Leatherman Edge Retention Opinion!

[vwb563]

Hey guys. I was using my Leatherman Charge TTi the other day to assemble an entertainment center and had to do some basic tasks like opening the box and trimming of the wood and plastic parts to make them fit properly. After I completed the assembly I cleaned up the Leatherman and got the gooey crap off the S30V blade from cutting through all the tape on the entertainment center's box. Now I've never really been a big fan of S30V but when I checked the blade's edge retention I got a big surprise. When I stated the project the blade was hair popping sharp like I always keep it and when I checked it was still trying to shave. It had lost some of its edge but was still surprisingly sharp! Just a few passes on a ceramic stone and it was back shaving sharp. All I can say is "wow"! Leatherman's S30V and heat treatment has changed my opinion on this steel. Good Job Leatherman!

 

[znapschatz]

Hey guys. I was using my Leatherman Charge TTi the other day to assemble an entertainment center and had to do some basic tasks like opening the box and trimming of the wood and plastic parts to make them fit properly. After I completed the assembly I cleaned up the Leatherman and got the gooey crap off the S30V blade from cutting through all the tape on the entertainment center's box. Now I've never really been a big fan of S30V but when I checked the blade's edge retention I got a big surprise. When I stated the project the blade was hair popping sharp like I always keep it and when I checked it was still trying to shave. It had lost some of its edge but was still surprisingly sharp! Just a few passes on a ceramic stone and it was back shaving sharp. All I can say is "wow"! Leatherman's S30V and heat treatment has changed my opinion on this steel. Good Job Leatherman!

Could you be more specific on the wood and plastic you cut, both type and quantity? From your post it seems that most of your cutting was of tape, not really much of a test for any steel, so I assume there were more materials needing cut than just that.

 

[vwb563]

Could you be more specific on the wood and plastic you cut, both type and quantity? From your post it seems that most of your cutting was of tape, not really much of a test for any steel, so I assume there were more materials needing cut than just that.

Well I can't tell you the exact types of plastic and wood that I cut because I'm not an expert in those areas. The tape cutting was nothing. Just thick clear tape. The wood I have heard referred to as "chip board". Its the wood that is made of many pieces of glued together wood chips. It is very tough and was a "bear" to cut and trim. The plastic was a very hard plastic that was used as corner protectors that had been made incorrectly and had to be trimmed to fit in place properly. I can tell you this, I've been using knives for around 35 years now and have owned several high end production knives and customs using many different types of steels including the newer "super steels" and the S30V in my TTi holds its edge very similarly to my Spyderco PM2 in M390. I hope this clears things up for you sir.

 

[Ernie1980]

The s30v in my small Sebenza will hold a great edge for a long time. It's hard to compare steels though unless you have the same knife in different steels because of the shape of the blade, grind, etc. I personally like s30v, but like 154 better.

 

[fespo276]

I have always been impressed with my Leatherman edge holding ability. Different types of steels, too.

 

[vwb563]

I have always been impressed with my Leatherman edge holding ability. Different types of steels, too.

Agreed. I've always been a fan of 154CM but not so much of S30V. Leatherman's S30V has changed my opinion of this steel.