Never owned a knife with Super Blue steel... Need some opinions.

N

Navyblu

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Jan 11, 2013
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I'm gonna pick up a Spyderco Stretch soon, but I'm caught between the VG10 and Aogami Super Blue versions. I mainly wanted to know about its edge retention and ease of sharpening. Also, I'd like to know how rust resistant it is, as well as whether or not it's worth the extra money I'd drop on it.
Many thanks, have a good one.
 
Superblue is amazing stuff. Sharpens up super easy and takes an unholy sharp edge! I have a couple of blades in this steel and live oceanfront in the tropics. The steel Patinas easily but I've had no issues with rust. Definitely worth the extra bucks.
 
It's not bad, good kitchen knife steel, should be as that's what the Japanese use it for mostly.

Performance will be slightly better than 1095.

Not stainless so keep it oiled until the patina develops.
 
It's definitely worth the investment (and upkeep as a carbon steel) if you like polished edges and have the sharpening equipment and skills to take it to a high polish. The Aogami Super should also be heat treated a bit harder (around 62 if I recall correctly) than Spyderco's usual VG-10, so it can hold onto a more acute angle. Since it is clad in stainless you really only have to worry about small portion of the blade, and I wouldn't expect you to have much trouble keeping it rust free.

On the other hand if you already encounter issues with corrosion with nominally stainless steels, then you will likely need to change your knife upkeep habits to prevent rust. VG-10 will be more worry free and it still has very good edge retention.

As a compromise between the two, the ZDP-189 version might be worth taking a look at.
 
With Super Blue, a patina will likely develop with time and use. Not inevitable, but probable. You can have fun with forced patina patterns by slicing vegetables, such as grapefruit, cucumbers, pineapple. Sort of a game for the knife-nut.
As previously mentioned, ZDP-189 is easier to care for; also takes a fine edge. VG-10 is a good steel, but boring.
 
Highly recommended steel that is worth the small jump in price. Also not a typical folding knife steel so it is something different from the norm. If you are concerned about patina google the reviews of the SB Caly. Plenty of pics of what the patina will look like. If you like your blade to be shiny and new looking all the time skip this steel.
 
I love the stuff....

Easy to sharpen with out diamonds and hold's a decent edge. Laminated blades are going to scratch easily if you care about that. I personally have a lot of knives in white and super blue and don't ever worry to much about rust. Some people act like a carbon blade will disintegrate if it touches an orange around here some times.
 
I would get the Super Blue Stretch while you still can at a reasonable cost for all the reasons already mentioned. If you don't like it you will not have any problem selling it as there is a high demand for sold out Sprint versions, even used ones. The stainless 420J laminate covers most of the blade so there is little maintenance required to prevent corrosion.
 
Get superblue, you will love it. Good thing theres plenty of superblue spydies around right now.
 
If you like super sharp, then SB. Otherwise VG10 less worry for corrosion. I have no experience with it, but many forum member says it gets sharp too, only that SB will be able to take thinner edge slightly better.

To keep it shiny, simply strop often with white (remove patina) and then green compound (finer). I live in tropics and my Endura is as shiny as it gets.

This thread showed that VG10 also good: www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1172842-Finally-got-it-was-so-easy-High-Polish-Razor!
 
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Love super blue on my caly 3 sharpens fast and gets very sharp had a delica 4 in the laminated 420j got razor sharp. There's something about the patina of high carbon steel that makes me have to have a solid sb blade...
 
Here is my Caly 3.5 in Superblue. I always keep it oiled even after the forced patina. It's important to wipe down the blade when your done with it or corrosion can make the edge toothy. With good quality diamond stones I didn't find it difficult to resharpen. ZDP-189 was certainly more of a challenge. VG-10 is great stuff too.

 
Brisket said:
I would get the Super Blue Stretch while you still can at a reasonable cost for all the reasons already mentioned. If you don't like it you will not have any problem selling it as there is a high demand for sold out Sprint versions, even used ones. The stainless 420J laminate covers most of the blade so there is little maintenance required to prevent corrosion.
Click to expand...

Mine just came in today! I already have the zdp stretch and wanted another stretch and something in super blue. I'm kind of surprised they are still available. I use a dodo at work and found it so useful I got another, cause 2 is one and 1 is . . . well you know. Anyway, those things cost over 250 bucks now!!

But back to the stretch. It opens smooth, the blade is perfectly centered, and it was shaving sharp! Of course I sharpened it again, cause it's what I do. It's still sharp. I'll probably make it my lunch knife for awhile, since it's such a good slicer.

I'm not too worried about the corrosion, my other favorite knife are bark rivers, they aren't stainless steel either. They are my sharpest knife, I think it's the combination of convex edge and steel.

How does superblue compare to other steels like A2? I think that's what most of my barkies are made of.
 
The Super Blue Stretch is a fantastic knife.

I will warn you however that the SuperBlue is laminated between two slices of 420J1 which scratches very easily.
I quit carrying mine because I love it and I don't wanna scratch up the blade by carrying it with my keys etc.

But yeah, go ahead and pull the trigger while there are still some of these around. It's one my my favorite Spydies in my collection
 
I'll add my $0.02 here from the tropics!

I love SB steel and would typically pick it over VG10 although I have some rust issues with SB out here. I find that both steels are easy to sharpen up to a terrific edge and I have kind of come full circle away from some other 'supersteels' due to the challenge of getting them back into shape after real-world use outdoors and away from bench stones, etc. That leads me away from ZDP (even though I have a few knives in it). Either of your options will work and as others have stated, rust resistance requirements may help you decide...

I will add that VG10 is one of my go to 'stainless' steels and I don't see that changing much for the aforementioned reasons.

Either option will serve you fine! ;)

Ben
 
How many pocket knives off the top of your head not from spyderco come in super blue...... 0 that's how many. It gets stupid sharp stupid fast, but will pit and rust without a patina. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1427518604.613332.jpg
 
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