S30V disadvantages?

Artfully Martial

Artfully Martial

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
4,761
I don't know much about S30V, but I'm considering changing my minigrip order to a ritter minigrip w/t S30V (if only because I hate the black blade on the D2 model...). Anyone have any problems with S30V, or prefer D2 over it?
 
There was an extensive thread on this recently, as in this week, numerous problems are being reported on S30V in regards to extreme brittleness and difficulty in sharpening, both aspects of the same underlying problem. They seem to be issues with the steel and/or heat treat.

-Cliff
 
I think even if S30V wasn't having issues I'd still go with the D2 over it. I've been happy with my D2 blades. They hold an edge very well and although technically non stainless it is perhaps the most stain resistant of the non stainless steels.
 
I've never owned a "Cabelas' knife. It seems to me that they would just have their name on it though and that someone or some manufacturer would make it for them. What brand is it?

Even still both of the steels you mentioned are two of my faves. The 440C polishes up nicer than the D2 and the 440C would resist corrosion and staining better also but the D2 would win out for edge keeping.
 
I find it kind of strange how the only complaints about S30V that I've read are on this one forum. I visit numerous others and S30V is praised on all of them. It is even considered the premier steel by many. I don't think I'd let this one forum keep you from getting the Ritter. I've started numerous polls about S30V at other forums and can tell you that the problems with it are confined to this one forum and a small group of it's members for some reason. Trust me I was worried also as I recently bought a Mini-Ritter but have once again found not to always believe internet rumors. Not saying that S30V is perfect or that no one has had any problems with it but it's not as widespread as some here would lead you to believe. Not all of these people would be paying $30 more for inferior steel you know.
 
I have had no problems with s30v yet, but it's still fairly new and I need more time to play around with it to give more of an opinion.

I'd get the Ritter Grip because it has a better blade shape than the regular grip in my opinion. It slices very well. I've hacked through small branches with it, hard and soft, with no chipping problems.
 
STR said:
I've never owned a "Cabelas' knife. It seems to me that they would just have their name on it though and that someone or some manufacturer would make it for them. What brand is it?
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I'm not even sure if the Cabela's name is on it; it's a Benchmade Griptillian. Benchmade's logo is still on it but the D2 blade is exclusive to Cabela's.
 
Sorry, should have mentioned the reason I'm comparing these two is because I'm trying to work out my 960 versus switchback versus minigrip 440c, d2 and s30v problems.
 
I haven't had a problem with both of my S30V knives yet (Switchback and Mini Ritter Grip). Maybe I got the lower end of the heat treatment so it's not as brittle? Who knows but I was cutting zip ties off with the Mini Ritter Grip and I can see any wear on the blade at all.
 
Ryan8 said:
I'm not even sure if the Cabela's name is on it; it's a Benchmade Griptillian. Benchmade's logo is still on it but the D2 blade is exclusive to Cabela's.
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No name - it is just limited run. They also have CPM S30V limoted runs for several Bucks and several Gerbebrs.

benchmade551-05.jpg


Thanks, Vassili.
 
I've had zero problems with any of my S30V knife blades. As far as I'm concerned, the stuff is great. Don't pay attention to any non-sense to the contrary.
 
I have beaten the snot out of a little hollow ground S30V drop point and it just laughs (or maybe thats just the 'voices' ;) ) and keeps on going.

I love the stuff, its hard to sharpen so just dont let it go too far before you touch it up.
 
I have several knives in S30V - Benchmades, Spydercos and a Swamp rat. Had a slight problem with a Paramilitry ( dulled quickly and hard to get rid of the bur ) but this problem went away after a couple or three sharpening sessions. All take a great shaving sharp edge, have not chipped as described by some, and hold this shaving edge for a very long time.

I struggle to believe that Benchmade, Spyderco, Chris Reeves, Strider and the list goes on and on, have not done their research, tests and trials and have all got it wrong by using S30V. !!
 
Cliff Stamp said:
There was an extensive thread on this recently, as in this week, numerous problems are being reported on S30V in regards to extreme brittleness and difficulty in sharpening, both aspects of the same underlying problem. They seem to be issues with the steel and/or heat treat.

-Cliff
Click to expand...

Here is a link to the thread in question in:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352435

Read through it and decide for yourself if you think there are issues. Personally I think it was blown out of proportion.
 
In the recent Knives Illustrated article on the Buck Mayos, the author states that S30V's performance can vary widely depending upon the heat treat. Per the article, Buck's heat treat was decided upon experimentally in concert with Strider. The problem was the old conudrum of a hard edge, but still strong and can be sharpened by a human. The article would lead one to believe that S30V perforamcne can vary between manufacturer (or to be more precise, heat treater) and of course, Buck's method is to be trusted :) There was a hint of possible bias, the author was obviously a buck fan.
 
Stockman said:
I struggle to believe that Benchmade, Spyderco, Chris Reeves, Strider and the list goes on and on, have not done their research, tests and trials and have all got it wrong by using S30V. !!
Click to expand...

What he said. Add a number of custom makers (Jerry Hossom, Tom Mayo, etc.) Some manufacturers have used S30V just to jump on the band wagon. But others, including those listed above, have done homework and testing, far more than most users would dream of doing, and selected S30V for its balance of properties. It may not be the "best" in any one category, but taken as a whole makes a darn good blade when done right.

They don't use S30V because it is cheap and easy to machine and finish (it's not!).

Once the steel is chosen, heat treat and edge geometry are everything, and explain the differences seen in knives with this steel.
 
I don't see any real disadvantages in S30V, but I can get my VG-10 blades sharper than I can get my S30V blade.

So, as good as S30V is, I think VG-10 is better.

Allen.
 
I have a BM630 Skirmish and was totally dissapointed with the edge and edge holding abillity. I took a Lansky and reprofiled the edge to 25 degrees inclusive and then sharpened it, it was better and held longer, but not like my Manix. So, I sharpened it again and cut more metal away this time it is razor sharp along the whole blade and it has lasted with normal cutting over a week now. I think it was mentioned in the thread posted last week that sometimes you have to remove some of the edge metal to get the edge you want and I have to agree with my BM. Now, it goes with me every where, I won't carry a dull knife and this one is not dull. Thanks.

David:D
 
emann said:
I find it kind of strange how the only complaints about S30V that I've read are on this one forum.
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Bladeforums is one of the less maker biased forums, you can't seriously consider it an unbiased persepective in forums which are run by makers selling the material and *shocker* aggressively promote the material they are selling as being optimal/superior.

First remove all unsupported comments made by people selling the material, next remove those from people who never have a problem with anything, next remove those from people who never have a problem with the maker/manufacturer of the S30V blades they used.

The list is a lot shorter now.

A Dogs Best Friend said:
As far as I'm concerned, the stuff is great. Don't pay attention to any non-sense to the contrary.
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I recently sent a S30V blade to Jeff Clark who is one of the most knowledge people on the forums in regards to sharpening. His perspective on it supported one of the common positions in regards to obtainable sharpness. Calling such comments "nonsense" just underwrites your own arguement.

Stockman said:
I struggle to believe that Benchmade, Spyderco, Chris Reeves, Strider and the list goes on and on, have not done their research, tests and trials and have all got it wrong by using S30V. !!
Click to expand...
A list can also be made of makers that didn't switch, Spyderco still offers other steels, they didn't replace the entire line, and if you do some reading you can find people who prefer the BG-42 Sebenza's, VG-10 Spyderco's, etc. .

some magazine article promoting buck said:
S30V's performance can vary widely depending upon the heat treat.
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This is true of any steel, it should be less of a factor with S30V based on how it was promoted, not more. This type of arguement is nonsense because it attempts to underwrite the value of complaints as a whole. Be specific and state that certain companies have lower QC in regards to heat treating and then it would be meaningful, but vague statements are useless fo rinformation content and just inflammatory at best.

-Cliff
 
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