Is it worth the extra $$$?

You really can't go wrong with either model. The black blade is 13C26, which takes a fine edge and is a good 'working' steel that is easy to sharpen. The stone washed S30V is definitely an upgrade. The blade will take a good edge and hold it for noticeably longer than the 13C26. As well, it is reputed to be 'tougher' than 13C26. So, IMO the answer would be yes, it is worth the higher price.
 
For $30.00 more, if you like the knife and think you'll carry it often, the S30V is a great upgrade. If you were comparing, say, a 154CM bladed knife to an S30V knife, I'd say just keep the $30.00. But in this case it's more than enough of an upgrade to justify the price!

Also, I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of black coatings. They look great new, but most of them scrape off the blade much more easily than another blade would scratch. A stone-washed finish will also hide scratches better than a black coated blade.
 
you get maybe 10 to 15% better edge retension at the same thickness as 13c27, but it will be more difficult to sharpen. if you can find a knife with a thinner blade, or take the time to thin out the s30v blur, this is where the newer steels start to shine, and you will really start to notice a performance difference.
 
The web page doesn't say 13c27, but 440A. Is that a typo? If so: It's on other web pages that advertise the Blur.

Not a big fan of 440A. Tho it's reputed Kershaw does a nice job with the steels they use, and some would argue that's far more imporant than which steel it is, there are better steels. 440A is below my "acceptable steel threshold," which is generally AUS8 or 440C. 12C27 if I really, really liked the knife.

I'm even less a fan of S30V. Too many makers have had too many problems getting it just right, the result being too many reports of edge-chipping problems. Maybe the learning curve is over, and that problem has gone away, but still: With all the other good steels out there, I avoid it. Plus S30V is more difficult to sharpen, in general.

Caveat: All of the above is from what I've read, rather than from personal experience. I am no kind of knife or steel expert, nor do I play one on TV.

Not a fan of coated blades. They look good when they're brand new, but they scratch, scuff and wear, with time, and end-up looking kinda ugly, IMO.
 
i cant find any 440a blurs on kershaws site. i did see 13c26 as being the base steel for the blur.
 
i dont really think its worth the extra money because the basic blur model is good enough. i have the basic grey handle blur and its a fantastic knife.
 
I find S30V easier to sharpen (Based on my experience with Buck and Spydercos S30V) compared to 13C27 because it burrs less. It also holds an edge much better from what I've seen. Both steels have performed well for me at thin edges, and either would be acceptable to me in an EDC. I'd take the S30V though, it's less than 20$ more. If you plan to EDC it often it's worth it IMO.
 
all this nonsense about steels being too hard to sharpen is growing old. rather than using an inferior steel because it's softer and easier to sharpen, just invest $20 in a diamond stone and you won't have to worry about it. Personally I have had zero problems getting my s30v knives from dull to hair popping sharp with ceramic rods in under 5 minutes. I think the s30v upgrade is well worth it, and it makes an excellent steel for folding knives. My only recommendation would be to check out Spyderco instead. Kershaw makes fine knives but in my experience Spyderco knives are a better value with more advanced geometry and ergonomics; but that is just my opinion and many people would disagree. the most important thing is to be honest with yourself about what you will use the knife for and choose something with the appropriate geometry for the task. I think most knife nuts at some point in our lives purchased a "bullet-proof" folder with obtuse geometry to cut open boxes and envelopes :confused:. it took a spyderco native to show me the light and I'll never go back to the dark side :D
 
Sevorius, I hope you mean a Spyderco Native ground flat to the stone with an itty bitty microbevel :D

Agree with the rest of your post though, never understood the clamor about D2, S30V, ZDP189, 440V etc. being difficult to sharpen. I only use ceramics and diamonds to sharpen though.
 
Vivi said:
Sevorius, I hope you mean a Spyderco Native ground flat to the stone with an itty bitty microbevel :D
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well compared to the knives I previously owned from other makers both the tip and the edge of my native are much thinner. I am however referring to the s30v native made in golden, not the Seki City Native III which as I understand it has a much thicker tip and more obtuse edge geometry. I am sure there are thinner edges out there but the native was the first knife to get me interested in blade geometry. I was shocked at the margin by which it out-performed my other knives when cutting up thick cardboard.
 
S30V is well worth the extra money anyday. In my opinion, only CPM D-2 and S90V beat S30V.

(I'm fairly sure CPM M-4 will beat them all, but I don't have one yet.) :p
 
I bought a Blur for a friend's B-day, and was REALLY impressed with it. I'd say either way you can't go wrong... Most of my knives are s30v, but I'd say that most likely the $30 more is trivial.. If you have cash laying around, go for it. If you are on a budget, then the 13C26 is prolly fine... 440A is SUPER easy to sharpen though... personally, I'd go for the 13C26 because I hear good things, and have never used it!
 
Vivi said:
... never understood the clamor about D2, S30V, ZDP189, 440V etc. being difficult to sharpen. I only use ceramics and diamonds to sharpen though.
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Perhaps the folk that cannot sharpen these steels do not have a set of diamonds and then ceramic?

Yes, 13c27 will be easier to sharpen than S30V.
But the S30V is well worth the extra $.
The edge on my Native in S30V last for ever and a day.
 
Given that the steels listed are 440A and S30V, and that the price difference is only $17, and that the cheaper version has an ugly coated blade...

...I would definitely buy the S30V version.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it. :p
 
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