PM 2; S110v or K390

Lenny

Lenny

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Oct 15, 1998
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Gonna order one from Bento Box and I don’t know much about either steel. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each?
Thank you
 
K390 is tougher. S110V holds an edge for a long time but it can chip. You will love K390 trust me lol. It is a high carbon steel so clean and oil it so it doesn't rust, and it'll develop a patina.
 
I haven’t enjoyed my PM2 s110v
S110v is a good steel than holds a working edge very long
However it’s really not got to hold a « razor sharp » edge.... I found than frustrating

so I would pick the k390
 
K390 has great wear resistance and responds really well to stones. Also, G Greg02 was selling a near new K390 PM2 for much less than BentoBox.
 
I haven’t tried k390 but I have used s110v on a manix lw. It’s an incredible steel and I would recommend trying it out sometime, seems to hold an edge forever. However, with all of the great reviews I would pick k390 between the two, only because I’m interested in trying it out for myself!
 
You won’t be disappointed with K390, I’ve learned that S110V does not like lateral stress, even if you think you’re not subjecting it to lateral stress, you’ll find out just how little it takes to chip the hell out of the edge or have a chunk go missing.
The downside to K390 is that it will get ugly in a hurry :p, other than that it’s a good choice in steel to own.
 
Ajack60 said:
You won’t be disappointed with K390, I’ve learned that S110V does not like lateral stress, even if you think you’re not subjecting it to lateral stress, you’ll find out just how little it takes to chip the hell out of the edge or have a chunk go missing.
The downside to K390 is that it will get ugly in a hurry :p, other than that it’s a good choice in steel to own.
Click to expand...

A forced patina can give a design you inspire.
Wards off rust as well.
 
S110V is extremely corrosion resistant and K390 will rust. Both have extreme wear resistance. K390 is tougher and easier to get screaming sharp. So I'd choose K390.
If you give K390 a patina, it becomes pretty corrosion resistant. My BBS PM2 green K390 never gets a spec of rust and I do nothing to maintain it. I wrapped 3 layers of paper towels around the blade, soaked them in apple cider vinegar, left it 45 minutes, then rinsed. Beautiful grey finish with a hint of color as though case hardened. I'm surprised they don't put a factory finish on it. But then we'd be deprived of the fun of doing it ourselves.
 
When people say "give it a patina to protect against corrosion", that's a really vague statement. You can use a chemical agent or vinegar to promote the formation of black oxide on the blade surface, which is a stable oxide that gives a little bit of protection from rust (red oxide) to the steel underneath. Some "patinas" are not black oxide but just mild forms of oxidation that are not really protective.
 
My question is--get a k390 Pm2 now, or hold out for the Micarta/Cruwear that's in the pipeline?
 
Evany said:
My question is--get a k390 Pm2 now, or hold out for the Micarta/Cruwear that's in the pipeline?
Click to expand...


Both. May be a while before the Micarta comes out. I have mine on preorder.

DQJj60d.jpg
 
I have the micarta cruwear preordered too. Haven’t tried searching too hard, but any guesses when those are expected to start shipping?
 
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