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

The more I use 3V the more I love it! I used to think 3V and INFI were almost identical performance wise but after some extensive use I've found them to be very different. INFI is a good bit tougher it seems but 3V spanks INFI in edge retention while being about the same in corrosion resistance.

I think the best thing about 3V is how thin you can get the edge and still use it hard. For a woods knife I don't think there's a steel out there you can get a better performing edge with :thumbup:
 
Thanks for all your efforts here with these tests! Do you think you'll be testing CTS-204p any time soon?
 
Jim,
There has been some discussion about CTS-BD1, and its performance. I have always looked at sitting at the bottom of your list not only at the bottom but in its own category, and thought it was not worth ever buying a knife made out of that. I believe Sal has mentioned possibly using this on the value line, but it seems that it would be a downgrade. You do not have 8Cr13MoV, but you do have AUS 8, so it would seem to be a step backwards just to get an American steel on the value lines. What knife was used for testing, is it possible that BD1 could actually be better than what is represented from your results?
 
There has been some discussion about CTS-BD1, and its performance. I have always looked at sitting at the bottom of your list not only at the bottom but in its own category, and thought it was not worth ever buying a knife made out of that. I believe Sal has mentioned possibly using this on the value line, but it seems that it would be a downgrade. You do not have 8Cr13MoV, but you do have AUS 8, so it would seem to be a step backwards just to get an American steel on the value lines. What knife was used for testing, is it possible that BD1 could actually be better than what is represented from your results?
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It could be any of a number of reasons Jim got those results. I won't speculate as there is no purpose. I will say

1) Jim has proven his competence and his integrity. In his personal life as here he will speak the truth, not tell you what he thinks you want to hear. Yes, he has my complete trust as a person.

2) I have seen and had Gin 1 knives perform what I consider above some of those listed in the categories above where BD1 is placed. While I don't know why the results are such, I have no problem purchasing and using BD1 steel knives. It's near 1% carbon and chrome give it good harden ability and will produce carbides. There's no real reason I can see why it won't perform as well as 8C, Aus 6 & 8, 12C27, and so on. I found it to be a clean steel, easy to sharpen and do it's job and indeed up there with the above mentioned steels..

Jim got different results which I am not contesting in any way. My use of Gin 1 and BD1 was not a calibrated test but I found it to be a steel satisfactory to me and expect to buy another BD1 knife in the future.

Joe
 
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KalEl said:
The more I use 3V the more I love it! I used to think 3V and INFI were almost identical performance wise but after some extensive use I've found them to be very different. INFI is a good bit tougher it seems but 3V spanks INFI in edge retention while being about the same in corrosion resistance.

I think the best thing about 3V is how thin you can get the edge and still use it hard. For a woods knife I don't think there's a steel out there you can get a better performing edge with :thumbup:
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Do you see that as a result from chopping and edge deformation?

The thing that I like about BOTH steels is that they perform well, and are extremely easy to put a killer edge on. It seems the older I get, the lazier I get...
 
The thing that I like about BOTH steels is that they perform well, and are extremely easy to put a killer edge on. It seems the older I get, the lazier I get..
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:D

Sharpening can be a recreational and relaxing thing to do while watching something on TV that's not real good. Think wife erm, ex anyway.

When it's something that has to be done in a certain amount of time it can be a PITA chore.

Same with cleaning guns.

Joe
 
I found this to be quite shocking. I was under the impression that VG-10 was way up there, at least competing with S30V, and not being beat by ATS-34. Of course, I am figuring this test to be kind of subjective in the fact that not all knives tested were at the "optimum" blade geometry for that steel, and definitely not the optimum geometry for this type of test.

Regardless, the imformation given was, as always, wonderful. Thanks for the interesting read, Ankerson. Pretty much everything you put out is informative if it is concerning steels. P.S. Your review of the BD1 Mule is what pushed me over the fence to buy the UKPK, and I LOVE that steel. Takes a great edge, holds it well, and polishes up real easy. I would say the edge on it is better than AUS-8 though.
 
Hey Ankerson. I am looking at getting a Bow River from Phil. He is doing them in S110V first I think and then M390 later, I think. Anyway what woukd you pick and what would the pros and cons of 110V versus M390. I love M390. Also based on Phils incredibly thin geometries, would I be fine on sharpening with a 400 grit silicon carbide stone for any damage and then Spyderco ceramics to finish off?
 
Personally I don't believe there are any cons going with S110V over M390. :)
 
Steel130 said:
Good to hear :). I am pretty proefficient with sharpening. Do you think the SiC stones are sufficient? Or do I need diamonds?
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With Phil's knives you don't need diamonds as he grinds them very thin, I use SIC on all the ones I own and or tested over the years.
 
Awesome thread Ankerson! Took me a week but I finally read through every post in your thread. Personally, I like your testing results more than a normal review of a blade steel because you didn't purchase all the knives and the results are less swayed because of money spent.

My last EDC was a knife with S30V and I was never really impressed with its edge holding. Now you have me looking at several I want.

Ever test any Randall's? I have some that you could play with. I have a carbon Trout and Bird (Model 8) I would send you if you want to test it. Dimensionally, it would seem like it would work. I also have a Pathfinder (Model 26) in stainless that you could test. I would just like to see how they perform. Also have some others that are not safe queens. Just let me know.

Also would love to know how BM's damascus does.

Thanks again for posting your results as well as knowledge.

Craig
 
5001craig said:
My last EDC was a knife with S30V and I was never really impressed with its edge holding. Now you have me looking at several I want.
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Hi Craig, I'm going to guess that it depends on who made it, and more importantly, what Rockwell hardness they tempered it to.
I too would like to hear the results on those Randalls and BM Damascus. :)
-Bruce
 
Steel130 said:
Hey Ankerson. I am looking at getting a Bow River from Phil. He is doing them in S110V first I think and then M390 later, I think. Anyway what woukd you pick and what would the pros and cons of 110V versus M390. I love M390. Also based on Phils incredibly thin geometries, would I be fine on sharpening with a 400 grit silicon carbide stone for any damage and then Spyderco ceramics to finish off?
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I love my s110v bow river, i love it so much i'd take another one in a drop point! Dull and s110v do not even belong in the same sentence. If you can get your hand's on one do not even think twice about it.
 
I'm betting Cruwear fits into the category with XHP, SB, et al. I hope Ankerson is getting some perks out of this :o

I was sad to see vg-10 get put so low -- the 'g' stands for gold, gold baby, gold!
 
sodak said:
That looks about right, when I've compared CPM D2 to D2, the CPM would do about 10% better on rope. You can't take the edge on D2 down much thinner or it will chip out badly. Thin primary grind is fine, but not the edge.
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Why? I mean...D2 is used in Industrial Scissors and, in my experience, D2 at a maximum hrc of 58/59, is a real good old steel.
I mean...It will not chip easily, not even with a real thin edge. It will NOT takes an real scary laser edge, but it will keep it a for a nice time, and you can shave easily anyway.
It's, to me, an "often found" wrong attitude with this steel. Maybe 'cause of unproper HT of the past makers. Infact, i don't believe that 60 or more hc are good for D2. You must stays under 60, and with the right treatment it wil have better response in every single aspect, included stain and rust resistance.
 
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