Questions on 440v

tenman

tenman

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
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The Spyderco Military has been on my radar for a while, finally scored an older one in 440v and should have it sometime next week. I have seen quite a few threads relating the difficulties of sharpening this steel. The steels I've sharpened that may be somewhat comparable would be M2 and D2- sharpening wise how might it compare with those? Is it really that much more of a pain than D2? Being hard to sharpen (wear resistance?), should it also be expected to hold onto that edge for a while? Are there any other peculiarities of this steel that might be helpful to know of?

Sharpening aside, I'm pretty excited about the knife!
 
I considers all this talks about hard to sharpen as a PR against modern steel. If you are using proper modern (inexpensive as well) tools - DMT sharpeneras then there is no such thing as hard to sharpen steel. I should say also that it require same effort to sharpen "super steel" and entry level steel.

You ar luck to get one with CPM 440V (or CPM S60V) I think it is better in edge holding then new CPM S30V.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Ive heard a number of people say that 440V (a.k.a. S60V) is hard to sharpen, but I've never found it so. I've been sharpening on diamond hones for many years, and they really don't care how hard or tough the steel is, or how many of what carbides it contains. 440V does contain a fairly high volume of vanadium carbide, which gives it good wear resistence. That just means it takes a little longer to sharpen. I'd rate its edge- holding at or above that of D2. I have very little experience with M2, so I can't comment on that one.

One thing to bear in mind about the early 440V Military. The steel was brand-new, there was no field experience to draw on, so Spyderco followed the steel makers suggested heat treat. There were chipping problems at that hardness, so the heat treat was changed for later runs.
 
It may take longer to sharpen, but it's not impossible with regular stones.
However. The small ($20) investment in a good diamond hone will make all your sharpening jobs so much easier you'll wonder why you didn't get one sooner.
 
440V isn't that difficult to sharpen with the right stones. Diamonds are usually what people are pushed to but SiC stones are just as effective and way, way cheaper while just as effective.

The Diamond stones are nice but quite a bit more expensive than you need to spend for a stone that you may only use with that knife steel once a year or so ... You could also get yourself a $14 EZ Lap Sportsman's diamond hone that's used like a chef's steel that works a treat if you're comfortable sharpening with a steeling technique (really simple, really fast).

Once you get the edge bevel where you want it, all you have to do is maintain it occasionally on the Crock Sticks or a strop treated with CrO2 or better still diamond paste and you may not need that stone for quite a while.

You can also use the good ole' Silicon Carbide (Norton's Carborundum) stone for about $5 for a combo c/f 6x2 from Home Depot. Step it up to the $15-20 range and you can get some really nice Silicon Carbide stones in a better size (8 x 3, 12 x 2 3/4). If you can find an Asian market near you you should be able to find one of these really cheap (picked up a SiC, c/f, combo stone, 12 x 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 for $9!!!!!! So I cheap I picked up 2 just because I could, lol). I like SiC stones alot despite the fact they dish faster but with better steels on knives these days, you simply don't need to use them that often. Anyway, you have choices, take your pick.

Good Luck!

Be safe.

NJ
 
I have a standard Lansky with a coarse diamond stone. Also have a smaller diamond hone, strop, and a Sharpmaker. This set-up has sharpened and/or profiled every knife I own. I suppose it has more to do with unfamiliarity with the steel more than anything, but based on what you guys are saying it really shouldn't be that big of a deal. About the only real unknown will be burring, that's where the SM and strop come in. Native, you reminded me of the need for some better stropping compound. I've been using a fine polishing compound, or possibly the diamond paste you mentioned. Still working on mastering the zen of the strop, not quite there yet but working on it. Thanks for the input!
 
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440V has always been a favorite of mine, just get a couple of DMT hones and you're set. Fastest, easiest and cleanest way to sharpen anything-including 440V.
 
I used to have a Military in 440V. I did have some problems sharpening it. But from what I remember, it was the soft heat treatment that caused the problems. The knife had a tendency to develop a wire edge, that could be very hard to remove. I finally ended up convexing the edge, and using SIC wet/dry paper for sharpening, and then a strop afterwards. It worked awesome. I wish that I still had that knife.
 
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