Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
First off a shot with the small Sebenza :
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/CliffStamp/kershaw/vapor/vapor_sebenza.jpg
The Vapor is made from AUS-6A stainless steel, very thin blade stock, 0.105", with a 2 7/8" blade weighing 80 g. The knife has a full flat grind and tapers to a decent thin (0.017-0.020") and acute edge (17 +/- 1 degrees). The handle is made from stainless steel, lots of speed holes, and the blade is retained via a very well done integral lock.
I carred it alongside a the small Sebenza for about a week, at the start both were shaving sharp and both degraded very slightly for a few days with no real difference in behavior on peeling potatoes, trimming meats, cutting paper and some styrofoam. However when some trout had to be cleaned, the Vapor went smooth-dull after a dozen while the Sebenza could still catch the occasion arm hair.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/CliffStamp/kershaw/vapor/vapor_trout.jpg
In terms of cutting ability, the Sebenza had seen an angle adjustment which reduced its edge to ~10 degrees per side, so it generally outcut the Vapor, however NIB, the cutting ability would have been much closer, and my small Sebenza is actually far more deeply ground than spec'ed, so with both at the spec'ed grinds the geometry is actually very close and the difference more due to individal grind variations.
Some significant differences were noted however, when cutting the styrofoam the recurve on the vapor allowed it to outcut the thinner ground Sebenza, and on thick cuts through stiff vegetables, while the Sebenza would start off easier, by the time the foods reached the top of the grinds the force required would peak rapidly and both knives would cut about the same.
As for ergonomics, the Vapor has a much more ergonomic shaped handle and would be preferred for extended work, aside from the speed holes which can fill up with debris and be annoying to clean.
The lock on the Vapor is surprisingly well done and is as good as any integral or liner seen. It easily takes fast and heavy spine whacks and light to moderate torques, but heavy torques such as twist splitting hardwood birch flooring will readily disengage the lock. The only downside is that the lock engagement is moving to the right fast, if it continues at this rate it will be full to the side in a few months.
So with a decent initial cutting ability (25 +/-1 lbs on a puch cut through 3/8" hemp), the edge was reground to 10 degrees to put it on an equal footing to run it against the CRKT Point Guard and a few other knives. This is when the problems began. Setting a micro-bevel revealed the edge fracturing under the stones. The knife could be made decently sharp where it would shave but a little scratchy, about 50% of optimal.
I will carry and use it EDC for a few more weeks and as it is sharpened hopefully move back into quality steel. Until this happens no edge retention or cutting comparisons can really be done because the sharpness only reaches about 50% of optimal and it degrades too fast. Now I know what you are thinking - possibly burnt on grinding. I would think so to, except there was no color change, and in fact the reprofiling was done with a file and 220 SiC hone.
I did a quick search on this knife after getting it from Thom, and while some people praise it highly, and I can see why, there are complaints about QC, which really isn't that shocking for its price. If you do get a good one with solid steel and a well crafted lock then it really is a standout for its price.
-Cliff
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/CliffStamp/kershaw/vapor/vapor_sebenza.jpg
The Vapor is made from AUS-6A stainless steel, very thin blade stock, 0.105", with a 2 7/8" blade weighing 80 g. The knife has a full flat grind and tapers to a decent thin (0.017-0.020") and acute edge (17 +/- 1 degrees). The handle is made from stainless steel, lots of speed holes, and the blade is retained via a very well done integral lock.
I carred it alongside a the small Sebenza for about a week, at the start both were shaving sharp and both degraded very slightly for a few days with no real difference in behavior on peeling potatoes, trimming meats, cutting paper and some styrofoam. However when some trout had to be cleaned, the Vapor went smooth-dull after a dozen while the Sebenza could still catch the occasion arm hair.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/CliffStamp/kershaw/vapor/vapor_trout.jpg
In terms of cutting ability, the Sebenza had seen an angle adjustment which reduced its edge to ~10 degrees per side, so it generally outcut the Vapor, however NIB, the cutting ability would have been much closer, and my small Sebenza is actually far more deeply ground than spec'ed, so with both at the spec'ed grinds the geometry is actually very close and the difference more due to individal grind variations.
Some significant differences were noted however, when cutting the styrofoam the recurve on the vapor allowed it to outcut the thinner ground Sebenza, and on thick cuts through stiff vegetables, while the Sebenza would start off easier, by the time the foods reached the top of the grinds the force required would peak rapidly and both knives would cut about the same.
As for ergonomics, the Vapor has a much more ergonomic shaped handle and would be preferred for extended work, aside from the speed holes which can fill up with debris and be annoying to clean.
The lock on the Vapor is surprisingly well done and is as good as any integral or liner seen. It easily takes fast and heavy spine whacks and light to moderate torques, but heavy torques such as twist splitting hardwood birch flooring will readily disengage the lock. The only downside is that the lock engagement is moving to the right fast, if it continues at this rate it will be full to the side in a few months.
So with a decent initial cutting ability (25 +/-1 lbs on a puch cut through 3/8" hemp), the edge was reground to 10 degrees to put it on an equal footing to run it against the CRKT Point Guard and a few other knives. This is when the problems began. Setting a micro-bevel revealed the edge fracturing under the stones. The knife could be made decently sharp where it would shave but a little scratchy, about 50% of optimal.
I will carry and use it EDC for a few more weeks and as it is sharpened hopefully move back into quality steel. Until this happens no edge retention or cutting comparisons can really be done because the sharpness only reaches about 50% of optimal and it degrades too fast. Now I know what you are thinking - possibly burnt on grinding. I would think so to, except there was no color change, and in fact the reprofiling was done with a file and 220 SiC hone.
I did a quick search on this knife after getting it from Thom, and while some people praise it highly, and I can see why, there are complaints about QC, which really isn't that shocking for its price. If you do get a good one with solid steel and a well crafted lock then it really is a standout for its price.
-Cliff
