S30v steel knives?

Tuff

Tuff

Joined
Jun 15, 1999
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I see the Cammilus Dominator uses this steel. What are some other popular knives that use this steel? The only one that (I think) does is the Sebenza. Others? Not vastly farmilar with how long it stays sharp and how easy it is to sharpen.

Also, how would it compare to M2 steel? Anyone go as far to cal lit vastly superior or inferior to it? I ask because my last couple knives have been M2 steel.
 
According to alot of BM user on the BM forum S30V is closely matched to M2. I have heared that M2 hold an edge over S30V but it is a very slim one.

Personaly I have not had the chance to compare the preformance of both. However I can tell you that BM's M2 it a cut above the rest the only steel I have found maybe better is O1 also a tooling steel.
 
All of my newer model Sebenza's have S30V. My older ones are BG42.
Also, my Terzuola ATCF uses S30V. Just ordered an Eddie Baca and specified S30V. Not sure how this steel compares to M2, but my experience with it is that it holds an edge well, and sharpens up fine on my sharpmaker. I never let them get very dull though.
I'm sure someone will give you a good M2 comparison.
Best regards,
John...
 
As far as production knives some that pop to mind are:

Spyderco ATR and Military
Camillus Dominator
Buck/Mayo 172
 
Buck/Mayo uses S30V but I haven't had mine long enough to see how long it holds an edge.
 
My Spyderco ATR took a sticky sharp edge after a few light strokes on the white stones with the sharpmaker, then stropped to where it will cut hair without touching the skin. Have'nt had it long enough to see about edgeholding , but from all I've heard it's right up there with M2.
Got a BM 710 comin in tomoroww with M2, so we'll see...
 
As far as production folders go, S30V is about the best (balanced) stainless you can get these days. It is for sure the toughest stainless you can get, and holds an edge about equal to, or up to 20% better than, D2 depending on the source of info. It's plenty corrosion resistant. The new benchmark for stainless.

M2 is a very good steel for a production folder also, but is not stainless of course. It is a high carbide content tool steel (very good abrasion resistance), and Benchmade targets Rc60-62, about the hardest target range for a production folder, so it'll hold an edge about as well as anything you can get in a production folder. My hard use folders are in M2 (BM710 & 800, and also an 812). M2 is a bit tougher than most of the other abrasion resistant steels, but is probably overrated for toughness by most (I'm guilty of this in my past posts). I haven't seen a good chart that compared S30V and M2, but wouldn't be surprised if they are quite close in toughness.

Unless you are having corrosion problems with M2, I sure wouldn't dump those folders (or drop me a line if you do).

Both are high performance steels for what they are, especially in the folder arena.

Now that I think about it, S30V has come pretty close to obviating M2's niche as a premium folding knife steel. (i.e., S30V has a good fine grain, and is about as tough and abrasion resistant as M2, but is stainless. M2's only notable merit now is that BM runs it hard at Rc60-62 and most of the S30V is coming out in the Rc58-59 range, except for a few custom makers at Rc60. That, and some find it easier to get a wicked sharp edge on M2 vs. the CPM S30/60/90V steels.)

Neither is easy to sharpen unless you have diamond stones. But stuff that is easy to sharpen is almost by definition going to be easy to dull also. Word.

Here is a good thread from Sal Glesser:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=270056
 
Originally posted by nitrox1
Just ordered an Eddie Baca and specified S30V.
Click to expand...
Nitrox1, does Eddie Baca have a web site? Would appreciate if you could post contact information... Thanks.
 
According to Crucible, S30V has a slight edge over M2 in wear resistance, but is about 25% tougher.
M2 is just slightly below D2 in toughness, although higher in wear resistance.
 
I don't think he does. Shoot them an e-mail at ejb@cnsp.com and request a brochure. I'm looking at about a 3 month wait. Model 9902, s30v, carbon fiber scales, bead blasted blade and titanium bolsters.
The 9902 is the wharncliff bladed model advertised in Blade magazine.
Take care,
John...



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by nitrox1
Just ordered an Eddie Baca and specified S30V.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Nitrox1, does Eddie Baca have a web site? Would appreciate if you could post contact information... Thanks.
 
I think the only thing that I might add to what has been said about S30v is that it has, in addition to what's been said, very good lateral strength. I'm not much of a prybaby. The knives I have in S30v are both 3", one folds, one doesn't. They both cut, a lot, often and very thin. This includes fish, fowl and some mammals as well as the usual rope, string and paper products. They are easier to sharpen and maintain than some D2 knives I have. I don't have any M2. I'm not usually a "steel" guy. I'm someone that gets alot of mileage out of good old 440c. S30v has been surprising to me, for how it performs. Both of my knives were heat treated by Paul Bos. They came from different makers but both are stunning in how well they work.
YMMV.
Mike
 
Originally posted by rdangerer


Now that I think about it, S30V has come pretty close to obviating M2's niche as a premium folding knife steel. (i.e., S30V has a good fine grain, and is about as tough and abrasion resistant as M2, but is stainless. M2's only notable merit now is that BM runs it hard at Rc60-62 and most of the S30V is coming out in the Rc58-59 range, except for a few custom makers at Rc60.
Click to expand...


I thought the S30V's would be 60-62 as well. Hmm. I wonder if that will continue, or if it will go to 60-62 in the future.

In regads to my M2 folders - I think I'm keeping my Benchmade Stryker for now. :) The only knife that I might prefer to carry over it soon is an Al Mar SERE, or a Cuda Dominator, which is why I was curious about he steel.
 
At RC 60 S30V is brittle. Much has been made of Chris Reeve's decision to harden his knives at 58-59. Some felt that it wasn't hard enough. Custom makers were hardening at 60 but have dropped it down to 58-59. Chris helped develop the steel. I tend to think that he knows what he is doing and will not compromise on quality.
 
One of my EDC knives is an Al Mar SERE Operator fixed blade. The new 2003 models are made of S30V. I feel that for the price, and the metal, the knife is spectacular. It has held up very well against the forces of nature and my hard use.

It goes hand in hand with my Microtech UMS in S30V.

Also I got a heck of a deal on the Al Mar SERE operator, if anyone wants the source just email me...
 
I just got my Dominator here in Iraq along with a D/A socom. I'm very pleased with the steel so far. I have a D/A LCC in S30v and I'm now asking myself why MT isn't making the D/A socom in this awesome steel.
 
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