K390 vs 15V for EDC

E

EatingSarma

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I have only 1 K390 knife so far and it's a serrated edge. I really really like it so far. So I would really like to get a plain edge K390 blade too.

Then a friend dropped seed of doubt and told me to rather go with 15V...

Well, now I'm not sure what to do. I really like K390, and even S35VN has more than enough edge retention for my usual needs, so even K390 means that I'll be sharpening maybe once a month... and 15V means even more edge retention if I'm not mistaken...

Then also - toughness. K390 is known to be very tough for it's edge retention, and I'm yet to see complaints on K390 chipping or breaking...

How is 15V in that regard? My research so far has told me that it has significantly less toughness than K390. But how much is that visible in real use (not abuse)?

Edge retention is good, but what good is it if my knife chips out on a zip tie? So, having decent toughness is also something I'd like.

What's your opinion on it, should I get another K390 blade or give 15V a shot? What would you pick in this situation?
 
K390 is still being made, 15V is not. So why not give 15V a go. From my experience, 15V is more stain resistant, as far as edge retention goes, it depends which model you’re looking at. A Delica in K390 cuts forever, even when it’s dull, the XL Stretch, not so much. But it’s still good.
Get what you have the most confidence in, for me, it’s Cruwear.
 
Ajack60 said:
K390 is still being made, 15V is not. So why not give 15V a go. From my experience, 15V is more stain resistant, as far as edge retention goes, it depends which model you’re looking at. A Delica in K390 cuts forever, even when it’s dull, the XL Stretch, not so much. But it’s still good.
Get what you have the most confidence in, for me, it’s Cruwear.
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Ohhh right... 15V is about to disappear... didn't think of that
 
Well, I plan to make the purchase in about 10 days... 15V might be stocked out bu then. But till then I have time to decide...
 
In my experience cutting a wide variety of materials (not just silica embedded cards used in the CATRA tests that show 15V’s abrasion resistance) I can not tell any significant difference between my K390 Delica and my 15V PM3.
The only reason you might want to get something in 15V is if you are a steel junkie and want to have an example in as many different steels as possible. But in real world EDC use I doubt you could tell much difference. Cutting sisal rope the 15V seemed to have more bite at the same edge sharpness level, but that is the only time I noticed any difference. In cardboard, plastic, wood, etc, I see no difference.
 
Concur with most of the above recommendations, they are close, big difference is the 15v 14.5% Vanadium vs 4.2% Vanadium in K390…Where you’ll run into that is sharpenig. In my times sharpening both, the 15v is noticeably harder to remove the burr
 
I decided to stick with K390... I already have an example, I like it. I know how it performs. It's better balanced with some extra toughness, it's still overkill in edge retention, and it's a lot cheaper and it's even in a knife I want...

Strech 2 K390 costs significantly less than Even Lil Native in 15V...

And Stretch 2 is the knife I initially wanted.
 
K390 has very good edge retention pretty darn tough, and will be easier to sharpen but if you have good diamonds it won’t really matter at that point! K390 with spydercos heat treat is a very nice tool steel and with the recent events of CPM 15V will probably be a memory sadly! Maybe Bohler will tweak the matrix of K390 and take it even further.
 
Zylok said:
Concur with most of the above recommendations, they are close, big difference is the 15v 14.5% Vanadium vs 4.2% Vanadium in K390…Where you’ll run into that is sharpenig. In my times sharpening both, the 15v is noticeably harder to remove the burr
Click to expand...

K390 has 9% V, 4.2% C.

EatingSarma said:
I decided to stick with K390... I already have an example, I like it. I know how it performs. It's better balanced with some extra toughness, it's still overkill in edge retention, and it's a lot cheaper and it's even in a knife I want...

Strech 2 K390 costs significantly less than Even Lil Native in 15V...

And Stretch 2 is the knife I initially wanted.
Click to expand...

Good choice. With steels that perform similarly in actual day to day use, I always opt for the design that I like.
 
All things gathered, the only real reason for me to get 15V would be the fact that it's disappearing from the market.

That would play role for me if I was a collector. I'm not a collector. Given the fact that people here say performance is so similar that I wouldn't notice the difference in day to day use - there's really no difference for me to justify paying more for different letters written on steel.

And I wanted Stretch 2, and for the price of 15V of similar size - I could get both K390 Stretch and K390 Dragonfly (also a model that I'm looking at) for that price. So I'd rather have K390 Dragonfly than 15V Lil Native (and it costs about half the price too).

I also don't have interest in buying it just to resale it later (and given the low demand where I live, I'd not profit from it anyways - didn't work even with sprint runs). Plus, I'm buying something to use, so I'd feel bad ruining a discontinued blade.
 
it is a small thing, but if i am going to edc it, i prefer the 15v's patina more, esp if i am going to cut food with it. i saw beautiful k390 patinas posted, but the ones i have look like the blades are undergoing leprosis :)
20260318-174505.jpg
 
kobold said:
it is a small thing, but if i am going to edc it, i prefer the 15v's patina more, esp if i am going to cut food with it. i saw beautiful k390 patinas posted, but the ones i have look like the blades are undergoing leprosis :)
20260318-174505.jpg
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I personally don't mind it looking ugly... lately I even prefer my knives being ugly.
 
You're overstating the price differential, E EatingSarma , though there are instances where what you are reporting may apply, I don't know.

I recently picked up three Spydercos in 15V, none cost me more than $165. All were new, (including a PM2), two of which were from site supporting dealers.

That said, I think you'll be very pleased with the K390. I believe I may have even helped lead you to the serrated LeafJumper.
 
Blues said:
You're overstating the price differential, E EatingSarma , though there are instances where what you are reporting may apply, I don't know.

I recently picked up three Spydercos in 15V, none cost me more than $165. All were new, (including a PM2), two of which were from site supporting dealers.

That said, I think you'll be very pleased with the K390. I believe I may have even helped lead you to the serrated LeafJumper.
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I'm in Europe... I can get Stretch 2 K390 for 150€, and K390 Dragonfly for 100€, while 15V models start at around 190€ and up to over 250€...

But yes, I'm sure I'll be happy with K390.
 
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