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

Wow. I finally got done reading this entire thread. Thanks to Ankerson and the other contributors.

This thread and your review between the BM in M390 and the Spyderco In ZDP-189, I became very interested in M390. Is BM the only one that has M390 in constant production (or readily available)? I have seen the Spyderco sprints in M390 and i can only hope to get one. Am I missing any?
 
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mauidogg said:
Wow. I finally got done reading this entire thread. Thanks to Ankerson and the other contributors.

This thread and your review between the BM in M390 and the Spyderco In ZDP-189, I became very interested in M390. Is BM the only one that has M390 in constant production (or readily available)? I have seen the Spyderco sprints in M390 and i can only hope to get one. Am I missing any?
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Linder makes several fixed blades in M390 under the Powderit2 name.
 
thanks for the reply Noctis. And since you cut corn stalks most of the time maybe you would be a good resource for me. I cut taro most of the day. the petiole (kinda like a stalk) to remove leaves and the cutting the corm as well. Some days I am only removing leaves and in very large quantity. cutting 1500 stalks a day is a possibility. I have been using several different knives and would like to be able to go thru a whole day without having to stop and sharpen.

I have narrowed it down to a BM 581 barrage in M390, a Spyderco Mille in M390 (if I can get one), and a Mule in M390 (if I can get one). I prefer folders for ease of carry while I am moving around, but the Mule seems like an easy way to go within my price range (non custom). Thanks for suggesting the linder knife but, I really donʻt care for the looks.

edit: looks like I could get 2 Endura FFG in ZDP for the same price and maybe that would work, use both for the day? Wife might not understand buying 2 knives for the same purpose though.
 
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I would look into the para with cts 20cp blade; not ridiculously priced. I cut 2 ply hemp twine most of the day, some burlap and plastic pots. Nothing I have used in a production knife out lasts cts 20cp.the blade Is just a tad smaller then the endura, i believe . I never had in issue with it being too small
 
Took the first picture from google images as I currently don't own a endura. The other pics are my para cts 20cp.
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RandomAyes said:
I'd like to see harder 5160 tested, say 61.

With a meager 55 I'm surprised it isn't dead last.
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I doubt it would make that much difference because the alloy content just isn't there, hardness isn't everything.

I think it might do slightly better, but without the carbides it won't make a big difference.

Both Alloy content and high hardness are needed for optimal edge retention.

Remember I am cutting very abrasive material, manila rope is extremely abrasive and hard on edges when slicing through it.
 
Ankerson said:
I doubt it would make that much difference because the alloy content just isn't there, hardness isn't everything.

I think it might do slightly better, but without the carbides it won't make a big difference.

Both Alloy content and high hardness are needed for optimal edge retention.

Remember I am cutting very abrasive material, manila rope is extremely abrasive and hard on edges when slicing through it.
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Right. At .6% carbon there just can't be an abundance of carbides. Still I'm surprised it ranked as high as it did.

BTW did you re-profile the M390 mule before testing? Mine is not as acute as I'd like. Man I need to buy an Edge Pro.
 
RandomAyes said:
Right. At .6% carbon there just can't be an abundance of carbides. Still I'm surprised it ranked as high as it did.

BTW did you re-profile the M390 mule before testing? Mine is not as acute as I'd like. Man I need to buy an Edge Pro.
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I made it 30 inclusive, 15 degrees per side for the testing. :)

Still need to send it off yet though, just haven't had much energy to get out that much with my work schedule these days...
 
Hi Ankerson,

Thanks for all your testing!! :)
Eagerly waiting for the HRC measurements on your M390 mule. :D

Sincerely,
--Lagragian
 
Jim, do you suspect that the BD30P in the Manix 2 would rank about the same or higher than higher hardness S30V? I believe it was knarfeng who stated that he found it to perform a bit better.
 
Orion's Belt said:
Jim, do you suspect that the BD30P in the Manix 2 would rank about the same or higher than higher hardness S30V? I believe it was knarfeng who stated that he found it to perform a bit better.
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Couldn't say, I had one here, but it was too thick to test.
 
Orion's Belt said:
Jim, do you mean that the bevel was too steep or the blade was too thick behind the edge?
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It was way too thick behind the edge at .033+, the blade would have had to be reground to thin it out down to the .020 - .025 range.
 
Wow, that's interesting. Is this something unique to the BD30P sprint, or are all Manix sprints that thick behind the edge?
 
My BD30P Manix doesn't seem that thick behind the edge. I'll mic it when I get a chance. If it's around .025 or less, I'd gladly lend it out to you for testing purposes.
 
Orion's Belt said:
My BD30P Manix doesn't seem that thick behind the edge. I'll mic it when I get a chance. If it's around .025 or less, I'd gladly lend it out to you for testing purposes.
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I measured it after I reprofiled it to 30 degrees inclusive for the testing.
 
Ankerson ......I thank you for your testing , even if I dont totally understand the rateings here ...........I always heard that ZDP was a top notch steel and you have it rated with 154cm , so Iam lost a little
Either way thanks for the testing ......... dj
 
djdawgdj@aol.com said:
Ankerson ......I thank you for your testing , even if I dont totally understand the rateings here ...........I always heard that ZDP was a top notch steel and you have it rated with 154cm , so Iam lost a little
Either way thanks for the testing ......... dj
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I have it rated with CPM-154 @ 62 HRC, that is a lot different than 154CM.
 
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