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

Ive always heard (rumors) that D-2 was a good edge holding steel. But according to your findings , its not.
Kind of sad actually .......... I thought Dozier D-2 was suppose to be real good , he had a way with D-2 steel it has been said.
 
djdawg said:
Ive always heard (rumors) that D-2 was a good edge holding steel. But according to your findings , its not.
Kind of sad actually .......... I thought Dozier D-2 was suppose to be real good , he had a way with D-2 steel it has been said.
Click to expand...

It is good, just not as good as the hype says it is when it's compared to the other steels that are available.
 
Ankerson said:
Update,,,,

Coarse edge testing added into 1st post at the bottom to show the smaller differences in the steels.
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CPM S30V works better with a course edge then CTS XHP.And XHP worked better with a smoother edge. Very interesting.
 
Ankerson said:
CPM D2, S30V and XHP (Military)

S90V, CTS 20CP (Para 2)


All Military's tested with a coarse edge to highlight the differences in the steels. (Same method, but with a coarse edge instead of polished)

S90V - 460 (60 RC)
M390 - 380 (61 RC)
S30V - 300 (60 RC)
CTS-XHP - 240 (60.5 RC)
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Wow. Any guess about where the M4 would come out?
 
Ankerson said:
Same method as above, but with a coarse edge, 400 grit congress Silicone carbide, more optimal edge finish for max edge retention to highlight the differences in the steels.

S90V - 460 - Military - 60 RC
M390 - 380 - Military - 61 RC
S30V - 300 - Military - 60 RC
CTS-XHP - 240 - Military - 60.5 RC
Dozier D2 - 220 - Dozier K2
ELMAX - 220 - Mule - 58.5 RC
VG-10 - 160 - Stretch
AUS-8A - 160 - Recon 1
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So what does this mean? Is the number after the steel the amount of cuts? So where to these numbers stand in reference to the other categories as I don't see the number after the steel anywhere other than the small group listed above. If they are the number of cuts, is this edge with a 400 grit SC better for say the S90V on the Military or is the original sharpening method better?
 
David Lowry said:
So what does this mean? Is the number after the steel the amount of cuts? So where to these numbers stand in reference to the other categories as I don't see the number after the steel anywhere other than the small group listed above. If they are the number of cuts, is this edge with a 400 grit SC better for say the S90V on the Military or is the original sharpening method better?
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They don't relate to each other... Yes that is the number of cuts, data taken from the shootout testing of the various steels... Actual testing threads...

So I decided to put them all together and add the info to this thread for reference since I already posted all the info in the other threads anyway.

as I don't see the number after the steel anywhere other than the small group listed above.
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And there never will be.....
 
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Jim,
From you first post I can see that Elmax and XHP with polished edge performed better in cutting than S30V, but when you stopped at 400 grit S30V outperformed these two steels. How all three of these steels with polished edge performed vs. coarse. Did XHP and Elmax "polished " performed better that coarse or worse?
Are planning to do similar tests, but use different testing media than rope. May be something, where the knife will benefit from polished edge?
Thanks
 
bh49 said:
Jim,
From you first post I can see that Elmax and XHP with polished edge performed better in cutting than S30V, but when you stopped at 400 grit S30V outperformed these two steels. How all three of these steels with polished edge performed vs. coarse. Did XHP and Elmax "polished " performed better that coarse or worse?
Are planning to do similar tests, but use different testing media than rope. May be something, where the knife will benefit from polished edge?
Thanks
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This has a lot to do with the way S30v edge behaves and necessary changes in sharpening to get the most out of it.
By leaving an aggressive edge @ 400 grit (great for cutting rope, and natural for S30v) you sacrifice performance when slicing paper (printer, phonebook, etc).
Elmax and XHP on the other hand can take a very fine edge and hold it for just a bit longer, compared to S30V. However I noticed Elmax doesn't seem to hold that work edge for as long as S30v.

However if you take that same coarse edge, and polish up the micro "serrations" of the coarse edge you end up increase performance when slicing papers while retaining a little bit better edge retention even with rope, and such. This type of edge I would say would be optimal for this type of test cutting.
 
bh49 said:
Jim,
From you first post I can see that Elmax and XHP with polished edge performed better in cutting than S30V, but when you stopped at 400 grit S30V outperformed these two steels. How all three of these steels with polished edge performed vs. coarse. Did XHP and Elmax "polished " performed better that coarse or worse?
Are planning to do similar tests, but use different testing media than rope. May be something, where the knife will benefit from polished edge?
Thanks
Click to expand...

All of the steels I have seen perform better with a coarse edge (read cut longer) vs polished in this type of testing as a coarse edge is more efficient (optimal).

Examples... Custom Knives:

M390 @ 62 .005" behind the edge.

Polished 480
Coarse 1000

N690 @ 60 .010" behind the edge.

Polished 260
Coarse 400
 
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Thanks this should help. I will try the 320 on my work sharp and then strop with green. I have noticed my Elmax blades that I finish on the high grits shave hair but do not cut rope as well. I noticed this and your results confirm it to be true. My weak test is the 5/8 Manila rope and if it cuts completly through with one pass of the blade I consider it good to go.

I picked up a Southfork on your advice and was amazed how easily it sharpened up with a strop. I am now having Big Chris make me a caper out of s90v.
 
Ankerson said:
All of the steels I have seen perform better with a coarse edge (read cut longer) vs polished in this type of testing as a coarse edge is more efficient (optimal).
Click to expand...
Jim,
Thank you.
Do you have any plans to used different test media? Something where polished edge would perform better.
Also, what grit to finish off you recommend for general EDC?
Thank you.
 
bh49 said:
Jim,
Thank you.
Do you have any plans to used different test media? Something where polished edge would perform better.
Also, what grit to finish off you recommend for general EDC?
Thank you.
Click to expand...


There is only one thing that a polished edge might do better at and that is push cutting (shaving), but then if the coarse edge is very sharp it will push cut as well.

General EDC would generally be something in the 16 Micron range, think Spyderco Brown stones from the Sharpmaker, provides a good balance IMO.
 
Ankerson said:
There is only one thing that a polished edge might do better at and that is push cutting (shaving), but then if the coarse edge is very sharp it will push cut as well.

General EDC would generally be something in the 16 Micron range, think Spyderco Brown stones from the Sharpmaker, provides a good balance IMO.
Click to expand...

Don't forget to strop with green compound after the spyderco brown.
 
Ankerson said:
There is only one thing that a polished edge might do better at and that is push cutting (shaving), but then if the coarse edge is very sharp it will push cut as well.

General EDC would generally be something in the 16 Micron range, think Spyderco Brown stones from the Sharpmaker, provides a good balance IMO.
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
Big difference. I have been using spyderco brown rods...about 400 grit to finish my edges and had great results.
 
Ankerson said:
All of the steels I have seen perform better with a coarse edge (read cut longer) vs polished in this type of testing as a coarse edge is more efficient (optimal).

Examples... Custom Knives:

M390 @ 62 .005" behind the edge.

Polished 480
Coarse 1000

N690 @ 60 .010" behind the edge.

Polished 260
Coarse 400
Click to expand...
I was hoping to see a number behind, oh, I don't know, maybe CPM 10V. ;) For purely academic interest, of course...
 
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