Marketing gone too far with "Super Steels"

[whp]

Actually, I think in this case it is US the consumers creating most if not all of the hype. Makers are just trying to cater to our requests. Every knife request thread on the forums, someone is saying 'too bad it isn't M4', or I hope they release a M390 version' or my favorite 'awe it ONLY comes in crappy S30v so Im not gonna buy it'. How do you expect the makers to respond?

I agree. The market for steels with better edge retention is responsible for the change in products.

 

[Ankerson]

I don't use the term super steels.

That said I EDC S30V and S35VN and am happy.

I use S110V and S35VN in the kitchen and they work well for me. :thumbup:

My box cutter is A11 (Like CPM 10V).

 

[ebidis]

I don't use the term super steels.

That said I EDC S30V and S35VN and am happy.

I use S110V and S35VN in the kitchen and they work well for me. :thumbup:

My box cutter is A11 (Like CPM 10V).

In my experience S35VN seems to be a good all around steel, and can be heat treated to various levels to emphasize edge holding, or toughness. At least that is my take.

 

[demoncase]

I've never let the type of steel prevent me from buying a knife that I really liked the look of/ethos behind/ concept of...Provided it comes from a reputable manufacturer who I know has a history of sensible design, appropriate HT and solid QC.

Just recently I've found myself looking at a knife and saying "Ahh...I've got enough VG10 (for example)" then giving meself a mental slap in the chops- when did VG10 stop being good?.
It didn't. It's still good. I've got VG10 Spydies which have put in a decade of service....So I can't let myself get snobby and say "It's just S30v or VG10"

I like the 'super steels' on the knives I own with them- got a couple in M4, H1, XHP and S10v but keep coming back to S30v and VG10, both of which deliver more than enough of everything to keep me happy....The outer limits of edge retention and the like are, for my purposes, academic- lovely, but I'm not going to find out.

 

[calc]

So a retailer added a link/page listing all the knives they have in stock made with "super" steels... what's the problem?

Yeah, I'm not quite sure what the issue is here. A quick search for the words "super steels" from this very forum will turn up a ridiculous amount of results. Nothing wrong with advertisements using the terminology and buzzwords the market itself uses.

And regarding the bias towards "super steels", who cares? Do people dislike it when they advertise their lineup of Spyderco models available? Or Benchmade, ESEE, et al. No, because we know they're advertising a specific portion of their merchandise to a specific portion of their market. This case is nothing different.

If you don't like the ad, ignore it and move on. Just as you do with, oh, I don't know... any other ad.

 

[RamZar]

Personally, I have no issues with such ads nor "Super Steels" or any other steel. It was a topic of discussion and some good comments.

Thanks all.