M390 vs Vanadis 4 for Guardian 3

What type of environment do you plan on this seeing the most usage?

What will it be doing?

What is the roughest use you can forsee?
 
No heavy use. Just odds and ends around the house and campground. I have others I would use for heavier work. I'm just interested in getting the best of the two given they are the same price basically.
 
M390

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I got the Vanadis 4 steel
It's very close to CPM 4V and I've had good luck with 4V in terms of wear resistance and edge holding. Since it's a tool steel, it is prone to patina and rust way more than M390. Not that M390 is a slouch, I've got plenty of knives with M390 and I'm always on the lookout for 4V and 10V blades.
 
Vanadis 4E is very similar to CPM 4V. Likewise, M390 is very similar to CPM 20CV. You can probably find comparisons of 4V vs 20CV more easily.

Basically Vanadis will be tougher, less corrosion resistant. I'm actually not sure on edge retention.

Edited to add:
http://www.crucible.com/PDFs/DataSheets2010/Datasheet CPM 20CV.pdf
http://www.crucible.com/PDFs/DataSheets2010/Data Sheet 4V.pdf
They don't compare the two directly, but they compare both against Rex M4. Looks like M390 should have slightly better edge retention. Between that and the corrosion resistance, it's probably the better of the two for everyday use, unless you need toughness.
 
Cpm 4V and V4E are Very close in composition. For a ballpark on corrosion resistance, take a look here.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...-corrosion-in-a-very-wet-environment.1528480/

If you hike, camp, live in a hot/humid area, or yur sweat is comparatively corrosive, go with M390. It will not take the keen edge that V4E will, and it will be slightly less tough, but it losing its edge due to corrosion won't be an issue.

If you would prefer the toughness, and a keener edge that can be touched up on a Butcher steel, and don't mind some patina go with the V4E.
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My personal choice would be V4E for a camping knife. The toughness would be well worth any upkeep.

I live in NJ with tidal salt water within 5 blocks on 3 sides of my house. I did not have an issue with corrosion, unless I pushed the knife to its limits and didn't clean under the scales.

Also, I 90% of my time spent camping is within 20 miles of the coast, from SC to Maine... For corrosion protection, I bring a small quarter (the coin) sized screw lid tub of carmex lip balm.
- Clean the knife, quick coat of Carmex, touch up any beaten up skin with it too, then go about my business unworried.
 
M390 has far better corrosion resistance. I would go with this one for such a small EDC knife.
 
For the Guardian 3 I would recommend the M390 personally ... my Bradford Guardian 4s are M390 and I love them ... hold an edge well and aren't overly difficult for me to touch up (with strop or a ceramic honing rod) ... or sharpen if they need it.
 
I have a number of folders in M390 and it is my steel of choice for most of my knives. When I started looking at the G3 I saw the Vanadis 4 and wasn't familiar with the steel at all. I know I can't go wrong with the M390. Just wondering whether the V4 may be a better choice. I live in Michigan and really don't spend much time at all near the oceans.
 
I honestly don't think you can go wrong with either one. They are both fine knives with super premium steel. One is a little tougher. One is a bit more corrosion resistant . They both are very high performing alloys that should do whatever you need and then some. You would almost have to do something moronic to destroy them and they should last you and your children, and probably theirs. :)

Joe
 
I chose the M390 when I got my Guardian3... of course, Vanadis was not an option at the time - just 3V and S30V, iirc. However, I have been very happy with how easily the knife takes an edge (especially compared to the other 'super steel' knife I have, a Manix 2 in S30V), and how long the edge lasts. I have prepped food and done full fire prep (lots of small feather sticks, curls, and scrapings and splitting small chunks of wood) several days in a row without needing to touch up the blade when camping. For light around-the-house use, it goes weeks between touch-ups unless I process a lot of amazon boxes.

Note: I live in the Pacific Northwest, and definitely prefer the stainless varieties of steel when given a choice.

You'll be happy with whichever you choose, as the Guardian is a great knife.
Enjoy.
 
So I want to start by saying that I already have a few Bradford knives and maybe biased. I would go with the M390 I think Brad does an amazing job getting his heat treat done, the edge retention was better then probably anything I own in M390 (or even 20CV or 204P) and his DLC coat is the strongest I have found.

Now if you are willing to spend a little bit more I would get one of the SG2 Guardian 3's. I just picked one up and its freaking ridiculous, best edge retention I have on any stainless knife. If you guys like I can post a pic.
 
Impulse600 said:
So I want to start by saying that I already have a few Bradford knives and maybe biased. I would go with the M390 I think Brad does an amazing job getting his heat treat done, the edge retention was better then probably anything I own in M390 (or even 20CV or 204P) and his DLC coat is the strongest I have found.

Now if you are willing to spend a little bit more I would get one of the SG2 Guardian 3's. I just picked one up and its freaking ridiculous, best edge retention I have on any stainless knife. If you guys like I can post a pic.
Click to expand...
What's SG2 ?
 
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