Ranking of Steels in Categories based on Edge Retention cutting 5/8" rope

JNewell said:
So it would be reasonable to expect an S30V Military to perform about the same as a CPM-D2 Military. Interesting...
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Around the same performance depending...

That's why I have the categories, they mean around the same performance level give or take.

A lot of the steels in production knives are really pretty close in performance, a lot of the differences are perceived differences.

Remember that CPM D2 was 62 RC compared to S30V at 60 RC......

Also don't expect to see more CPM D2 from what I heard........

Most standard D2 (Not CPM) will be in the 58-59 RC range.
 
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Jim,

I understand you tested the poop out of M390 already, but have you tested the new Spyderco Mules in M390? I'm wondering if Spyderco will sell their M390s at a higher hardness than BM to improve their edge retention. Also would love to see which model they put it on...but I guess that goes on the Spydie forums.
 
Gunsnknives said:
Jim,

I understand you tested the poop out of M390 already, but have you tested the new Spyderco Mules in M390? I'm wondering if Spyderco will sell their M390s at a higher hardness than BM to improve their edge retention. Also would love to see which model they put it on...but I guess that goes on the Spydie forums.
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Same hardness as BM is running theirs.

Not sure what the Sprint run M390 will be or at what hardness.

They will also have a ELMAX Mule coming soon.
 
spydusse said:
Hey Jim,
I was wondering if you plan on getting that new sprint manix with cts's s30. That way we can get some real testing done.
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Update...

I can't test the Manix 2 in CTS-BD30P2 (Carpenters vers of S30V) because it's outside of the criteria that I have set up for the testing.

In short it's too thick behind the edge at .030" so it starts out at too high of down force.

Sorry, but I have to stick by my testing criteria of cutting down the variables so we have good data.

Also the Chris Reeve S30V ZAAN blade came in at 59+ RC so that won't be ranked because it falls right in with S30V at 60 RC performance wise.
 
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Curious. Did my Manix 2 come in thinner behind the edge? I always felt the Manix blade was a bit fat.
 
Added XHP Military, tested out the same in Cat 4 as the Manix 2.
 
Ankerson said:
Update...

I can't test the Manix 2 in CTS-BD30P2 (Carpenters vers of S30V) because it's outside of the criteria that I have set up for the testing.

In short it's too thick behind the edge at .030" so it starts out at too high of down force.

Sorry, but I have to stick by my testing criteria of cutting down the variables so we have good data.
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Jim, how about bringing the edge down to 10-12 degrees per side and then putting on a 15 degree bevel?
 
jimnolimit said:
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Jim, how about bringing the edge down to 10-12 degrees per side and then putting on a 15 degree bevel?
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That's not gonna happen. :D

That's a lot of steel to move on that blade...

I will wait for a more suitable platform to test. :)
 
Ankerson said:
That's not gonna happen. :D

That's a lot of steel to move on that blade...

I will wait for a more suitable platform to test. :)
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Fair enough.

Personally I'm liking the BD30P better than S30V. I've only been playing with/using my new Manix2 for 2 days now, but BD30P seems to take a keen edge easier and holds it longer than S30V. So far I'm really liking carpenters 3rd gen powder steels.
 
jimnolimit said:
Fair enough.

Personally I'm liking the BD30P better than S30V. I've only been playing with/using my new Manix2 for 2 days now, but BD30P seems to take a keen edge easier and holds it longer than S30V. So far I'm really liking carpenters 3rd gen powder steels.
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It was pretty easy to sharpen, didn't take long at all, easier than S30V is, about the same as S35VN IMO.

Carpenter steels are 2nd generation. :)
 
I wonder if there's enough sample variation in these to make it worth having some folks with the knife measure theirs - exactly how/where are you measuring???

Ankerson said:
That's not gonna happen. :D

That's a lot of steel to move on that blade...

I will wait for a more suitable platform to test. :)
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kimberfan said:
you should test SR-101, i'd love to see how it holds up
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That's 52100 and Swamp Rat hasn't made a blade thin enough that is also long enough to test.

It's good steel, but no miracles though, should place slightly ahead of INFI in the rankings from what I have seen.
 
Ankerson said:
It was pretty easy to sharpen, didn't take long at all, easier than S30V is, about the same as S35VN IMO.

Carpenter steels are 2nd generation. :)
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Touching up/sharpening the BD30P edge was easier IMO than S30V. I haven't had a chance to play with S35VN but it sounds like the finer grain structure is the reason. I even find CTS-20P fairly easy to sharpen given it's level of performance.

Sorry, my mistake, carpenter is 2nd gen, bohler is 3rd gen.
 
JNewell said:
I wonder if there's enough sample variation in these to make it worth having some folks with the knife measure theirs - exactly how/where are you measuring???
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Don't think it will matter really, it was thick along the whole edge, ranging from about .035" to .030".

Measure at the top of the bevel.

For reference the XHP Military measured in the .025 to .022 range and that is a BIG difference from .035 - .030......
 
Ankerson said:
That's 52100 and Swamp Rat hasn't made a blade thin enough that is also long enough to test.

It's good steel, but no miracles though, should place slightly ahead of INFI in the rankings from what I have seen.
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SR-101 has some extra chromium in it as far as i know so its a little different + the heat treat but if thats the case i'd guess it would be up in category 5 instead of 6, wish you could test it lol, a rucki would do the test nicely i bet
 
I believe the chromium is added for toughness.
 
SR-101 has some extra chromium in it as far as i know so its a little different
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I was under the impression SR101 was 52100, which already has 1.30 to 1.60% chrome in it by composition. Is there anywhere I can read about the extra chrome?
 
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