My first spyderco

[Pilot1]

I have a Southard, and it is a favorite, but for a classic Spydie, and for the money/value it is hard to beat the Endura, and Delica.

 

[abbazaba]

Especially since BM upped their prices.

So it sounds like the manix 2 m4 bhq has would be a good intro into the spydie world!

I think it's between the BHQ exclusive MANIX 2, mantra 2, or the caly 3( just because of the hap40, not sure how it stacks up to m4 though)

These are two knives that are completely different. I would base my decision on intended use and carry, not steel. Especially with them both having similar steels.

 

[nick_30]

Question....m4 is a carbon tool steel right?
That would mean it doesn't have any carbide right? So it would have a fine grain structure as well?

 

[M. Johnwell]

Question....m4 is a carbon tool steel right?
That would mean it doesn't have any carbide right? So it would have a fine grain structure as well?

People classify it as a carbon tool steel, but it’s really a high speed tool steel which means it has other alloying elements. It has vanadium, tungsten, molybdenum, and a bit of chromium, all of which form carbides. It’s basically a super steel that doesn’t have as enough chromium to be considered a stainless.

 

[nick_30]

Ahhh...gotcha

 

[nick_30]

Ahhh...gotcha
So would a carbon steel blade be better for absolute sharpness

Sorry for the double post, out at the deer lease so not good signal

 

[palonej]

Great point on the ergos LR!! The Manix locks in my hand like no other knife. I have 6 of them, one of my favorite knives!
The LW or the G10 are hand grabbers......in a good way!
The s110, blurple, came out of the box with the best F&F of any Spydie I have. Literally perfect. Fantastic knife!
Joe

The Manix is a solid knife. One of the best hand fillers, just great grip for working. I prefer it to my PM2.

 

[nick_30]

So I ask again, would a carbon steel blade be better for absolute sharpness.

While I do love the edge retention of m4, it is pretty time consuming to sharpen and with as lite use as this knife would see, would it be worth it to go with a high end carbon blade

 

[miso2]

In my limited experience, I feel it is quite difficult to achieve polished HHT5 edges with M4 and other high vanadium carbide steels, if not impossible. They are great with coarse edges.

 

[nick_30]

I hear that, I do a 300grit with a few passes of 4um on the strop and it is a serious slicer
So I guess that would mean hap40, rwl34 and zdp 189 should be on my radar

 

[miso2]

Well. If that kind of "coarse or toothy" edge is what you want to have, M4 is great.
What I meant was a very polished (to sub-micron) razor type HHT5 edge.

 

[nick_30]

Yea, I got what you were saying, I was just agreeing with you on the m4. I am after hht5 level

 

[miso2]

Yea, I got what you were saying, I was just agreeing with you on the m4. I am after hht5 level

Oh, I see. I misread yours.
With that said, I think ZDP-189 is also a difficult one to get a polished HHT5 edge.
I don't know about the other two you listed.

 

[nick_30]

Would it be better to try to find a hollow ground blade for the intended purpose?

 

[nick_30]

It just dawned on me, rockstead uses zdp-189 in their knives. As we all know, they are the sharpest and most keen edge on a factory knife out there. So you get keeness, plus edge retention. Like I've said earlier, this will be a VERY light use knife so I'm not worried about chipping.
So maybe this is what I am looking for, plus I've always wanted to try that stuff out

 

[lieferung]

It just dawned on me, rockstead uses zdp-189 in their knives. As we all know, they are the sharpest and most keen edge on a factory knife out there. So you get keeness, plus edge retention. Like I've said earlier, this will be a VERY light use knife so I'm not worried about chipping.
So maybe this is what I am looking for, plus I've always wanted to try that stuff out

I have a ZDP-189 Delica 4. Best EDC and slicer I've owned.

 

[nick_30]

How would you all rate zdp is to sharpen?

I have sharpened m4, m390, elmax, 20cv, s30v, 204p and Damascus all of which where really not that bad to me. M4 seems to be the toughest out of the bunch.
I have a full diamond kme kit with the lapping films and strops.
Got my eye on a caly 3 in zdp and carbon fiber

 

[lieferung]

Well, I'll tell you this. I use my ZDP Delica for light to medium tasks, and I haven't had to sharpen it since I bought it in June

 

[nick_30]

Nice man, that's good to hear

 

[Lapedog]

Anyone know of any other good slicers in hap40 or rwl34?

Rwl 34 is basically a powder metal variant of 154cm. Rwl 34 is name such because RWL stands for Robert W. Loveless who was a proponent of ats34 steel. That's where the 34 in rwl34 comes from, ats34 which isnvery similar to 154cm. As rwl34is a

I will never say PM2 is inadequate.

Compared to the ones I listed and think good slicers, the blade stock and/or the edge are thicker.
Making thin slices is not a problem because the material would curl away from the blade.

I once tried to cut a cucumber and a potato in half with PM2, but they just broke up in the middle.
Spydiechef did a lot better, if not great.

Of course, it may not be relevant because I would not use PM2 for food prep.

Yes man! That Exskelibur is rediculous. I love the thin blade on that thing. I honestly think it would cut with a completely dull edge.