Powder steel?

[Bataan]

I see advertizing by Dawson Knives that the CPM-3V powder steel used in their blades will stay sharp three times longer than D2. Does anyone know if the facts support the "brag?"

 

[K.O.D.]

Well, depends on many factors. Both are tool steels, D2 most likely to be more stainless. The particle metallurgy in CPM and other steels does affect these things, but heat treatment, RC hardness, etc can effect these things.

Short answer, yes 3V is considered a "superior steel." 3 times longer, no real way to prove or disprove, though I find that to be a bit of an embellishment. Maybe stays sharp 3 times longer than Chinese mystery D2.

The thing is, sharpness itself is subjective. Acceptable sharpness varies between person to person and what they are using their knives for. I touch up my blades on Spyderco Sharpmaker ultra fine stones frequently, so I never let them get close to dull.

 

[Twindog]

D2 and 3V will be pretty close in edge wear. Larrin gives D2 a bit of an edge: 500 cuts at 60.5 Rc compared to 3V's 470 cuts at 60 Rc.

Where 3V is much better than D2 is in toughness. Way tougher than D2 -- so less likely to break, chip or crack.

 

[Bataan]

Well, depends on many factors. Both are tool steels, D2 most likely to be more stainless. The particle metallurgy in CPM and other steels does affect these things, but heat treatment, RC hardness, etc can effect these things.

Short answer, yes 3V is considered a "superior steel." 3 times longer, no real way to prove or disprove, though I find that to be a bit of an embellishment. Maybe stays sharp 3 times longer than Chinese mystery D2.

The thing is, sharpness itself is subjective. Acceptable sharpness varies between person to person and what they are using their knives for. I touch up my blades on Spyderco Sharpmaker ultra fine stones frequently, so I never let them get close to dull.

Thanks much for your input. I reckon there's much about various steels that is subjective depending on intended use, etc. Seems like there are few "absolutes" in the knife world. One man's razor is another man's letter opener !

 

[Bataan]

D2 and 3V will be pretty close in edge wear. Larrin gives D2 a bit of an edge: 500 cuts at 60.5 Rc compared to 3V's 470 cuts at 60 Rc.

Where 3V is much better than D2 is in toughness. Way tougher than D2 -- so less likely to break, chip or crack.

Thanks much, Twindog, for that comparison info; very good to know!

 

[Alberta Ed]

There are so many variables that it's difficult to tell the difference in edge performance unless you have specialized testing equipment, and even that may not translate into real life performance. Edge geometry alone can make a big difference -- Buck's Edge2x for instance. I find that a lot of the difference between steels is subjective -- but that doesn't detract from the fun of trying different and new steels.

 

[OrangeBlueOrangeBlue]

Larrin has done some great work on the subject of edge retention, and his testing found that D2 out-performed 3V (the non-PM version). Performing 3x better than D2 would push CPM-3V off the chart, so I think it's BS.

 

[Smiling]

No doubt 3V is tougher, but from my experience, D2 outperformed it in edge retention on the same media, even with D2 being slightly thicker behind the edge.

I also noticed that same 3V knife picked up slight curve with some time, so it might be botched up HT.

The knife is Cold Steel Mini Pendleton in 3V, D2 knife was Boker.