My 615, S30V, and your advice

Yes, Sir. I'd love to see some.

When I go out to the shop because there is a reported production problem, the first thing I do is talk to as many people as I can find who have experienced the issue. That is, I collect annecdotal evidence. Then I work in the lab to reproduce the problem. It is only then that I can actually tell what is the root cause and determine how to fix it.

I think there is anecdotal evidence to suggest an inconsistency in the process such that occaisionally there are chipping issues. Now might be a good time to repair to the lab to try to reproduce it or analyze it. Unfortunately, I have no facilities or budget (nor the metallurgical knowledge) to do so.

It would be nice if somebody would, though.
 
I think if any database is made, it should, no MUST include the users sharpening skill level, and overall understanding of blade geometry. If a newby user chips a blade it may be due to a wire edge, if an experienced senior knife addict chips it's probably the steel.
 
This is not only science, it's also business. If a number of knife manufacturers noticed complaints about their S30V, they wouldn't necessarily rush out and share that with us. It would make better business sense to go to the lab, determine the problem, get back to the production line and fix it, and then turn to their customers and say, "Huh?" :D
 
Zen, Buck268 talked about chipping of his Native in several threads. He finally got it worked out after several months of work. But he definitely reported chipping.

At least one of he other posters in that thread also talked about chipping or not holding an edge.

I guess I'm just a curious engineer knife knut who is trying to figure out why he keeps reading these stories about S30V when he does not read them about other steels.

I'll have to start a database, I suppose.

Add: the database would confirm whether I'm just reading the experiences of the same guys over and over, or whether each story is actually a different person. Which, I think, was the basis of Esav's initial comment.
 
knarfeng said:
Zen, Buck268 talked about chipping of his Native in several threads. He finally got it worked out after several months of work. But he definitely reported chipping.

.
Click to expand...
Yes he stated he finally has no more chipping. That thread is about his inability to get it sharp.

I have read manufacturer's stating some microchipping can occur when a factory edge is applied. If one gets such, a few sharpenings will work out the problem.

It doesn't sound like an ideal, but every steel seems to have a downside...or two.

Factory caused microchips are a different issue in my mind than a steel that will consitantly chip upon applied to resistant cutting.

If there is one thing that the bias doctor does know is edges, bevels, and sharpening. Put a good edge on S30V and it is fine.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Could these knives be sharpened to a wire edge, and that's what's chipping?
Click to expand...

No because you would see the wire edge on the rest of the blade and wire edges will not behave like that anyway, they will tend to deform and flatten. Landes work focuses on the reason for micro chipping in high carbide steels. One of the primary reasons for chipping in general is just damaged steel from grinding which causes grain growth and carbide aggregation leading to as Landes would quantify, lower edge stability and greater micro-chipping. These are PROVEN facts, not opinions, so treat them as such in reference.

-Cliff
 
I've cut everything including metal dryer exhaust hose and metal mesh with a Strider in S30V, and not had one problem with chipping.

I suspect proper heat-treating is VERY important with this particular steel, and that the "window" before the steel looses out in very small.
 
Bandogge,
Which model Strider? When did you buy it? How sharp do you keep it? How do you sharpen it? and at what angle?

Starting to formally collect info.
Knarf.
 
Belly said:
Well, I have read the many threads that discuss S30V and its tendency to chip. Because I am skeptical of many things, I was hoping that the various people who had chipping issues were either abusing their knives or sharpening them incorrectly.

I recently purchased my Mini-Ruckus, and I was extremely pleased with every aspect of the knife. It is the perfect knife for me. I haven't really used the blade much, so I was hoping to be spared from the chipping issues. I decided to start using it. I did some simple whittling on a dry, 3/8 inch thick, 7 inch long stick. After just being whittled down to kindling, I see 3 separate areas on the blade that are chipped. All I did was shave the thin bark off and whittle it down.

What a huge disappointment. I paid over $185 for this knife. It is a First Production run.

If S30V is supposed to be the latest, greatest steel, then I have been duped.

I guess I can send it back to Benchmade or try to sharpen it at a different angel, but it is really a disappointment. I have purchased over a dozen Benchmades in the past 10 years, and I love all of them. This newest one is superb, with the exception of the steel, and to me, that is the most important part of any knife.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

If you've purchased that many knives from a company, and have been happy with every one but the last, why not send it back to them. There's a high possibility it may be defective.

Just a thought.

I have a 210 Activator that has seen pretty heavy use, and shows NO edge chipping or deformation. I have also used a Lone Wolf Harsey T1 in S30v with no chipping issues, no edge deformation.
 
knarfeng said:
Bandogge,
Which model Strider? When did you buy it? How sharp do you keep it? How do you sharpen it? and at what angle?

Starting to formally collect info.
Knarf.
Click to expand...

knarfeng,

It's a MFS, bought @ True North.

I keep it as sharp as the original angle permits... No way to tell angles 'round these parts, I sharpen all my knives on bench/ water.

I also buff edges with a dremel when time allows.

Last week I made a coffee can stove with it... Quit a few cuts. Knife no worse for wear.
 
Enderwiggin,
Same questions:
When did you buy them? How sharp do you keep them? How do you sharpen them? and at what angle(s)?
 
I have a 615 and it's one of the first production run. I haven't had any issues with it, though I must admit that I haven't used it even moderately hard. I've never had any issue with S30V knives chipping and I've owned about 5 of them.
 
Thanks, Bandogge. Do you remember when you bought it?
 
Hi ignoramus,
Same questions:
Which models?
When were they bought?
What is your sharpening method and edge angle?

Sorry to be be picky. But, as Esav said, we need hard data of both failures and successes in order to see if there is or is not an issue.
 
knarfeng said:
Hi ignoramus,
Same questions:
Which models?
When were they bought?
What is your sharpening method and edge angle?

Sorry to be be picky. But, as Esav said, we need hard data of both failures and successes in order to see if there is or is not an issue.
Click to expand...

I started buying real knives in June of 2006, so all of them were between now and then.

Models: Large Manix, Mini Manix, Mini Rukus, Mini Skirmish, Large Ritter Grip. All except for the Mini Skirmish were sharpened by me.

The Ritter Grip was sharpened on the the Sharpmaker at 30 degrees inclusive several times. The rest were sharpened free hand as I got better on the Sharpmaker triangle sticks. Generally I just use the fine grit stick for touch ups and strop a lot on it and legal pads. I do use the medium grit stick when I work the edge down at times. On free hand I just sharpen at the angle they came in at. I haven't done any reprofiling except on my Endura 4 Wave, which is VG-10.

I generally don't do much heavy duty cutting with these knives, so I'm not sure how much my input helps. I just can't stand my edges to be less than shaving sharp. There were some times when I'd use them harder than normal. My friend worked my Mini Manix edge down when he was cutting meat on a plate and pushed really hard in the plate. I've hacked away at cardboard at times, sharpen pencils, open clam packs rarely, cut things that I'm pretty sure aren't very important, etc. Hope this helps a little.
 
I was hoping to work things out, as I too have read many threads about the initial edge and a factory sharpening. The main concern is that I am not good at sharpening.

Oh well, I'll get good or send it in.
 
Here is my take on S30v. I have a Buck Vanguard in it and had chipping issues right from the factory. Then a friend told me that the issue was not the angles, but the refining of the edge. So, I convexed the edge and polished it as fine as I possibly could--no more chipping. It has performed very well ever since.

BUT...I just retired it to the safe in favor of my new favorites....
 
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