M4 or S35VN

Csalmon

Csalmon

Joined
Apr 23, 2016
Messages
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Trying to decide to go with M4 or S35VN for a high HRC kitchen knife for a professional chef. He will use this 9" blade for everything in the kitchen. Chopping, slicing, etc. let me hear your thoughts. I want the best in edge retention and toughness considering he uses this knife for all tasks. I feel like M4's corrosion resistance is probably good enough for his use.

ALSO, Is s90v harder to work with than m4 at high hardness? I will be satin finishing the blade as well.
 
S90V is more difficult to work than M4, IMO.
S90V also tends to chip more at hardness above 61, however it does have better edge retention than M4.
M4 and 90V will be very difficult to hand finish.
I'm going to say that you would be just fine with S35VN at 61-62 Rc and ground thin. S35VN will also be much easier to hand finish.
 
As long as M4 is easier than S90V, I'm happy haha. Hand sanding. S90V was almost impossible, and seemed to get progressively more difficult.

I'm having an issue finding a real consistent answer on hardness. I like kitchen knives as hard you should go pretty much. For M4 -what about an HRC for kitchen, for EDC and hunting, and for abuse?

It's a hard decision I've had such a great experience with s35vn.
 
You can run M4 at 64-65HRC in the kitchen easily (it's often at 64HRC at Bladesports cutting competitions). I don't know that you can even get S35VN that hard with a good solid heat treat. But S35VN at 61HRC is no slouch, and is stainless. M4 is not a stainless steel, but an alloy carbon steel that will resist corrosion more so than O1, 1095, etc.
 
I have tried a lot of steels over the years, and have settled on CPM-S35VN as my kitchen steel. It has a very fine edge, great edge life and is hard. Have it done at Rc 61-62.
 
Go with S35VN or even better CPM154 or XHP. I think high vanadium content is not very beneficial in kitchen type of knife since most of the dulling came from micro chipping or denting. I would rather going steel like AEB-L or N690 ar high hardness actually.
 
I would go with CPM S90V. It is a great stainless steel that holds an edge seems like forever. M4 is great but not a SS. I run my M4 to 63/64 and it holds an edge great with good wear resistance and edge stability but it is a non=stainless steel.
Scott
 
Great input guys thanks. Leads me to two questions,

Which has a smaller grain structure? Elmax, S35VN, M4, XHP? o_O

Also, when you take aeb-l and add vanadium what would that do to the carbide size and grain structure? Ex. Nitro-V? I've been looking at Nitro V so any info would be appreciated :thumbsup:
 
Csalmon said:
ALSO, Is s90v harder to work with than m4 at high hardness? I will be satin finishing the blade as well.
Click to expand...
They both are harder to work then simple steels but with good sharp ceramic belts, they aren't that hard. More time consuming then hard to finish. You can finish with scotchbrite belts for a satin finish.
Scott
 
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