Elmax versus S110V for a user

NjHart · May 13, 2013

I've been thinking more and more about the zt560 and this new s110v edition is certainly tempting me. I'm not normally a huge carbon fiber fan, but I have to say it looks pretty awesome in this version. I have exactly zero experience with either of these steels, so I'm curious what would you choose for your user? Is s110v nightmarish to put a good edge on? Is elmax? How is the corrosion and rust resistance on these guys? And it the extra cost for the s110v a worthwhile investment for use performance or would you consider it more of just a cool feature for a collectors piece on this particular knife? Sorry for packing a lot of random questions together, but everyone seems extremely excited about this knife, and I have to say it has my interested piqued.

Janv · May 14, 2013

I like mine so far and have no issues to speak but i don't have an Elmax knife to compare it to.

seelow123 · May 14, 2013

I don't have one in S110v but I can tell you the S110v will have better edge retention by quite a bit. If you're fascinated by steel composition like I am, you may enjoy this comparison graph.

Moxy · May 14, 2013

I've not been impressed with elmax. This video sums it up pretty nicely.

[video=youtube;ulQzcYT9Dds]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulQzcYT9Dds[/video]

NjHart · May 14, 2013

That is a rather interesting video. I've seen a few of those and of course the infamous CRK edge damage videos before, and I don't think there is too much doubt the s110v would have a much more durable edge. How are either of these steels to sharpen and maintain? I've never had any issues returning anything of s30v or s35v back to phonebook paper slicing, bald spot making sharp with nothing more than my little double stuff and my homemade strop. I think once I may have taken a medium grit lansky stone and freehanded a bit on it with the s30v when I got it super dull. I'd hate to get something that I'd have an impossible time keeping sharp enough with the stuff I regularly have at hand.

Orangeneck · May 14, 2013

seelow123 said:
I don't have one in S110v but I can tell you the S110v will have better edge retention by quite a bit. If you're fascinated by steel composition like I am, you may enjoy this comparison graph.

Wouldn't it depends on the HT? The S110 in 560CBCF is only targeted at Rc 58-59, while Elmax in 551, 560, 561 is spec-ed in the 58-62 range with a target of Rc 61. This info is in a zombie tread in this forum.

seelow123 · May 14, 2013

Orangeneck said:
Wouldn't it depends on the HT? The S110 in 560CBCF is only targeted at Rc 58-59, while Elmax in 551, 560, 561 is spec-ed in the 58-62 range with a target of Rc 61. This info is in a zombie tread in this forum.

I wasn't saying to make your decision based on the composition. I was just putting the info up there for those that might find it interesting or helpful. Heat treat would definitely play a huge role.

NjHart · May 15, 2013

Hopefully someone puts one of those awesome cfcb560's to work and can tell use how it goes! They look pretty awesome, but I'm not sure if the extra cost it would require is worth it for an edc user.

TotalDbag · May 15, 2013

NjHart said:
Hopefully someone puts one of those awesome cfcb560's to work and can tell use how it goes! They look pretty awesome, but I'm not sure if the extra cost it would require is worth it for an edc user.

Cut some cardboard, and it's still sharp. One other thing to note. It's super easy to touch up, so as long as it doesn't get super dull I don't see a problem with sharpening.

freewheeling · May 16, 2013

Well I have two Elmax blades (ZT0561 & Kershaw Speedform II) and a third coming soon (ZT 0566) so have been hoping all the negative hype about Elmax is just that. I haven't really used mine enough to comment on edge retention.