How do you like your S30V Sebenzas?

[OwenM]

I've had both large and small Sebenzas in BG-42. Sold the large, as it wasn't being used, since I like my DDR CF EDC better, and use that or a 710HS for work. I traded the small, and regret it, since sometimes I don't always want the size or the recurve on my beloved EDC, and other folders just don't measure up-you know what I mean
Been using S30V in a couple of customs since last year's Blade show (abused the heck out of one earlier tonight, matter of fact), and have had only positive experiences so far.
Really just typed all that crap to make the point that nobody needs to sell me on the Sebenza or S30V, since I'm already familiar with both.

I've seen the threads about edge chipping on production S30V knives-both BM and CRK, but have never heard any real details, or what these people consider a chip, or what caused them for certain. This does make me wonder about the HT on these knives, though.

What is your experience with S30V in a Sebenza?
I am really not interested in S30V stories outside of knives made by CRK...this is about the quality of the HT, not the steel, the hardness, or the knife. It takes time, and a wide range of use to really "know" a steel, and hopefully some of you have had one long enough to have formed some opinions, good or bad...
Looking for personal experience, and preferably some details, not hearsay, flames, or wild claims, if you please
I'm thinking about buying another small Sebenza, but want to know what to expect from CRK's S30V before going that route. Some of those comments about S30V knives taking on damage easily raised some doubts.
Thanks.

 

[bagman]

OwenM

I do not know what caused the chips in my small S30V sebenza. I had been using it pretty hard out in the hedge in front of our house cutting brambles (blackberry bushes) and other soft/semi woodie stuff.

Before this I had used it every day for a while in normal letter, box, etc opening, cutting fruit and other stuff you use a folder for all the time.

It was the original CRK edge.

I have since used it to cut a couple of holes in a plater board wall with no damage other than a couple of scratches along the blade.

I have now sharpened it 4 times and only the very smallest amount of deformation is left and you can only see that when the light is in the right direction.

If it happens again I will give CRK a ring but we could not figure out what had happened the last time so I am just using it as normal.

It has not stopped me buying another sebenza as I have another on order now with S30V and ss damascus blades.

 

[guy g]

A friend of mine in CA had an older Sebenza rebladed with S30V, and said he used it around his business for about a month before touching it up on the Sharpmaker.
I wish he had an S30v when I bought mine. I wanted to try out the new steel.
guy

 

[OwenM]

Thank you both for the replies.

Harvey, thanks for the details.
How big were the chips? Do you feel that this was a wire edge breaking off, an edge ground extremely (too)thin, or "more than that"?
When you say you sharpened it four times since, and the damage is still visible, I'm assuming you touched it up, rather than regrinding the bevel to get the chip out(?).

To put it in perspective, and for something to compare to, I will attach a scan from awhile back of the edge after steeling on my DDR CF ALB proto in S30V@58-59Rc after a full-power chop from the shoulder into a coathanger--I was curious about how it would handle accidental impacts, and comparing it to other steels.
The blade is actually only 15/16" wide at this point, and the ding is in the center of the scan. The scan had to be enlarged so it would even be visible. I chopped the same knife edge on into banding material a couple of times at work the other night (having chipped a 420V knife accidentally on that same thing), and it displaced some material at the edge, but the damage disappeared completely after steeling. This is how S30V is "supposed to be" to my way of thinking, and I'm just trying to get an accurate picture in my mind of the extent of the damage that I'm hearing about on these production knives, before dismissing them, or plunking down some cash...
Anybody feel like chopping their Sebenza into a coat hanger?

Just kidding!


Surely more people been using these, though

 

[bagman]

OwenM - I did not take any pics so I cant be sure but the chips were plennty big enough to be seen unaided and were very obvious when you ran your nail down the edge.

I am sure it was not the remains of a wire edge because of the effort needed to remove them but I was using my sharpmaker which does not remove a great deal of steel. I keep looking at the diamons sleeves for it but I cant justify the price.

I have a set of dimaond hones for my gatco if I need to remove a lot of steel, in hindsight I possibly should have used them on my sebenza to get the chips out.

BTW I am not going to chop up coat hangers with my sebbie, who do you think I am Cliff Stamp

 

[OwenM]

Well, that's discouraging--the part about the chips, not about you not wanting to chop coat hangers Thanks again for taking the time to give details.
It seems weird (but in a good way!) that you've put the knife to what sounds like harder use since without more problems. I've heard of something like this with lasercut blades that had the material at the edge "decarburized"-that's what someone called it, new one on me-causing the initial edge to be more fragile, but having no more problems once the edge was sharpened, but that wouldn't apply to a hand ground blade...

Anybody else want to chime in here? Good or bad, just looking for some honest feedback.

 

[archieblue]

well I havent done any "white knickle" cutting by any stretch of the imagination with my S30V Mnandi... But it seems like a good steel so far. I have been using it and it holds an edge nicely. The toughest thing I've gut with it was the plastic straping on a bundle of 2X4s cause I didd'nt have my seb with me. It is definately equal to BG42 in sharpening diffiulty when compared to 154cm or SAK mystery steel. I make very light strokes though. It seems like a more "white" of a metal than the BG42. I'm planning on getting a twin for my small seb in S30V. I'll beat the crap outta that one (heavy, but necessary and warranted cutting) and definately let the forum know what I think. Personaly, the main advantage is its superior stain/rust resistance that tickles my pickle.