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How big of an upgrade is M390?

gastonian

gastonian

Joined
May 20, 2012
Messages
830
So, I was looking at the ZT 0350 and noticed that it is available in S30V and M390.

Is M390 worth the extra fifty dollars or so over S30V from a user’s, not a collector’s, prospective?

Does anyone have experience using ZT’s M390 compared to their S30V?

Anyone know how hard they run them?

Thanks
 
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Both will get insanely sharp, but S30V will lose that hair popping sharpness faster than M390. S30V will keep a useable edge for a long time though. So my pick would be M390, especially with how thick the 350 is behind the edge should you want to reprofile it.
 
When you think about it, the only benefit of a higher grade steel is to a user. A collector is just going to throw it in a box and it's going to collect dust. Does it really matter if it's 440C, S30V, 3V or M4? If you don't CUT anything with the damn thing, then who cares what the edge retention is?

As a user, I would 100% spend the extra dough for M390. More pride of ownership and better edge retention. Spoil yourself!
 
I have been VERY impressed with the M390 in my Spyderco Military, it's worth the extra cash to me in a knife I like.
 
I have the M390 ZT0350 and I would certainly buy it again.
I bought it to be used and in the month since I have had it if anything needs cutting it gets the job.
Last weekend I was cutting out card board swords and shields for my son's Boy Scout pack meeting, and ticking off the other parents.
Knife is still shaving sharp and I haven't had to touch the blade up yet.
 
Syncharmony said:
If you don't CUT anything with the damn thing, then who cares what the edge retention is?
Click to expand...

I find that collectors are WAY more into the type of steel then users. Sharp is sharp and for most people the only difference you'll notice is in how often you sharpen them. If the OP uses his knife occasionally then you can get by with S30V sharpening once a month for all of 5 minutes. And if the OP likes to sharpen, then again there's no advantage.
 
cpd670 said:
I have the M390 ZT0350 and I would certainly buy it again.
I bought it to be used and in the month since I have had it if anything needs cutting it gets the job.
Last weekend I was cutting out card board swords and shields for my son's Boy Scout pack meeting, and ticking off the other parents.
Knife is still shaving sharp and I haven't had to touch the blade up yet.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

Have you noticed if the M390 prone to chipping like S30v?

Shotgun said:
I find that collectors are WAY more into the type of steel then users. Sharp is sharp and for most people the only difference you'll notice is in how often you sharpen them. If the OP uses his knife occasionally then you can get by with S30V sharpening once a month for all of 5 minutes. And if the OP likes to sharpen, then again there's no advantage.
Click to expand...

Good point. I have a GEC with 1095 in my pocket so I am not a steel snob at all. I just want to get some info on how these compare before I pulled the trigger.

I know that S30v sometimes will chip out so I am wondering if M390 will do the same. I plan using this knife to cut tape, cardboard, plastic, rope, zip ties, and anything else that I may need to cut. I might even have to do the dreaded light prying tasks that come up from time to time.

Basically this knife is going to be my beater.
 
No chips in my blade.
It has cut a bunch of cable ties when I put up the Christmas lights along with opening every package that has arrived (my wife knows how to shop online).
 
M390 is a GREAT steel. I would pay the upgrade in price any day of the week.

[video=youtube;7TLwIw5apZY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TLwIw5apZY[/video]
 
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