k390 vs s110v for light duty edc

I normally cut cardboard, lots of rubber, many types of plastic both thick and thin, rope and wire stripping. I've found sv30 to get a really nice edge, but just doesn't last. I could sharpen every 4 days. My para 3 in sv45n I can get almost 2 weeks before getting dull. Keeping m390 in my pocket getting hot wouldn't take long to tarnish, but if it stayed sharp i wouldnt mind. I was leaning 110. Thanks for the replies
 
Bob Denman said:
How about M4, and give it a daily wipe-down?
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Hm, plastic, rubber, even cardboard are binding materials, how about the GB2 - M4 and hollow grind? That thing is a beast. But affordable.

Another one is the serrated sheepsfoot Caribbean. A pocket chainsaw. Especially good for rope and any naturaland man made fiber.
 
A "pocket chainsaw"?
That could have changed all those Sharknado movies a lot!
 
Serrated blades I've not had much luck with. Great for ripping tough stuff but hard to keep sharp. I actually have pretty good luck with a 600 grit sharpen and stropped. Gritty but sharp finish. I thought me was hard to keep an edge on? But I'm newer. Thanks for the input
 
1. I own Para 3s in both configurations and carry both on occasion.
2. Both steels are perfectly sufficient, and probably overkill, for my EDC needs.

So, with those caveats, and because this is the internet and everyone has opinions...I like both. I have heard K390 referenced as the M4 killer, not stainless of course. Sharpens well, cuts forever and is tough. I have also heard that Spyderco does a good job with its K390 HT.

My understanding is that S110V basically maxes out performance with good stain resistance at the expense of ease of sharpening (e.g., S90V has better edge retention, but is less stain resistant). Blade steel won't completely solve the rust/corrosion issue, as there is other hardware in your knife.

If you want to throw one in your pocket and forget about it, S110V. If stainless is less of a concern (or you like patina) K390 is great.
 
Deer - I suggest that you get both, give them a six month EDC workout, resell your least favorite.

Here the results of a rope cutting comparison.

 
Interesting video. Thx. I think the bpurple 110 is out of stock now. Maybe I'll get both. Seems like a good idea👍
 
Heckeng said:
Is there any advantage for somebody to choose a K390 steel over and S110V for EDC? From what I’m reading, it seems like they are pretty comparable except the K390 will rust much easier if not maintained properly. Any other features that I missing here? I am a Para 3 addict and I prefer the S110V steel generally speaking but I ordered a K390 and really like the ranger green G10 so I’m thinking about swapping an S110V blade in there and selling the K390 with different scales. Or do I need to keep the K390 blade?
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I just got a Spyderco Police 4 with K390 and it is awesome. It's bigger than the Military. 4 inches of razor blade. This knife is huge and can cut through anything. I've only had it for a few weeks ,so I can't say a full review. But after cutting through a bunch of boxes and rope,it's still razor sharp. I have not had the pleasure of 110v,yet. I going to get a Millie in that. I got rid of a lot of my knives because I want to buy about 5-6 knives with super steels and see which one last the longest without needing sharpening .So far my 2 favorites are m390 and maxamet. I don't mind the patina. I think it looks cool,but if you don't like that look then go for the stainsteel. I just got a Millie 2 in MV and I have been very down on that. I think I got a abd heat treatment. I'm going to send it in and see what they say because I've owned a knife in M4 and it lastest a long time between sharpening . There both awesome steels.I think you would be fine with either one.
 
K390 every day of the week for me. Much easier to sharpen and strop back. As others noted, though, you will need to keep it dry when not in use.

S110v is probably my least favorite steel.
 
If you cut food or any organic juicy stuff, S110V. If you cut alot of dry, hard stuff, K390.

If you are prone to not caring, abusing, cutting things knives shouldn't cut, K390.

Both are not good beginner steels, try VG10, 9Cr, 154CM, 12c,13c,14c, AEBL, NitroV if you want a good but easy to sharpen steel that won't rust easily.
 
Deereman7 said:
Not to rob the op thread. I'm a farmer and use my knives pretty hard. Not abuse. Just getting into Spyderco and sv30 in other knives hasnt work for me at all unless you like to sharpen weekly. Wold 110 or 390 be better suited? Currently using sv45n in para 3 and loving it. Not sure if the full flat grind may help me also. Looking for a para 2 in something
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If corrosion resistance is not a significant issue for you, get a K390 delica, endela, or endura, whichever size suits you best.

S110V has the advantage of being stainless, while K390 behaves similar to plain old 1095 in that regard. However, for performance, I much prefer K390. Cutting a wide variety of materials (cardboard, wood, plastic), in my use K390 lasts longer than S110V. This is directly comparing a K390 delica and an S110V native. The only steel I like better than K390 for general use is S90V. And I have a wide variety of options - maxamet, cruwear, M390, M4, CTS-XHP, REX45, etc. Of those remaining steels, I like cruwear and XHP. Both of those sharpen like a dream and last a long time. In my use, both perform better than S30V.

Regarding S90V vs S110V, again, in the above mentioned comparison cutting a mix of cardboard, wood, and plastic, S90V was even better than K390. On paper you would expect S110V to rule them all, but in real life EDC use, that has not been my experience.
 
If you use words like light duty I am going to think things like 440A, 440C, 12C27, AUS8 even AUS6. I think the Chinese 8Cr series and buck's 420HC
is good for more than just light duty.

I come from a time when garbage steel blades were everywhere and I appreciate just about any blade steel which can be used in a practical way.

I know a blade does not have to be super steel to be good.

I hate to be a drag but I have watched a youtube video about a Spyderco Japanese made K390 knife being used by a lady who uses knives hard and she said that the K390 coming out of Japan far outperformed K390 handled in the states in both edge retention (by far) and resistance to patina. In another youtube video a knife maker hardness tested a Japanese made K390 blade at 65 RC. Although I have not torture tested my Endela K390 wharncliff (the same the lady used I think, it was a wharncliff though) my impression is this steel can be pretty good stuff if done right

We all know K390 is not stainless so there is no need to beat that dead horse. If you need stainless choose another steel.

I think 440A is a pretty rust resistant and tough stainless. For light duty EDC why wouldn't it work.
 
K.O.D. said:
Probably would be better off returning the K390 Para3 and getting custom green scales for the S110V one you have.

K390 and tool steels in general seem overkill to me in a folding knife that size. Tool steels are known more for toughness in heavy duty cutting and not rolling/chipping etc. For light duty, stainless works great.

Having a heavy duty folder with a tool steel is a good thing to have, again right tool for the right job. When it comes to the gnarlier stuff that might damage the edge, I have my Spyderco Gayle Bradley in CPM-M4. It's a beast.

To me, in a sub 3" folder, steels like K390 are more of the cool kids club. For a folder, most of the time I'll take stainless and edge retention over toughness. I only have two folders that are not stainless (I believe).

The para 3 is nice, especially the law, I have one in Spy27 and it's good.
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I have a 4v Para 3 LW and I like the platform, but think that steel may be overkill for that size blade, a LW no less.
 
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