Phil Wilson Southfork...BOOM, Mic Drop!!!

It is similar to 10v in composition. Super high carbon content, lots of vanadium, but fractionally less vanadium than 10v which is replaced by a small amount of Tungston and one other element that is escaping my mind. It's supposed to have better resistance to degradation that results from heat. Although, I don't think that a human could impart that type of heat by cutting stuff, we don't move fast enough or for extremely long periods of time. But I have yet to put it to an animal😉. If my memory is correct, my South Fork is at a Rockwell of 63. In my kitchen it has begun to develop a slight patina and I wipe, dry and oil (food grade oil) after each use. I don't mind this at all. In fact I enjoy taking care of a knife in this manner. My hunting knives in o1 and a2 developed a patina almost immediately even with the same level of care. They really darkened once they touched blood. But again it does not bother me because I have chosen this steel for its wear resistance and my intended use over things like corosion resistance. I think that since I have let a patina develop on my other knives, which will happen on my Phil Wilson, they have become a little more resistant to outright rusting. That patina actually helps to protect the steel. I don't live in a particularly humid part of California or near the coast with salty air so I am not in a constant battle with the elements. One other thing. A member here (Surfing Gringo) has one of Phil Wilsons blades in cpm m4 which is also not very corrosion resistant, and he uses it a lot fishing the ocean off Costa Rica (I believe it's Costa Rica). It has developed one beautiful patina but no rust as far as I know.

Sorry for blabbing on and I hope that I have been somewhat helpful in answering your questions. I do hope that some of the steel gurus will jump in to provide additional info, expand on what I have said and correct any errors I may have made.
 
That element I couldn't remember, I looked it up, cobalt. The literature says that k390 is a little tougher that 10v but I don't know how much "a little" is or how that compairs to m390.

Here is a link to a website that has the composition of k390 listed in a table with a few other steels for comparison.
http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/zdata-bladesteelC-K390.htm

You can also go to the zknives website for similar information.
 
I am fortunate to have one of Phil's Shelter Cove models in CPM-154. A cutting and fillet machine. Funny, you can sort of feel the density of the steel, and it sharpens oh so easy. Would love to have one of his B&T's, His designs, heat treat, and work are truly an art.
 
I don't have a Phil Wilson but I have 2 k390 knives done by Dave at OTK. I also have several knives in 10v and cannot really tel the difference in my usage. Holds an edge for quite awhile and not too bad to sharpen. No rust on mine yet...
Russ
 
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