S30v

I agree completely. There are some valid arguments against it, but I have literally had zero issues with it. I find it easy to keep sharp, holds its edge relatively well and pretty corrosion free. I’m a big fan. To each their own though. I still like VG-10 and that seems to be considered low end these days.

Edit for spelling
 
I think most complaints come from places of incomplete understanding or broken perspective. The jump from S30V to M390 in CATRA testing is about 12%, and few people use either steel in such a way that the difference will express itself in terms of real time or energy saved.

To be clear, I don’t believe that many people will have a significantly different experience with M390 than they would with S30V.
 
I have been carrying my Proper in S30V a lot lately, experimenting with different grinds and trying to thin it out behind the edge. I like S30V just fine :)
 
I like s30v for a folding knife. Especially from Spyderco. It has become very commonly used compared to when it first got popular. I really don’t get some people’s hatred towards it.
 
It's a popularity thing. It's just not popular anymore.

Its really funny when m390 class of steels at 58 hrc is performing the same as s30v
Its funny that factories are still doing this. But they do it cause the brand names sell.
 
Brawny said:
Familiarity breeds contempt
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HAHAHAHAHAhahahaha! That's awesome. :D

And possible I suppose.

But to get to a point where you won't buy any more knives in the steel is kinda lost on me.

I have a BM Bugout in S30V. I didn't buy it because of the steel, I bought it because of the design. Had they offered it in 154CM, VG-10, 52100 or Maxamet wasn't going to matter to me. I got it to fill a role.

There are steels I won't buy in a knife, but only because they are insufficient quality. And I mean your 3CR and 420 Jarbenza class.

I am generally interested in what qualities or aspects of S30V would actually make someone turn down a well designed knife from a reputable company.
 
it's a forum for knife nerds. this is what knife nerds do! e.g. get compulsive about an edge like slicing an apple and a piece of line with your ZT blade in elmax, cleaning it off and then compulsively having to go to your cbn loaded strop to "get the edge back to hair splitting sharp"
 
I bought my first knife with S30V last night in 5 years. I've had a lot of trouble with it chipping in the past. My Yojimbo 2 that I won in a gaw last year has somewhat restored my faith.

Besides chipping, my biggest issue is value. It annoys me when I see knives priced over ~$160 with it or other more run of the mill steel.

The last S30V blade I bought was a PM2 April 2014. It is now chilling with the knife gods.

Now, I bought a Spyderco Ikuchi last night, and we shall see how it does.

I understand that working with custom knife makers can be costly, but when I see spydercos well over $200 with S30V, it's a big turn off.
 
I know S30V is not popular anymore. But it is my favorite steel. Why? Because it is one of the most perfectly balanced steels. Corrosion resistance, edge resistance, ease of sharpening, etc. Everything is balanced. People are spoiled these days. Who cares if it's not popular? If it works for you, it's good.

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Addendum to my above post.

Fashion, popularity, etc means nothing to me.

Chris Reeve worked with Crucible to create a steel specifically for cutlery. But guess what? He worked with him again to create S35VN, which was an improved version.

I love S35VN, my second favorite steel. So if Mr. Reeve dropped S30V, why don't other companies phase it out?
 
K.O.D. said:
Addendum to my above post.

Fashion, popularity, etc means nothing to me.

Chris Reeve worked with Crucible to create a steel specifically for cutlery. But guess what? He worked with him again to create S35VN, which was an improved version.

I love S35VN, my second favorite steel. So if Mr. Reeve dropped S30V, why don't other companies phase it out?
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How much difference do you think there is between S30V and S35VN? If you didn't see the label, would you notice? I'm not sure I would. Certain "super" steels are noticeably different. ZDP-189 is hard as hell and is a bear to sharpen. But the difference between S30V and S35VN seems negligible to me.
 
I love s30/S35VN. I’ve used these steels a lot at my previous job and they held a working edge forever. Same with Elmax. I haven’t used M390 too much but with my Kershaw dividend I noticed it lost its razor edge pretty quick. I don’t think there’s much of a difference in edge retention between s30/35 and the “super steels” like 20cv, 204p, m390. I don’t abuse them tho, just use em like they were made to be used.
 
I think there are some legitimate complaints about it, some of which K.O.D. K.O.D. touched on, but I also think a fair amount of the dislike of it is that most folks collecting knives in the $100-$200 range likely now have a LOT of S30V. For practical needs, S30V is more than adequate for me, but this is my hobby, so I generally want more than adequate. I want either excellence or novelty, and as good as S30V is it doesn't particularly afford me either of those qualities. Now, if it's in a knife that offers those qualities through design or some other facet I'll happily buy another S30V blade, but it does very little to move the needle, so to speak, as a material.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
I think there are some legitimate complaints about it, some of which K.O.D. K.O.D. touched on, but I also think a fair amount of the dislike of it is that most folks collecting knives in the $100-$200 range likely now have a LOT of S30V. For practical needs, S30V is more than adequate for me, but this is my hobby, so I generally want more than adequate. I want either excellence or novelty, and as good as S30V is it doesn't particularly afford me either of those qualities. Now, if it's in a knife that offers those qualities through design or some other facet I'll happily buy another S30V blade, but it does very little to move the needle, so to speak, as a material.
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Yes, you make a good point and I agree that boredom is a big factor in some people who criticize s30v. But there is no question it is still a fine steel, and like you pointed out, if the design and other features of a knife are great, there is no way that s30v would turn me off. Below a certain level, some steels make me wary. For instance, I usually avoid 8cr13mov. But even then, if the overall knife design and quality are good, then I will buy a knife with 8cr. Case in point, the Kershaw Atmos. I wrote that knife off for a long time because of its blade steel (8cr13mov), but I bought one and was really amazed. The design, looks, action, and everything else were so good.

Going back to S30V. It is still a really good blade steel. And it is so balanced that if I see a knife I like with that steel, it is a go for me.
 
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