Microtech Socom Elite CPM S90V - pics

nozh2002

nozh2002

BANNED
Joined
Jun 9, 2003
Messages
5,736
I got it week ago from New Grapham, but able to upload my website only today.

Pics:

Microtech_SOCOM_Elite-015.jpg


Microtech_SOCOM_Elite-018.jpg


Microtech_SOCOM_Elite-017.jpg


Microtech_SOCOM_Elite-016.jpg


Microtech_SOCOM_Elite-019.jpg


Microtech_SOCOM_Elite-020.jpg


As usual I was very impressed with quality in any small detail.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Here it is with different knives to compare sizes etc.

4"x 1 1/16"x 11/64" and 4.39oz CPM S90V

Microtech_SOCOM_Elite-005.jpg


Microtech_SOCOM_Elite-010.jpg


Microtech_SOCOM_Elite-011.jpg


Microtech_SOCOM_Elite-012.jpg
 
That is a nice looking knife. Congrats. I also like that it is S90V. I am getting my Lochsa in that blade material.
 
DGG said:
...Any problems sharpening it?...
Click to expand...

No reason for sharpening yet I guess I will have problem dulling it...

I hav two blades from CPM S90V and I had problem sharpening them with Spyderco fine ceramic (no problem with medium). When abrasive grid come to be same size as vanadium carbides (which this steel has 9% and 15% carbides total), it stop working. So medium stones has bigger grid and it was OK, but fine did not make it sharper at all. I switch to diamond powder on leather to be able to sharpen it to next level. But from real use point of view I guess this is not important. However they were heat treated as CPM S30V by mistake - maybe that was a problem.

Thanks, Vassili.

P.S. I do not expect any problem sharpening also, becasue Microtech has thinest edge in the market. This is what differs it from other manufacturers - very, very thin edge, probably twice or more thiner than everybody else. It is really hard to see on picture, but it is totally different experience when you cutting with Microtech and sharpening - to sharpen it! Other knives near by Microtech looks like axes. I use Microtech mini Elite to cut out splinters without blood, by gentely cut skin right above splinter. And this delicate operation possible only because delicate edge.

This is a big value on my opinion and this is what you can not fix youself - you can resharpen it but to make edge thiner you will have to regrind blade.
 
Really nice knives. Did you take that pocket clip off because it was uncomfortable in the hand, or is that just how you like to carry it?
 
Because it is uncomfortable in the hand. I am OK with it on small knives like Mini SOCOM Elite or ZLeek - when I using it I hold it with fingertips. But for big knife where full hand strong grip is major usecase, any clip on any knife uncomfortable for me and I am taking them off allways. And I also do not attaching cords to big knives (and just love them on small) to be able change grip freely.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
nice knife. Not to be a spoiler, but isnt their some issue with S90V ? I had thought I read that Crucible is withdrawing the product and considered it a failure somehow.
 
I beleive Crucible stoped making S60V. IMO S90V (420V) is one of the best steel's out there. A lot of makers do not like to use it because it eats up belts when grinding. This is my favorite steel.
 
ok. I knew it was somehting like that. S30V has been having chipping incidents of late, I wonder how S90 will fare. Better I hope?
 
There is a very good Mastersmith that I see at the Solvang show every year, I have four or five of his knives, he forges 52100 and his stock removal blades are eather 12C27 or S90V. He to me that in his mind S90V is the best steel ever, He charges an extra hundred dollars to make a blade out of it because is is so hard to grind and all the belts he has to go through. I will say the sharpest blade I have is one made of S90V
 
a223cat said:
nice knife. Not to be a spoiler, but isnt their some issue with S90V ? I had thought I read that Crucible is withdrawing the product and considered it a failure somehow.
Click to expand...

I guess that biggest issue is that it require Silicon Carbide belts or too many Aluminium Oxide belts (which I notice myself when made blades out of it) and in general more abrasive resistant then anything else. I see Crusible positoning it as replacement for CPM 440V with improved toughness (CPM S30V was placed for entry level as I remember), but for knife industry abrasive resistanse is what make it too hard to work with and what cause CPM440V to go away. I is of course all just my speculations. We shall see - so far I have no problem with it.

It was only MT who made knive out of it and custom makers. There is no real use for this steel to expose any problems. Hewever Microtech came back to this steel after firs issue, I guess they considers it as a quality steel.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Love the knife and very nice pics. But I don't understand why they have a satin finished pocket clip. That thing will show up like a light bulb. It should be black. I don't want to advertise that I'm carrying a pocket clipped knife. It should be "stealthy". Especially one like the Socom.
 
i wish the elites were like the mini elites with a frame lock, also wish they were tip up carry vs the tip down, nice knives though i have one of the mini elites and an older SOCOM elite with the brend grind blade, great knives and the microbar lock is one of the better liner locks around imho.
 
Vassili, after looking at this thread I had to go order one. It should be here tomorrow. I've been wanting to try S90V out for awhile and a knife like this seems perfect for me to do just that. Nothing abusive, just EDC.

I was wondering what ever happened to your big bowie ( G.Saki?) in SRS-15? I was contemplating ordering one and wanted your long term opinion about it, and if the steel was as good as the specs look like it should be? Thanks, Joe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top