s30v vs 1095 crovan

B

battboy

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Feb 21, 2011
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i was going to buy a becker bk 16 but i saw a gerber gator in s30v with bell and carson handles for only $40 and it had me thinking about which would work better as an all around camp and utility knife. thanks
 
Personally I like s30v & CPM154 as my top two fav steels.

I've only handled a knife with 1095 but never owned one.

But IMO you really can't go wrong with any s30v blade.
 
S30V will be better for stain resistance and probably edge retention, 1095 will be tougher and take a keen edge although lose it quicker. Your choice should depend on your climate and sharpening skills, I vote for the BK16 because camp use calls for toughness and Gerber downright sucks. I imagine the Gator sheath will also be much lower quality.
 
battboy said:
i was going to buy a becker bk 16 but i saw a gerber gator in s30v with bell and carson handles for only $40 and it had me thinking about which would work better as an all around camp and utility knife. thanks
Click to expand...

Define your needs for a "camp knife".
If you are just going to cut, S30V will hold an edge considerably longer than 1095 Cro Van.
If there is going to be some twisting or chopping in addition to the cutting, I'd choose the 1095 Cro Van. It is tougher.
 
I dont have any experience with gerbers or the bk 16, but i have owned a bk 2 and mark 1 and the 1095 was excellent. IMO the type of metal is important but a companies heat treat can make a huge difference. I love s30v in my folders if that helps. :o
 
Also for a camp knife 1095 is probably going to be much easier to quickly resharpen.
 
The fact that one is stainless and the other rusts very easily should be considered.




Big Mike
 
Goosey said:
Also for a camp knife 1095 is probably going to be much easier to quickly resharpen.
Click to expand...


Another good point.

The fact that one is very easy to sharpen and the other almost impossible might be worth considering.




Big Mike
 
1095 is much better for a larger knife that will take abuse. S30V makes a great folder knife steel. really, two very different steels with different purposes.
 
Ah, just buy them both. Then no decision has to be made. Did you find the Gator online? Feel free to PM with the website, I'll take one for $40 too. LOL
 
I have the Bell & Carson handled Gerber Gator in S30V. It is an excellent knife. Great shape and one of the most comfortable handles I've used. And, it is full tang. It needed a little work on a strop to get it scary sharp. For $40 it is a steal! I am a collector and have lots of knives (Benchmade, Mora, Blade-Tech, Bark River and Fallkniven). I'd say 1095 and S30V are leagues apart from each other.
 
I didn't know there were Gators in s30v
I thought the best was 154cm
 
Don't really care for most gerbers. But I love my beckers and would feel confident doing anything with them.
 
Don't know anything about Gerbers, but Beckers are great knives that can take anything you throw at 'em
 
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