Native s30v PE cutting tests

[Pete1977]

(I posted this on the spyderco.com forum and figured I may as well post it here)

Some cutting tests with the Native FRN PE S30V

This is a second native I got when I was impressed with the first.
It is extremely sharp right out of the box.

Cardboard-

10 12" downwards pushing cuts through the cardboard case for 24 12 oz soda cans. I made 13 more cuts before the edge near the choil began to hang up and curl the cardboard as it cut. I still managed to make 17 more cuts very easily before I checked the edge.

The knife still shaves hair, but there seems to be minute chips in the burr. I cannot see them with the naked eye, but I am able to feel them with my thumbnail. They did not seem to affect the ability of the knife to complete the cardboard cutting.

Plastic-

I used six (6) .5 L water bottles. (all I had on hand)

I made paring cuts on these bottles, slicing them in a continuous coil of plastic. the resulting coil when stretched measured between five and 6 feet long. The native was still shaving sharp but I stropped 3 times per side of the blade on a piece of upholstry leather.

I then went back to cardboard and made :

four 10" cuts
four 12" cuts
and then a further 19 12" cuts on a box from amazon.com

Then I made

2 15" cuts
2 10" cuts
and a further 27 15" cuts on a box from a 30-pack of .5L water bottles

The blade started to hang up and curl the cardboard on the last few cuts and there still seems to be minute chipping along the edge of the blade. I have yet to sharpen it on the sharpmaker, as it still cuts very easily, and efficiently.

Pete

 

[Cliff Stamp]

You should be able to cut the cardboard without any chipping, assuming standard edge angles. Initial edges can be problematic, reported problems of this seem to be frequent for S30V. If you have the time you might want to regrind the edge completely and recheck the cutting.

-Cliff

 

[Pete1977]

thanks cliff

I'm taking the native on the boat tomorrow with the original edge, having not sharpened it or touched it up yet.

I'll see what happens with some rope.

Pete

 

[Ming65]

I'd be interested to hear your reports on ithe rope cutting Pete. My Manix did exceptionally well when I was salvaging some nylon rope from the beach last year. I was using it to chop through the rope on a wooden deck. It lost it's shaving sharpness pretty quick of course, but no chipping and I was able to restore the edge pretty fast on diamond stones.

 

[Pete1977]

I made several cuts in 1/4 inch 3 strand polyester/polypropylene sinking line (light buoy line), and in 3/8 inch 4 strand Polysteel floating line tonight, while doing some splicing. The knife still shaves at the tip half, and the half towards the ricasso doesn't shave hair but is still very sharp!. I like S30V.

Pete
(also posted at spyderco.com)