- Joined
- Dec 16, 2012
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- 4,437
Working edges: all the rage in the knife world. Almost all of the most popular steels rely on working edges, quickly losing the refined edge you take so long to put on. Abrasive media like cardboard is hell on edges, especially refined edges, but a few steels handle it like champions. I'm curious what all steels can hold their refined edge.
I've found that Elmax, K390, CPM154, Cru-Wear, and ZDP-189 readily hold a razor edge under pretty intense cutting. I've found M390, S90V, S110V, HAP40, Super Blue, M4, and S35VN give up pretty quickly on the razor edge. S30V is mixed, but seems most likely to hold it if sharpened with all diamonds (diamond stones and diamond pastes to strop). CTS-XHP is hit or miss, I need a little more testing to say how it goes in my experience. VG-10 and AUS-10 aren't bad, but overall edge retention is significantly lower than super steels, and 154cm is a small step up. 14c28n holds a razor edge for surprisingly long, considering the overall edge retention, same as Acuto 440, but they are lacking in overall edge retention (compared to super steels).
Interested in what others have found out.
Edit: One odd standout is M4 in my Spyderco Mantra. It held a razor edge much longer than M4 usually does. Both GBs I've had, my GB 2, and a Benchmade I can't remember the name of in M4 didn't have this same razor edge retention. Possibly different HT or the efficiency of the thin stock FFG. A shocking standout was S90V on my ZT 0095, it held the razor edge almost as well as K390. I'd say it's grind, but the Native 5 in S90V that I had didn't perform nearly as well, could be ZT heat treat of S90V.
I've found that Elmax, K390, CPM154, Cru-Wear, and ZDP-189 readily hold a razor edge under pretty intense cutting. I've found M390, S90V, S110V, HAP40, Super Blue, M4, and S35VN give up pretty quickly on the razor edge. S30V is mixed, but seems most likely to hold it if sharpened with all diamonds (diamond stones and diamond pastes to strop). CTS-XHP is hit or miss, I need a little more testing to say how it goes in my experience. VG-10 and AUS-10 aren't bad, but overall edge retention is significantly lower than super steels, and 154cm is a small step up. 14c28n holds a razor edge for surprisingly long, considering the overall edge retention, same as Acuto 440, but they are lacking in overall edge retention (compared to super steels).
Interested in what others have found out.
Edit: One odd standout is M4 in my Spyderco Mantra. It held a razor edge much longer than M4 usually does. Both GBs I've had, my GB 2, and a Benchmade I can't remember the name of in M4 didn't have this same razor edge retention. Possibly different HT or the efficiency of the thin stock FFG. A shocking standout was S90V on my ZT 0095, it held the razor edge almost as well as K390. I'd say it's grind, but the Native 5 in S90V that I had didn't perform nearly as well, could be ZT heat treat of S90V.
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