My List of Steels in order for Edge Retention So Far

Ankerson

Ankerson

Knife and Computer Geek
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Nov 2, 2002
Messages
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Here is my list of steels in order for edge retention cutting cardboard from my testing so far. I do real world tests on video using off the shelf knives that have all been reprofiled to 15 degrees per side using an Edge Pro and polished to 6,000 grit (32,000).

The main purpose of my tests are to see what steels will hold a razor sharp edge after cutting the cardboard, not to see what steel is the overall best as in completely dull. The Steels that will slice paper clean and Shave Hair are ranked at the top of the list.

ZDP-189
M390 (BM 710-1)
VG-10
CPM 110V (Kershaw Shallot)
CPM 154
CPM S35VN
VG-1
CPM M4
CTS-BD1
Duratech 20CV
BG-42 (SOG X-42)
CPM S30V
AUS-8A
SR-101
INFI
 
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Very interesting Jim, I need to lend you my S90V Manix so you can add that to the list. :thumbup:
 
Ankerson said:
Here is my list of steels in order for edge retention cutting cardboard from my testing so far.

ZDP-189
VG-10
CPM 154
CPM S35VN
VG-1
CPM M4
Duratech 20CV
CPM S30V
AUS-8A
SR-101
INFI
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Should we assume that the edge profiles and hardness are all identical? If not, you will need to specify that along with the method of evaluating the hardness and edge profile.

-E
 
erichsen said:
Should we assume that the edge profiles and hardness are all identical? If not, you will need to specify that along with the method of evaluating the hardness and edge profile.

-E
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These are real knives, off the shelf that I use in real world testing. ;)

All edges are reprofiled to 15 Degrees per side and polished to 6,000 grit on my Edge Pro..

spoonrobot said:
What's your testing method?
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Watch my videos.... ;)
 
i beleive an important factor that members should realize is that rockwell hardness while certainly is an important factor in edge durability; these knives are tested as they came with each individual factory heattreat. certainly one can take 1095 to 64 r.r. & it will probably out perform zdp at 54 r.r. the knives are tested with the blades as marketed by each manufactuer . it's hardly conceiveable every owner is going to send in a factory knife to be reheat-treated to perform better than the maker issued the product. not to consider the added considerable expense of doing so. dennis
 
As Dennis said, heat treat does impact the way an edge will perform--INDEPENDENT and REGARDLESS of blade geometry. Here, there is no scientifically reproducible or measurable result. And what about bias?

The list may be your results and that's fine, but those results are no more valid than those that someone else with similar experiences would get if they did the "tests" the same way that you did. Nor are proclamations that your tests are "real world tests" sufficient to validate the results. In the end, your list is simply your observations given your biases, and nothing more or less.
 
on_the_edge said:
As Dennis said, heat treat does impact the way an edge will perform--INDEPENDENT and REGARDLESS of blade geometry. Here, there is no scientifically reproducible or measurable result. And what about bias?

The list may be your results and that's fine, but those results are no more valid than those that someone else with similar experiences would get if they did the "tests" the same way that you did. Nor are proclamations that your tests are "real world tests" sufficient to validate the results. In the end, your list is simply your observations given your biases, and nothing more or less.
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No bias at all.... I don't care what steel came in what place etc....

They lined up as they did based on performance....

Real world results....

That's why I do them all on video so there isn't any BS... They do or they don't Pass.
 
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Ankerson said:
No bias at all.... I don't care what steel came in what place etc....

They lined up as they did based on performance....

Real world results....

That's why I do them all on video so there isn't any BS... They do or they don't Pass.
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I was talking about unconscious or hidden bias, not a bias that you would be aware of.
 
on_the_edge said:
I was talking about unconscious or hidden bias, not a bias that you would be aware of.
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There was none at all.... Believe me I really don't care one way or another.

These are nothing more than if you or me had to cut a bunch of cardboard for some reason and and wanted to know what steel would likely be the best at that task...

Other than that my testing isn't the end all or beat all absolute results of anything. :thumbup:
 
Interesting! who would think that steels highly regarded as having the highest retention edge (CPM M4, Duratech 20CV, CPM S30V) would fare lower than VG-10, CPM 154 or VG-1. It would be interesting to test others steels like D2, S90V, H1.
Keep up the good job!
 
Jim,
It seems you need to put your hands on CTS-XHP. In my experience it has been superior!
 
ikiddp9 said:
Interesting! who would think that steels highly regarded as having the highest retention edge (CPM M4, Duratech 20CV, CPM S30V) would fare lower than VG-10, CPM 154 or VG-1. It would be interesting to test others steels like D2, S90V, H1.
Keep up the good job!
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I think the S30V is razor sharp, but I was shocked not to see A2 up on the top of the list. VG-10 should be lower on the list. INFI is about right at the bottom.

I hear a lot of talk about the INFI, but in edge sharpness, it rates low in comparison to A2 and S30V. INFI may rate high for durability.
 
I'm a little puzzled with your results, its not shocking to see ZDP at the top but to be followed my VG10 seems to be a little out of place. Though still a good steel it has about half or less the edge retention of ZDP and is far more prone to impact deformation. I'm also a little shocked at AUS8 being next to S30V and SR101 as IMO both of those steels vastly outperform AUS8.

Were all the blades of similar main blade grind?
 
knifenut1013 said:
I'm a little puzzled with your results, its not shocking to see ZDP at the top but to be followed my VG10 seems to be a little out of place. Though still a good steel it has about half or less the edge retention of ZDP and is far more prone to impact deformation. I'm also a little shocked at AUS8 being next to S30V and SR101 as IMO both of those steels vastly outperform AUS8.

Were all the blades of similar main blade grind?
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Some were hollow ground and some were flat ground.

You would have to watch the videos to understand how I came up with them.

My tests are based on still being able to slice paper clean AND Shave hair after the cardboard so it's the ability to keep a keen edge.

None of the knives were dull after the cardboard as in they would still cut.

I would have to cut a ton more cardboard to really dull them to the point of not cutting and I am sure the order would change if I pushed all the steel to that point.
 
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knifenut1013 said:
I'm a little puzzled with your results, its not shocking to see ZDP at the top but to be followed my VG10 seems to be a little out of place. Though still a good steel it has about half or less the edge retention of ZDP and is far more prone to impact deformation. I'm also a little shocked at AUS8 being next to S30V and SR101 as IMO both of those steels vastly outperform AUS8.

Were all the blades of similar main blade grind?
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+1, I'm very curious to find that you found VG-10 outperformed M4 and S30V.

ZDP is no surprise, but the rest of the order looks very funky.
 
That would definitely explain your results then.
 
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