE

[URL='https://youtu.be/2rX6A6iPRaE']https://youtu.be/nmROBzLwrkQ[/URL]
 
Nice video and thanks for going through the trouble to do it. Nice to have a comparison. Would you consider mirroring a couple other tests from Cedric/Ada? Might provide a nice comparison What to expect from your difference in sharpeneing (the “reliably” cutting paper is a little subjective).
 
I agree about the cutting paper reliably being subjective. However, in the video, you can hear the sound when it cuts the paper. So i think the average bladeforums member can hear the sound it makes and visually see how it cuts to make a judgement. I think as the viewer, you can say, "hey, i think it stopped reliably cutting there" and consider it that many cuts. I think the sound is really a good indicator. I wasn't really sure at some points whether or not to keep going. But if people think a knife could have made it farther, then i can pick up where i left off on the test since i will put off sharpening those blades for a while.
 
Thanks for doing the test. I appreciate al the comparison tests for edge retention that one does when trying to evaluate steel and blade grind from different knife makers. Comparisons with a number of variables held constant are quite useful. I also like the work by cedric ada and think he didn't t do anything unusual when he tested the ZT s s35v blades. I wonder if he got fakes that he wasn't t aware of. He does appear to her quite open and honest with his testing.
 
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great vid,

the zt is also more than twice the cost of the delica and all us real knife nuts sharpen our knives when we get home that knife (strop mostly). That helped me get over the "this steel holds up better and you need it bs". Also I havent cut anything 300 times in a single day like every? Maybe the two times I moved and had to open 300 boxes...maybe thats it or maybe I just use $4 worth of razor blades cant remember..
 
How did you sharpen all three and to what grit? For instance Cedric ada Channel uses a work sharp edge and takes them to the same grits. It's convex edge. Do you sharpen all yours to the same angle and the same grit progression? Jim Ankerson also does a 400 grit edge on every one and lists the angle on each.

Sasaa23 was able to get simular results as Cedric ada Channel with the ganzo junk knife with the same grind.
 
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Hey Lemonslush, I agree that this is just a cut test and does not necessarily translate to actual use. It is very informative none the less. I have greater appreciation for the zt 0450 since doing the cut test with the delicas. I used to only see the zt as a nice looking knife with excellent fit and finish. Now I know that it is truly a pleasure to use on harder tasks. From previous use, I already knew that that my zt and benchmades and sage 3 were better than the delicas for whittling a stick. The thumb ramp really digs in to your hand when you try whittling a hard stick and that hot spot was amplified when doing so many cuts in such a short period; but the zt didn’t create a hot spot for me and it did the most cuts. So, all in all, I think one can learn more about the knife than just its edge retention when doing these types of tests.
 
hey mo2, i mention the way i sharpen in each of the videos. I start by free-handing on a red 600 grit dmt whetstone at about 20 degrees per side, then i progress to the sharpmaker also at 20 degrees to refine the edge, then i take a total of 6 passes, 3 on each side, on a loaded strop just to make sure all trace of burr is gone. I do not like to do too many passes on strop because the edge gets too smooth. But i sharpen my knives to the point where they will easily and cleanly slice a kirkland signature brand paper towel from heel to tip.
 
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lemonslush said:
all us real knife nuts sharpen our knives when we get home that knife (strop mostly).
Click to expand...

I sure don't.
Why would I sharpen it when it still cuts things acceptably?
I have better things to do. :)

And I'm "Knife Knutty" enough to have made several knives for my own use (and an axe, and a trident, and a sword), and spent stupid amounts of money on knives made by others, so I don't think compulsive sharpening is a sign of being a "real knife nut."
 
Hmmm. what if the Delica had the same edge thickness as the 0450? Difference in cutting totals would be even slimmer and its a VG10.

AS far as for cutting and slicing EDC blades, I prefer thinner blades every time.
 
Are you saying you think a thicker edge would perform better? I dont think so myself. it would not make it through paper slicing for very long. now, if the zt had a similar grind as the delica, i think it would have widened the gap to about double the cuts. it just goes to show, superior edge geometry can really maximize a knife's performance.
 
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