Is S30V Steel Any Good In Sebenzas ???

nyefmaker

nyefmaker

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I want to purchase a Sebenza. I am looking into a Large Regular. I see so many people lately saying how bad the S30V steel is. Is it that bad ??? I want one for everyday carry. Should I be looking at older models with BG-42 steel instead ??? Any newer regular and all the classics and 21 all have S30V steel. I do not want to pay almost $400 for a knife with poor edge holding ability. I know chris reeve makes excellent knives. I have many of his one piece knives and they are absolutely the best. Any advise on the S30V steel ??? Or is there a rash of improperly sharpened knives out there ??? Thanks in advance!
 
Iv not had any problems with blades on my Sebs but I would personaly prefer BG-42 if given the choice.
 
S30V is very good on the sebenzas. The amount of people that own them and daily carry them more than vouch for the quality of the materials used.
 
the s30v blades are very good. i have owned three (currently one) and all performed as i needed.

but, as haze mentioned, my first choice would be an older bg42. had a real nice ug, but lost it in dc. :(
 
:thumbup: for Chris Reeve's S30V. No issues with mine. That being said, I wouldn't mind a BG42 Sebbie for comparison/variety.
 
Eight of my current nine Sebenzas are S30V. No trouble with any of them. A couple of the ones I got new came with an "underwhelming" factory edge, but back they went and now they are outstanding. As far as edge holding, I haven't had a problem with anyone's S30V. I've carried and used CRK, Spyderco, Benchmade, and Strider S30V blades. No chipping, no early dulling, no corrosion... IMAO, it's a fine steel for a pocket folder.
 
I've had some minor chipping with S30V with Spyderco's, but none whatsoever with Sebenza. Their S30V is excellent. Not sure if it's his heat treat or supplier, but CRK has great S30V.
 
What about All the negative responces with regard to S30V in the sebenzas ??? I have read on here many who love it and nearly as many who dislike it ???
 
Depends on your use. If you are planning on really using it, I would choose the BG42. I have a S30V one myself, and it doesn't keep it edge as long as other steels. Or, at least, if the have comparable edge retention they are easier to sharpen.

These are things I use mine for, other steels do better on these 'hard' use parts.
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I've been EDCing my large regular Sebenza since 1996, using it for all manner of camping and utility chores. I will say that I use it in traditional knife applications; for other tasks, I pull out a SAK (or a tool from the tool box) and use the appropriate tool. A couple years ago, I upgraded the ATS-34 blade to S30V. I'm almost ashamed to say it, but I haven't noticed much difference. Both performed or are performing exceedingly well. I can get them wickedly sharp, the edgeholding capability is great, and there has been no chipping of either blade. I think if I squint, my impression is that the S30V stays sharp longer -- maybe a lot longer. However, if you were somehow able to produce data showing me usage vs. sharpness of my Sebenza over time and told me that the ATS-34 and the S30V performed the same, I'd easily shrug my shoulders and accept it.

I've also been using a NR Warrior for several years as a heavy use camp knife. I also usually use this knife as it was intented to be used. I baton HARD with it, but with wood, splitting wood. No hammers here. I accidently batoned through a couple large nails. Went through them like they weren't even there. No chipping, and excellent performance from the S30V blade.
 
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CRK was one of the companies that popularized S30V. Others have followed .There are many S30V blades out there and many happy customers. I think many of the complainers are trolls or those who don't know how to sharpen or use knives !
 
CRK S30V is probably the best "production" S30V you can get- it's harder than Spyderco's-i can tell you that from sharpening and it holds an edge extremely well- CRK helped development the dang steel, so I think they should know a thing or 2 about it
 
coolhand68 said:
I've had some minor chipping with S30V with Spyderco's, but none whatsoever with Sebenza. Their S30V is excellent. Not sure if it's his heat treat or supplier, but CRK has great S30V.
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it ALL about heat treat- spyderco= CPMS30V, and CRK=CPMS30V, and my Spyderco has much softer S30V than my Sebenza- same supplier, different heat treat
 
mete said:
I think many of the complainers are trolls or those who don't know how to sharpen or use knives !
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OK... So I said my S30V Seb won't stay as sharp as other knives in different steels. Am I to incompetent to sharpen knives? Or a troll? Must be the last, cause I do know how to sharpen knives. Mather of fact, I even made tutorials on the Belgian and Dutch knife forums how to sharpen knives properly, and had a great response from people there. I am able to whittle hair with my knives, to slice through falling paper, and to slice toilet paper. Is that sharp enough for you?

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Hait splitting with Shadow 4?
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Toilet paper?
 
3 Sebenzas all in S30V. No problems here. Have a few Spydercos in the same steel. No problems there either.
 
Very sharp indeed !!! I always test my knives by shaving hair on my forearm, I always seem to have a bald spot there too ..lol. I was questioning the S30V steel from other threads that stated they could not cut through packaging tape without getting dull, they stated that they sent it to chris reeve 3 times and have had the same results. Thats why I did not know if I should persue the BG-42 steel, or purchase one with the
S30V steel. The best feedback is always from someone that has had first hand dealings with them. I know his the chris reeve one piece knives are top notch, but I am still looking for my first sebenza and needed the advise from those of you that have had the first hand experience with the sebenzas as I have had with the one piece line.
 
I have Sebenzas in both S30V and BG42. Both are regular working carry knives. I have resharpened both of them plenty of times, and have experimented with steeling, stropping and maintaining them on ceramic rods.

CRK's S30V works just fine. I don't have any scientific evidence (sorry Phil) but I do have plenty of anecdotal evidence.

My impression is that the S30V holds a fine edge a little better than the BG. So if you are trying to maintain a very keen EDC edge throughout the day, or maybe throughout the week, and are stropping it back up in the evening, the S30V might be a little better than the BG. For a utility edge that gets adequately looked after, they are probably about equal. If you tend to let your knife go too long between touch-ups and then end up regrinding it, the S30V would probably be a little better.

My only hesitation with the S30V would be for a hard-use fixed blade that was really going to get beaten on. I'm not saying it wouldn't work well... I just don't have any experience, so don't know. Would lean more toward INFI or a conventional tool steel for that sort of use.

As far as the Sebenza goes, I would say that CRK's S30V is as good as anything else that could be used for that application; certainly as good as BG.

If people are having problems just getting an edge on S30V, I think it's them, not the steel. If they are having problems with retention... I just don't know what to say. The S30V seems to hold an edge better than BG, ATS, INFI... certainly at least as well as D2. Only steel I own that I think holds an edge better is O1, and that's not something you want to put in a standard folder.

I'd say just go for the S30V. I really do not think you're going to be any happier with BG - except maybe from the standpoint of collectibility, but I don't think it's actually going to function any better.
 
And with respect to the complaints about getting dull knives from the shop... does your mom lay your clothes out for you? Learn to sharpen your knives to your own expectations. It's much more satisfying than sending them in to a shop.

The 3 Sebenzas and 1 Umfaan that I bought new, all came with acceptably sharp edges for utility carry knives. I altered them all as I saw fit, two in the interest of practicality and two in deference to collectibility.

No magic skills are required to get good edges on these knives, so I really don't think the edge one gets (or does not get) from the shop constitutes a valid criticism of the steel used in the blade.
 
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