perceived edge holding S30V vs 154CM

T

tmickley

Joined
Apr 4, 2001
Messages
1,803
Ken Onion mentions this in passing in the thread 'S30V vs BG42' that S30V holds a medium sharp edge for a long time. I have been leaning this way for a bit myself lately. I have been carrying a couple different folders for the last several months, one has 154CM the other has S30V. The S30V holds an edge for a long time but doesn't seem to stay razer sharp very long. The 154CM seems to stay very sharp for a bit longer and then just loses it's edge over time at a fairly steady rate. It doesn't seem to make sense but that is what I perceive in use. Any one else?
 
Feedback on the S30V bushcrafts I have made seem to indicate the same thing as you report. The S30V does keep its shaving sharpness for a good while and is stroped back to shaving before getting to far behind. They baton with them, chop, drill, whatever. The S30V seems to be doing quite well. I have a ATS-34 made but not delivered. Its at sheath making. I think all the previous have been S30V(?).

RL
 
Sounds like a lot of you smiths will be very interested in trying the CPM 154CM !!
 
I can't comment on S30V vs 154CM directly, but I do have two Benchmade folders, a 941D2CF with a D2 blade and a 941Ti-01 wich has S30V. SAme exact blade grinds, same handle and from the same company, just different materials. I mostly cut up cardboard boxes (lots of them) and the S30V seems to hold a really sharp edge longer to me. I used to have a 941 with 154CM steel and the D2 version seemed to hold up longer when I compared those two, so by indirect comparison, the S30V seems a bit better to me.

John
 
I think one of the problems when discussing steels and sharpness is everyone having different definitions of "sharp". I like to use a scary sharp knife. My dad uses a knife until it stops cutting plus 10 minutes!

My two favorite stainless steels are BG42 and VG10. I like them because they keep a scary sharp edge longer than other steels. S30V maintains a working sharp edge longer, but I like scary sharp. When my knives are not scary sharp any more, I sharpen them. As a result I spend lots of time sharpening my knives. BG42 and VG10 sharpen faster than S30V.

This is all my opinion. I am excited to test CPM 154CM.
 
I think one of the problems with comparing anything with S30V is trying to put the same edge on S30V that goes on much easier with most other steels. In my experience, S30V is the most difficult steel to sharpen initially, and I have to be very careful that I don't fight it getting there. Because it is so resistant to finish grinding with the finer belts, it's natural to lean into the belt more with S30V than you need to do with other steels. That results in a somewhat steeper edge and somewhat less of that scary sharp feel you get with other steels.


There's also some quirkiness with S30V and coarse edges that I really don't understand. It's much less tolerant of rough toothy edges than other steels; a 220 grit edge will go away pretty quickly with S30V in my experience. A finely finished edge lasts a very long time, but that then gets back to the problem above of getting a finely finished edge without altering the geometry.

If you look at these sharpening issues you might see reasons behind some of the experiences mentioned here.
 
Chuck Bybee said:
I think one of the problems when discussing steels and sharpness is everyone having different definitions of "sharp". I like to use a scary sharp knife. My dad uses a knife until it stops cutting plus 10 minutes!

My two favorite stainless steels are BG42 and VG10. I like them because they keep a scary sharp edge longer than other steels. S30V maintains a working sharp edge longer, but I like scary sharp. When my knives are not scary sharp any more, I sharpen them. As a result I spend lots of time sharpening my knives. BG42 and VG10 sharpen faster than S30V.

This is all my opinion. I am excited to test CPM 154CM.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, I share your opinion.
 
somthing else that would come into question is what type of edge does the knife have on it,I hollow grind but put a convexed edge on my blades,I have tried a v grind or chisel type edge and the convex seems to last the longest
and cut the fastest of all the edge geometry. Also somthig else to think about is what type of HT was done on it,the knife is only as good at the HT

Chuck I have two knives finished up that need to go to HT that are made of CPM 154, I love the way it grinds I am looking forward to seeing what type of edge it takes :)
 
I can't comment too much on this, but of the dozen or so ATS-34/154CM knives I have (it's the same thing, just different nationality, isn't it?) none of them feel sharp to me. They cut fine, but they just don't feel sharp like 1084 or S30V for that matter. Any idea why that is? I thought I just sucked at sharpening, but that's not the case. All of the knives made of those steels just feel dull when I test with my thumb. Is the steel a little "slicker" or something, for lack of a better word?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top