S30V vs VG10 vs 440A vs 440HS vs AUS8A

K

khel

Joined
May 20, 2007
Messages
4
So.... :)

I've almost decided to buy myself Gerber Firestorm (440A blade) when I stumbled on this forum, and after reading several threads I'm more confused than ever :)

Anyway, at the moment I'm trying to decide between:

Gerber Firestorm (440A)
Spyderco Native (S30V or VG10) :confused:
Buck Alpha Dorado Spear Point (440HS)
or Kershaw Ken Onion Splinter ( AUS8A)

all of them in $40-65 range.

Thanks
 
Native hands down. Now you just need to decide between the S30V and VG-10 Native but you can't go wrong with either.
 
It's still good for him to learn. I don't know the intimate details of knife steels, but S30V is a powder steel, and AUS8 is a Japanese steel. S30V has supreme edge holding abilities, but people have complained of edge chipping, something I've never experienced. S30V is considered hard to sharpen, well, harder to sharpen than most stainless steels. AUS8 is not as highly regarded as S30V, but it is a performer. Does not have the edge retention ability of S30V, but it is easier to sharpen. I have owned the Native with S30V blade, but prefer the handle of the Native III, which has a VG10 blade, another Japanese steel, similar to AUS8. I currently own the Kershaw Splinter, with wood scales, and it is a great gents knife, I have not beat it or abused it, but I'm sure it could handle it. If you can get both the Native and the Splinter, pick them up, they are great pocket knives.
 
A good source of information about knife steel types is the Steel FAQ found in the Toolshed subforum. The is no universal "best" steel, as each will have its pros and cons. The best way to make your decision is to look at the strengths and weaknesses of each and determine which one would best serve your planned use for the knife.

For the record, I have an S30V Native and a VG10 Scorpius and both are excellent knives.
 
+1 on the Native. It's been my regular carry for the past year. I bought it the same time I bought a Delica as a gift for my brother.

I would seriously consider a Delica though. I think it has slightly better ergos than the native. It's vg-10, has a good blade shape and is in your price range.

Come to think of it...why didn't I give the Native to my brother and keep the Delica for myself.

Either one would be a great choice.

Best

Jim

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I like VG-10 better than S30V. No chipping problems worth mentioning.
 
A knife is more than the steel it's made from. Don't forget that! Of that group I would go with the VG-10 Native (although frankly, I'd choose the Delica 4 in a heartbeat over any of them), but what's best for me isn't necessarily what's best for you.
 
Thanks again!

Just finished reading FAQ on steels and it's very helpful.

Anyway, I've decided to go with VG-10 Native :)

p.s. any recommendations for sharpening products?
 
Peter_E_Ryt said:
:thumbup:

I would say the native in S30V. You can pick it up from your local walmart for I think 40$ + tax. If 1 doesnt have it, check another.

Make sure to get a rust eraser, or something else to clean the steel off of the sharpening sticks though.
Click to expand...

+2 for the sharpmaker.
Make sure to pick up a green scoruing pad as well as abrasive cleaner such as commet or Ajax. Be sure to WATCH the dvd that comes with the sharpmaker as well as read the booklet.
 
I actually like the mid range steels like AUS-8. I don't mind touching them up, I don't need to cut that much stuff in the course of the day and they're a little more forgiving if you hit a staple. That's the compromise between toughness, edge holding, price, ease of maintenance and ease of sharpening that I'm comfortable with. I like the Native but I don't carry it much since I had it chip (tiny chips, nothing huge). I'm generally a pretty light user but every once in a while I find myself traveling light and end up using a knife for something it really wasn't designed for. I find the "lesser" steels are a little more idiot proof. YMMV

Frank
 
Delica +1 again. My only issues on the old Delica's was the clip screw would allow the clip to move. Now with 3 screws, that problem is solved.
 
Of the knives you picked its a no brainer for me. I'd take the Native and personally I'd go with the VG10 blade because I just like it but I've had a couple of the Natives from Wal-Mart in S30V also and they are great knives. I just like VG10 a lot. You certainly can't argue with the $40 price tag for the S30V Native at Wally world though.

STR
 
Don't buy any of those knives get either:

1) Delica 4 in VG-10 (round same price range)
2) Paramilitary in S30V (bit more expensive)
3) Calypso Jr. in VG-10 (may have spelled that one wrong) (bit more expensive)

PS Stick with Spyderco unless you want to get a Benchmade 710, or any Emerson that suits your taste. But for most uses a roughly 3in Spyderco it near impossible to beat.

I own or have handled many of the knives you've mentioned, I've always stuck with the Delica for EDC, but if I were to EDC anything else it'd be a para or calypso. Also I prefer VG-10 to ANYTHING else, but I like S30V also. Do some forum searches and you will find everything you ever wanted to know about knife steel and then some, but I prefer VG-10 PERIOD. You'll find that most will agree that the quality of heat treatment is more important than the steel used, and some companies do a great job others don't. For example Benchmade and Boker 440C tends to be very good steel while 440C from other brands may be terrible, difference is in the heat treat. Good luck with it.

Sorry skipped reading you'd already bought Native before posting all this. I have one and it's a great knife, but with the ergo's and blade shape of the Delica being better for me, the Native stays in the drawer. Give a serious look at the knives I mentioned, you may end up owning all of them:)
 
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