S30V vs. S35VN

JSMcustoms

JSMcustoms

Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
1,792
How does S35VN stack up next to S30V? I've heard the same story that's been tossed around that most probably have that it's 'better' than S30V. On top of that, I've also heard that it's a down right terrible steel and that it doesn't hold an edge all that well. Never had a bad experience with S35VN and takes a really good edge (S cuts in phone book paper), so what's the real story with this stuff? From the data provided by Crucible, they seem to be very, very similar.


CRUCIBLE CPM®
S35VN™
Issue #1
Carbon 1.40%
Chromium 14.00%
Vanadium 3.00%
Molybdenum 2.00%
Niobium 0.50%



CRUCIBLE CPM®
S30V®
Issue #1
Carbon 1.45%
Chromium 14.00%
Vanadium 4.00%
Molybdenum 2.00%
 
I am no expert, but I typically read the characteristics of the components in the steel to better understand it. For eg., wikipedia has a section on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niobium#Steel_production that talks about the characteristics Niobium imparts when alloyed in small quantities - toughness, strength, formability, and weldability. This gives some clue about "why" was it added. Probably that's all we need to know. :-)
 
Both are great steels. S30V seems to me to be a bit more difficult to sharpen than S35VN; specifically, it takes a bit longer to work the burr off. Both will take a scary sharp edge and hold it a long time. S35VN may take a finer edge, possibly due to a difference in carbide size, but that may be a totally subjective observation.
 
Both great steels.


I find better edge retention on S30V, ...but S35VN easier to sharpen and polish.



Knifemaker's favor CPM S35VN for it ease to work.
 
JSMcustoms said:
Sounds like a story there. I'll have to check out your Youtube channel and look for more info on there.
Click to expand...

I have absolutely no problem with that, thanks for checking out my channel.

I will ask, due to the history of my vids and that steel, please don't link to or post any of my vids on this matter. Feel free to check them out, just please keep them off of this site. Thanks brother!
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
I have absolutely no problem with that, thanks for checking out my channel.

I will ask, due to the history of my vids and that steel, please don't link to or post any of my vids on this matter. Feel free to check them out, just please keep them off of this site. Thanks brother!
Click to expand...

That's not a problem. Will do.
 
I have had experience with ZT and Spyderco.
ZT0550-S35vn
ZT0700-S30V
Spyderco Vallotton-S30v

and in my experience I prefer the ZT0550's S35VN more, it feels to have less
edge retention, but it's tougher in my experience.

Spyderco's S30V seems to be a bit better than ZT's, but that's just in my limited experience
so take it with a grain of salt.
 
Edge retention is similar, but S30V has the edge there if the steels are pushed due to the larger Vanadium content.

From my uses S30V does hold an edge better and seems to be tougher than S35VN, although S35VN is easier to sharpen.

The jury is still out on S35VN though.
 
I'm not sure there will ever be consensus on this but I read an interesting take on it by Mike Stewart (google "mike stewart on s30v vs s35vn") & read his posts on it. Makes some good points.
B.
 
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