s30v vs s110v or M4

N4SIR

N4SIR

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Feb 22, 2008
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im looking at buying a paramilitary 2 in either s30v or s110v

which is better for edc use (boxes paper general cutting tasks indoors etc)

which steel is stronger against chipping or breaking
(worried about the PM2 tip breaking)

i just heard a store is releasing an M4 PM2 tomorrow is this better than s30v and s110v?
 
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S110V holds an edge longer, and is more prone to chipping or tip breakage. It will be harder to sharpen. Both are great steels, and it just depends on whether you value edge holding or chip resistance more. Probably hard to tell the difference between the two in real world use for most people.
 
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jstn said:
S110V holds an edge longer, and is more prone to chipping or tip breakage. It will be harder to sharpen. Both are great steels, and it just depends on whether you value edge holding or chip resistance more. Probably hard to tell the difference between the two in real world use for most people.
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Having used both in the same grind and in the same blade shape (FFG Manix), I can tell you 110V is a very noticeable upgrade in edge retention. Very very noticeable.
 
osnap bladehq is releasing a M4 pm2 tomorrow!

is this better than the 2?
 
M4 for all the things you don't want (chipping) and it's a great steel for everything that is EDC and more.....
 
I'd go M4 if the tip is really bothering you. S110V if you want to sacrifice just a bit of toughness for rust resistance. Both are great upgrades from S30V in their own right, but if you don't plan on being rough on your blade there's nothing wrong with S30V. It'll be easier to sharpen anyways.
 
not too worried about sharpening i have a DMT aligner with diamond stones and a worksharp guided system with the extra stones etc.. i can reprofile sharpen strop etc

was mainly concerned with edge retention and chip resistance
 
LCKT707 said:
I'd go M4 if the tip is really bothering you. S110V if you want to sacrifice just a bit of toughness for rust resistance. Both are great upgrades from S30V in their own right, but if you don't plan on being rough on your blade there's nothing wrong with S30V. It'll be easier to sharpen anyways.
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Upgrade from s30v in what ways? Depending on use s30v out performs s110v. Everything is a sacrifice, and "upgrade" is almost always a trade off in some regard.

My suggestion is get the s30v or m4 since potential chipping is a worry. Between the two decide on if rust is more prone in your area/ or if you even care.

Let us know what happens.
 
M4 is by far your best steel listed IMO. This non-stainless alloy will take abuse like few other steels and will sharpen quickly with diamond hones.
 
M4 is my favorite non stainless, but s110v doesn't hold edge any longer from my use at least its just has the big toothy carbides that cut everything like a bread knife its really nice. M4 is really low maintenance i just rub my with some 0000 steel wool when its starting to show and then i coat with weaponshield because i have a ton of it. Not because i think any lube is better than another its just what i have a lot of and i like it.
 
s110v doesn't hold edge any longer from my use at least
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I have no experience with s30v or M4

I must say my Manix with s110v has been a disappointment. I have no problem sharpening it at all (Edge Pro with Shaptons) but my ZDP-189 Spyderco blows the s110v away at edge retention.

I have not chipped the s110v. Tried toothy, tried mirror / hair whittling and back and forth.
I like the Manix but the steel is no big deal, at least not the "heat treat" that I wound up with. Yawn.

PS: I mean the s110v edge won't go a week without being shot. Even a couple days. Not hard use at all a bit of abrasive stuff but the ZDP-189 had no problem with it, it's been going for weeks.
 
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For the tasks you listed that you wish to achieve with your PM2, any of those steels would serve you very well. Others did a nice job listing the benefits, and my order of preference would be M4, followed by S110v and S30v. I use an EdgePro Apex, and can say that the S110v is a very tough steel indeed. Even with an EdgePro, it takes a bit longer to get it perfect. But once you get the blade dialed in, that edge really lasts a while! Honestly for their standard PM2 blade, I wish Spyderco would move from S30v to S35vn. Hope this helps!
 
Nav,

Even with an EdgePro, it takes a bit longer to get it perfec
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Rock the Shaptons they just say "Super steel ? ? ? I didn't notice . . . well what else you got ?".
Of course my sample of S110V wasn't very hard but I GURUNTEEEEE the ZDP-189 is up to snuff ! . . . and was no prob.
 
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M4. Great steel. Every knife I've owned in s30v had a chipping problem.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
 
s110v doesn't hold edge any longer from my use at least
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Hah . . . I just checked the edge on my Ti Lite with CTS-XHP and for the exact same cutting chores at work its edge is just fine, still plenty sharp (bites my finger nail all along the edge).

????CTS-XHP . . . holding up better than s110v ???? . . . hey I calls 'em as I sees 'em.
 
Wowbagger said:
Hah . . . I just checked the edge on my Ti Lite with CTS-XHP and for the exact same cutting chores at work its edge is just fine, still plenty sharp (bites my finger nail all along the edge).

????CTS-XHP . . . holding up better than s110v ???? . . . hey I calls 'em as I sees 'em.
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I love CTS Xhp i am not surprised. With the right edge geometry and right combination of variables steels will appear to retain edges longer in a very inconclusive way that in my experience can complicate or contradict results entirely. Steels blade shapes all have there preferred edge angles grind thickness so on
 
furfmonkey said:
im looking at buying a paramilitary 2 in either s30v or s110v

which is better for edc use (boxes paper general cutting tasks indoors etc)

which steel is stronger against chipping or breaking
(worried about the PM2 tip breaking)

i just heard a store is releasing an M4 PM2 tomorrow is this better than s30v and s110v?
Click to expand...

...Yes....:D
 
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