EKT Companion

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fshaw

Joined
Sep 28, 2006
Messages
165
I purchased a companion in S35VN from a member here. I love the knife as an EDC with the exception of its edge holding which is disappointing. I have 3 options: 1. deal with it (sharpens easily which is good as it needs it often), 2. Send it out for heat treat to see if it would be better at R62-64 if I can find someone to get it that hard, 3. Sell it and buy the same knife in CPM 20 which would coat me about $75 or so to uphrade.

Any one have experience with the knife in both steels? If so is the newest gen in CPM20 significantly better in holding an edge? I can’t find a hardness listed in the specs for either knige so any info there is appreciated.

I do know how to sharpen knives so l’d prefer to skip that part.

Thanks.

Frank
 
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EKT has a site here (Hosted Knife Makers forum) where you will find interesting informations and pictures of the two generations of Companions. It seems the finish of the CPM20V Gen is not as good as the S35V Gen. If this is actually true, one should pop up on the Exchange a day or another. This said, I have a S35V Gen and I'm very happy with it : it's flawlessly finished, is thin ground yet with a sturdy spine, the sheath is perfectly functional (very important if you carry it as a necker) and the whole package is lightweight enough to be neckcarried all day long without even feeling it. I'd say you got a very fine little knife. I have no experience with CPM20V but I doubt that it can be night and day compared to S35V in the edge holding department.
 
herisson said:
I have no experience with CPM20V but I doubt that it can be night and day compared to S35V in the edge holding department.
Click to expand...

Yessir, it IS night and day. Big diff btwn Cat 1 and Cat 5. Not even in the same ball park.

Here is steel edge-holding categories of Jim Ankersons cutting tests: 5/8" manile rope.


Category 1
CPM-S90V (Military and Para 2) (60)
CTS-20CP (Para 2) (60)
M390 (Mule) (60.5)
CTS - 204P (Para 2)

Category 2
M390 (60)
CPM M4 (62.5)
CPM-S90V (59) (Manix 2 with 30 Degree Micro Bevel)
CPM-S60V
VANAX 75 (Kershaw Tilt)

Category 3
Vanax 35 (59.5)

Category 4
ZDP-189 (65)
CPM-154 (62)
ELMAX (60)
CTS-XHP (Military) (60+)
Super Blue (61.5)
CPM 3V (Big Chris)

Category 5
S30V (60)
VG-1
CPM - D2 (62)
N690
ATS-34 (59)
CPM-S35VN (59)
N680
ELMAX (58.5) Mule
D2 - Dozier K2

Category 6
INFI
154CM (61)
14C28N
CTS-B75P (Mule)

Category 7
VG-10
S30V (58.5)
AUS-8A
SG-2
5160 (55)
13C26N
X-15
440C (Big Chris)

Category 8

H-1
420 HC (Buck 110)

Category 9

CTS-BD1
 
Never used either steel but I dislike rope cutting being used as the definitive answer on edge holding. There are too many variables in how each individual person uses knives to say that one steel will have an edge longer than another. Some people scrape with knives which could shoot the lowly 1095 past s90v in edge holding. Ankersons testing should be used for a general feel for steel. It’s not gospel.
 
Numbers yielded by a standardized test are certainly interesting and I don't doubt CPM20V is a great steel. And a "super steel" is definitely an asset for a small blade as the smaller the cutting edge is, the more it will be subjected to wear. The fact is my everyday knives are small and made of a great variety of steels, from good old carbon steel (1075 or 1065) over basic stainless like 12C27 or 420HC to the more advanced stuff like CPM154, VG10, S30 / S35V and Elmax. Granted, I use my knives for light average stuff : no chopping, splitting, serial cutting for hours, in short just random everyday stuff (and that would be the niche of the EKT Companion...). I found that all my knives work perfectly well, hold an edge for a reasonable time and can be sharpened with no worries at all. I am far more concerned by the design of the knife itself : blade geometry, ergos of the handle, balance. This makes win or fail of a knife for me. That's why I can testify the Companion Gen 1 is a gem. I'm just not sure the steel alone is worth preferring the Gen 2.
 
I like the knife well enough as stated above, but it is disappointing (to me) on how it holds an edge. Anyone ever use Peters Heat Treat? There are some commercial makers that use them for pretty high hardnesses.

Anyone used both a EKT Companion and a Bradford Guardian 3? The Guardian 3 isn't much bigger and uses M390 at R61.

Thanks.

Frank
 
fshaw said:
I purchased a companion in S35VN from a member here. I love the knife as an EDC with the exception of its edge holding which is disappointing. I have 3 options: 1. deal with it (sharpens easily which is good as it needs it often), 2. Send it out for heat treat to see if it would be better at R62-64 if I can find someone to get it that hard, 3. Sell it and buy the same knife in CPM 20 which would coat me about $75 or so to uphrade.

Any one have experience with the knife in both steels? If so is the newest gen in CPM20 significantly better in holding an edge? I can’t find a hardness listed in the specs for either knige so any info there is appreciated.

I do know how to sharpen knives so l’d prefer to skip that part.

Thanks.

Frank
Click to expand...

Not to sound like I'm messing with your head here.But if you think the S35VN wasn't heat treated so well by that knife manufacturer...why would you think they would be doing a great job with a more complex steel like CPM-20V?

For example-when I hear people really talking up S30V...I never hear anything about Lone Wolf Knives.They hardened that steel to 62rc which is harder than most manufacturers.It is a bit more prone to chip at that hardness but there was a guy on YouTube many years ago who did an edge retention demo with a Cheyenne model.Only time I was convinced S30V was a great steel...Lone Wolf did their homework on that steel and not just slapped it on as a trend steel.
 
I believe that Mr. Evans intentionally chose to leave the first gen. a bit low on the Rockwell scale. His video shows him battoning with the knife. Since he chose a steel generally considered to be better at edge holding, I’m curious whether he tempered it to greater hardness. Seems a logical question to me.
 
Definitely logical. I can just say the edge holds up well to everyday use (and I thinned it down to 15° dps). Having a lower HRC will allow for some tool use (like prying open can lids). If the same approach was behind the CPM20V model, the difference in edge holding could be even less noticeable. If you are into re-heattreating your blade, there is Bluntcut, here on the forums (Crystal Weaving Foundation) who does something that looks quite interesting (high hardness and high toughness). I don't know if S35VN is among the steels he has already experimented.
 
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