Favorite Spyderco blade steels for Spyderedges?

J

JD Spydo

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Nov 20, 2004
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A few of us discussed this over at the other forum about a year ago and we had many very interesting comments and differences of opinion on the subject of blade steels used for Spyderedges ( Spyderco's patented serrated edge blades). I own and use several of Spyderco's Spyderedged blades and love most of them however I've discovered that there are some blade steels that truly stand out when used on serrated blades. Albeit over the years I've discovered that Spyderedged blades and plain edged blades respond completely different with different types of blade steels>> some of the blade steels take harsh use in Spyderedges noticeably different than other blade steels do.

Like many of the great blade steels that I just adore for plain edged Spyders like ZDP-189. S90V, and M390 are just super for many of my plain edged Spyders but don't seem to do so great in Spyderedges I've noticed. I even heard that Spyderco won't even consider using ZDP-189 ever again for Spyderedges but it is still one of my all time favorite plain edged steels. Whereas many of the blade steels that I've not been so fond of for plain edges like AUS-8, ATS-55, H-1 and 440V seem to excel when they are used for Spyderedged blades.

Now of course there are some exceptions>> for instance I've had great luck with VG-10 for PE & SE blades both. I can somewhat say the same about the old ATS-34 for being good for PE & SE both.

But going back to one of Spyderco's oldest steels GIN-1 which to me was about average for plain edged blades but great for Spyderedges. So I'm wondering if you all have experienced the same results as I have or do you disagree with me on some of the aforementioned? But to me it goes without saying that blade steels like AUS-8 have given me sterling results with Spyderedges but only average results with plain edges. OK let's talk about the two different edge types and which steels seem to have the advantage in certain applications
 
My Wayne Goddard in G2 is scary sharp. My only fully serrated knife, but one of my favorites.
 
The only SE knives I have are in H1, I had a PE version in H1 first and wasn't impressed with it's edge holding, SE is much better. I had an ATS-55 Delica in full SE for about a month before someone swiped it, so didn't get to try it out much.
 
I've only ever had one SE blade, a Rescue in AUS-8A that had serrated tip damage when I got it (was cleaning out a barracks, and it was stuck under a bed, so I Rescued it!). It was a pain to repair that edge by hand, and I almost converted it to a PE, but persevered. It's ridden in several cars as a seatbelt ripper, but never gotten much use.

I've had various blade steels in my PE Spydercos, and all have given good service, but that was the only AUS-8A blade I've had, so I can't really compare them directly. But PE edges are way easier to maintain!
 
For me, the obvious answer is H!...

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But I agree on the AUS8 statement, I found the same results more or less with my multiple Cold Steels and much prefer the steel in SE
 
ThePeacent said:
For me, the obvious answer is H!...

But I agree on the AUS8 statement, I found the same results more or less with my multiple Cold Steels and much prefer the steel in SE
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Yeah I've had a lot of full Spyderedged blades with AUS-8 and I've just been very pleased with how well they cut and hold their edge. Like I said before AUS-8 is one of those blade steels that really doesn't rank high in the plain edge blades but for some reason it's one of those blade steels that really endures well and performs well in Spyderedge.

One of my all time favorite Spyderco user blades is one I use in the kitchen almost every week at least twice or three times and I'm speaking of my older/discontinued, fully serrated AUS-8 Spyderco Catcherman model ( from the 90s era). I've owned and used that knife since about 2004 when I first got it and I believe I've only sharpened it about 3 to 4 times in all those years. The AUS-8 and ATS-55 full Spyderedged blades just really perform well for me. I also had an AUS-8 stainless handled Caly Jr. that was truly a great performer as well. It was about the very best small Spyderedged folder I ever had. It's another one that I deeply regret trading.

One full Spyderedged gem I used all weekend long was my stainless handled, ATS-55 Spyderco RESCUE model in full Spyderedge. I used it in some landscaping chores at the house the entire weekend. When I checked the blade out last night all it needed was a minor touchup on the spikes and scallops and it was razor sharp again. And I've owned and used that knife a lot since about 2006 when my good Forum Friend Spydutch gifted me with it.

It is a very interesting anomaly that many of these blade steels that are only average or slightly above average for plain edges but are truly great performers in Spyderedge.

To the one Brother who has given us a testimony about how good his fully serrated Spyderco folder is with G-2 steel. Most of us long time Spyderco fans know that G-2 and GIN-1 are the same blade steel with different names. Why they used different names for the exact same blade steel is beyond me. But I had a lot of the older GIN-1 Spyders from the early to mid 90s in full Spyderedge that did great in SE but in PE they were average at best IMO.
 
mobilerd said:
My Wayne Goddard in G2 is scary sharp. My only fully serrated knife, but one of my favorites.
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G-2 blade steel in Spyderedge is a great performer to this very day. G-2 and GIN-1 are the same blade steel with different names and why they use different labels/names is beyond me. I've personally had several fully serrated Spyderco models with GIN-1 ( G-2) and found them to be great in Spyderedge. GIN-1 was also relatively easy to sharpen and did pretty good in corrosion resistance as well.

The RENEGADE & BLACKHAWK models both in SE were great and both of them were made with GIN-1. They are also two of the very few models that were made at the Japan plant and the GOLDEN, CO USA Earth plant too. Another obscure model that was good in Spyderedge with GIN-1 was the original C-40 Khalsa model.

And don't forget about the iconic POLICE and Harpy models that got their start with GIN-1 ( G-2) blade steel and most of the earlier of both models were full Spyderedge>> needless to say those two modelsssss
 
Say I'm curious? Has Spyderco make a folder or a fixed blade with a Spyderedged version of LC200N? Something in my gut tells me that it would also be a good blade steel for Spyderedged models.

I also think that Spyderco should take a hard look at all their high vanadium steels for Spyderedges. Because the older 440V is truly one of the better Spyderedged blade steels to date IMO. 440V is a monster to sharpen but it has great edge retention.
 
JD Spydo said:
Say I'm curious? Has Spyderco make a folder or a fixed blade with a Spyderedged version of LC200N? Something in my gut tells me that it would also be a good blade steel for Spyderedged models.
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What I wouldn't do for a skeletonized, Ti framlock Military with Spyderedged LC200N...
 
i only own three SE/or spyderedges,all of witch are the order native's/FRN/pined,1st one in GIN-1,2nd in 440V and my 3rd is in S30V,and i would say the 440v is about the sharpest of the three!but like said above,its vary hard to sharpen,but once done and the time spent,it stays sharper longer then my other two.
 
blanex1 said:
i only own three SE/or spyderedges,all of witch are the order native's/FRN/pined,1st one in GIN-1,2nd in 440V and my 3rd is in S30V,and i would say the 440v is about the sharpest of the three!but like said above,its vary hard to sharpen,but once done and the time spent,it stays sharper longer then my other two.
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Interesting lineup of Spyderedged units you have there "blanex1" ;) I'm with you 100% on GIN-1 and 440V>> both those steels are two of my all time favorite blade steels for Spyderedged folders. The 440V in particular is virtually indestructible IMO>> however it is a literal monster to sharpen :eek:

Now I didn't have that great of luck with S30V in Spyderedge and I didn't have really good luck with it in PE either for that matter. I've actually found VG-10 to be superior for my uses. I know S30V has a lot of fans who do like it but I can name off at least a dozen blade steels that do better for me in Spyderedge.

My 440V SE Native which I still own and my old 440V SE Military model which I no longer own but would love to have again>> both of those Golden, CO USA Earth units were great in that blade steel especially.
 
I'm original owner of a Delica GIN-1 SE. It cleaned 11 Mahi Mahi on this one cruise up to SF. Never had any complaints with the steel, but the only other folder I eventually had to compare was an early 80's Al Mar Hawk Talon.
 
craytab said:
H1 hands down.
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OH I agree that H-1 Spyderedges are very dependable. I'm still curious as can be as to whether or not it's nitrogen based cousin "LC200N" would also be a good steel for Spyderedges. But H-1 is definitely in the top 3 with no argument from me at all.
 
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