elmax vs m390 in zt0562

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redman2006

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Nov 6, 2012
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I am tossing around the idea of buying this knife and trying to decide which version.

I am still new to better knives like this, and know nothing about steels to speak of. Basically I confused myself with all the reading comparing the two. Can anyone straighten me out?

Thanks
 
Both steels are awesome, powdered metal stainless steels with similar properties. Their performance will be similar. It is going to come down more to your choice of carbon fiber and satin grinds or g10 and stonewash and availibility
 
Both great steels. Elmax will be tougher -- more resistant to chipping and breaking. M390 will have better wear resistance.

I think M390 is a better all-around steel for an EDC.
 
We have one fellow, Jim Ankerson, who has refined the testing of blade-steels (primarily cutting rope, with some cardboard, wood) to a fine art over the years. Here is the link to his continued testing...
Note that the M390 ranks at the top in Category 1 or 2, with Elmax in Category 4 or 5, depending on differing Rockwell hardness of each blade-steel.
If you're going to cut rope, cardboard, wood, then I would suggest M390 would be your top choice. Bladesteels vary not only in Edge-Retention (Ankerson files) but also on toughness and ease of sharpening. This really means that some steels that hold their edge a very long time are also likely to require more time/energy in subsequent resharpening, to the extent of perhaps relying on diamond abrasives for sharpening ease. Of course, diamonds are more expensive, so it's not always a win/win. YMMV.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...based-on-Edge-Retention-cutting-5-8-quot-rope
 
Thanks. From what I have been reading, they are more dealer's choice than a clear cut winner.

The knife will be edc. For me, that means some days it won't come out of the pocket, and on other days it will be worked pretty hard with everything from boxes to ropes to hoses to feed sacks to wire ties to........

I don't mm d sharpening, but I am not a guy that enjoys hours of maintenance on a blade either. I usually use a lansky followed with a really fine water stone freehand then a strop. It is weird, but works for me. Some day I will have an edge pro.

Is one better at not chipping? I have not chipped the blade on my elmax 0561, but I have on my rift.

Thanks for the help.
 
I am very pleased by both M390 and Elmax steels from ZT
I have a zt0350m390 and a zt0801blk with Elmax and both perform very well
Neither will disappoint you

I would say that I enjoy maybe the m390 a little more , but IMHO they are both very good and outperform the s30v for my EDC use

I am waiting for a zt0562cf with m390 ....;)
 
M390 will hold an working edge longer. Not hard to sharpen or touch up.
My vote goes towards the cf version.
The question is who has it in stock; or how much someone needs to let one go.
 
I have knives with both, I don't think most people can tell the difference...that being said, if I was buying the 562, I would be more focused on the scale material...I love carbon fibre and have the 0770cf, but I use that as a light duty knife because I think the scales are to slick...I would get the g10 version as it has real world value for a hard use knife...

Of course you could always buy a custom scale if you just have to have the 390
 
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