Opinions needed. (Spartan Blades Difensa)

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bryantburnsred

Joined
Dec 9, 2024
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16
Okay, so the short of it is I bought one of my grail knives recently and it just came in a few days ago. Its the Spartan Harsey Difensa, and man is it awesome. BUT I thought I looked before ordering but apparently I messed up. It was supposed to be Magnacut (my dream version) but I ended up with the S45VN version. I've only been collecting for 6 months or so, so I'm steel learning (couldn't help myself) about which blade steels are best for which action, etc.

So do I try a return and wait until they have the magnacut version in stock and can ship. Or go the refund route, OR is the difference between magnacut and S45VN negligible enough to warrant going through the return and wait process. Also I used the Paypal for the payment option, so I'm sure that'll also be a headache. Opinions are appreciated and welcomed. I'm asking for what y'all would do in this case Cheers!!!
 
jbmonkey said:
I'd be good with either, but it's your knife and what you think or want matters far more than my thoughts.
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I am looking for opinions though from others that know more about blade steel than I. So I do appreciate your thoughts on the matter. Cheers! Its surprising so far I've asked 13 people and its been 11-2 in favor of keeping the S45. Just as much as magna cut has been hyped, it caught me off guard.
 
Yes Magnacut has some advantages, but for the average knife owner/user they couldn't tell you which was which if they didn't know just by use.

If you start getting real interested in knives and use lots of different steels you'll notice the benifits one has over another and some of the trade offs.

Assuming both steels are heat treated well to take advantage of their properties ... Magnacut will be a bit more corrosion resistant and it will sharpen a little easier. Magnacut is a bit tougher than S45VN. S45VN may hold an edge slightly better.

Edit to add: Knife Steel Nerds has charts that compare lots of steels if you want to dive deeper into it.
 
bryantburnsred said:
I am looking for opinions though from others that know more about blade steel than I. So I do appreciate your thoughts on the matter. Cheers! Its surprising so far I've asked 13 people and its been 11-2 in favor of keeping the S45. Just as much as magna cut has been hyped, it caught me off guard.
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gotcha.

good makers don't use steels that can't do the job the knife was designed to do. I have lots of knives in s45vn and magnacut. I like both steels. both hold a good edge for my uses. I can't tell which is better in my use, but both are quite good. both i can sharpen easily enough. magnacut seems a bit easier but it's not a huge difference to me. I've had good results in corrosion resistance with both. magancut has better corrosion resistance.

I'm not hard on knives so toughness is good enough with both steels. magnacut I belive is better though. all these things depends on the makers heat treat though.

I own some spartan folders in s45vn and have had good results using them. I don't own a magnacut knife from them, but I assume they do a good heat treat on it. I don't feel either steel choice is gonna let you down used properly.

in the end if ya really want magnacut, then you already know the answer.
 
I have a mess of SHFs in S45VN and have no real drive to get a Magnacut one, partly because none of the new designs has really grabbed me, and partly because I'm perfectly happy with the current performance. I haven't had any issues whatsoever with Spartan S45VN, and I doubt you will either if you keep it.
 
As my friends jbmonkey jbmonkey and norcalAF norcalAF have said, it won't be a noticeable difference if you aren't doing a lot of tough work with the knife. That's not to pass any judgement on you, trust me, I've got drawers full of knives that haven't so much as opened an envelope, or slit the tape on an Amazon box. I've also got ten or twenty knives in my collection that I've used hard though, everything from whittling wood by the fire, to food prep, to cutting feathersticks, to cutting (a lot of!!) 550 cord and other cordage, plus all the usual day to day tasks like the aforementioned opening mail and boxes, and none of them have ever let me down....and none of them are Magnacut. And related to this discussion, one of 'em is a Spartan Harsey SHF!

Frankly, I would have zero issue with an S45vn Difensa, as my Harsey SHFs are all S45vn and I have always been pleased with how well that steel takes and holds an edge. Also, I am not sure how stainless S45vn is, but as the Difensa is coated, it's a non-issue. I have to say that I think you'd be well pleased with the knife you've received...HOWEVER, it's not my knife, and if you bought it, wanting/expecting it to be MagnaCut, then I would say that a return is in order, friend. I see them available on Spartan's site right now, so they're clearly out there. Do what you need to do to be happy, those aren't inexpensive knives. S45vn is entirely good in that knife, but only you know what your needs are. Either way, congratulations on your purchase, those are some mean looking knives for sure!
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
Yes Magnacut has some advantages, but for the average knife owner/user they couldn't tell you which was which if they didn't know just by use.

If you start getting real interested in knives and use lots of different steels you'll notice the benifits one has over another and some of the trade offs.

Assuming both steels are heat treated well to take advantage of their properties ... Magnacut will be a bit more corrosion resistant and it will sharpen a little easier. Magnacut is a bit tougher than S45VN. S45VN may hold an edge slightly better.

Edit to add: Knife Steel Nerds has charts that compare lots of steels if you want to dive deeper into it.
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Thanks for the response. And thank you especially for linking me to Knife Steel Nerds, not sure
Terry M. said:
The obvious correct answer has yet to be given.

Keep the S45VN. And then buy another in MagnaCut. 😁
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Maaaaaan this might be it with taxes coming up....I just might have to have to get the Dawson Knives model in Magnacut that I've been eyeing for a minute.
 
Agree with the above. It's highly likely that most people can tell the difference between the two steels, BUT you will always know and it will always bother you. Ship it back. Alternatively as has already been suggested, keep it AND buy the magnacut version.
 
As for the OP, in a blind fold test you wouldn't likely be able to tell the difference. Frankly, if you have itch for the newer steel then scratch it and send it back. If you can shrug it off and use it, I doubt you'd notice or care.

Personally, I like magnacut and have it in folders and fixed but if I got stuck with s45vn for the rest of my life I'd be better than fine. At this point we're knitpicking, cutlery steels are better than they ever have been so 🤷🏽

Sorry I'm no help. Whatever you do, use the knife.
 
bryantburnsred said:
Will respond to the rest of you gents after work tomorrow. Thanks again for all of the input. This is my first post on here and you guys seem awesome. Might have to stick around a while and learn.
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LOL....First thing to learn is that there is no such thing as the "best steel", its a matter of opinion unless you are worried about not having the latest bestest steel of the month. Chasing numbers is a fools errand. Buy what you like and use it. If it didn't have numbers etched into the blade you probably wouldn't know the difference or even care.....
 
bryantburnsred said:
Will respond to the rest of you gents after work tomorrow. Thanks again for all of the input. This is my first post on here and you guys seem awesome. Might have to stick around a while and learn.
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We are awesome enablers! Stick around and you'll be sitting on a pile of steel, and most of it you will have never even heard of as of this moment 😁 just wait till you see some of the work some of the forum members do 😍
 
Keep the S45VN and visit the magical place that is the exchange. Possibility of regrets obliterated, wallet remains in tact. :)
 
I think that if I was in the OP’s position I would keep the S45VN and use it. I would be analyzing the design features of the knife to see if its really to my liking and meets my wants and needs. As many have said, both steels are of high quality and performance, so the actual design, ergos and geometry matter most. If I like it, then I might buy a second in Magnacut.
 
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