S30v

I'm not a hater...but an s30v knife has to wow me on some level, or it isn't happening.
I'd rather have cpm154 (or even 154cm)... but, even with those, beyond a certain price point, I want something "better".
That's really that it comes down to, for me... I've moved from budget to $100 knives, from there to $200, then to $300+. If I'm spending $300-500 on a knife, I want to feel like it's worth the money; and s30v just doesn't do that for me in that price range.
 
hhmoore said:
I'm not a hater...but an s30v knife has to wow me on some level, or it isn't happening.
I'd rather have cpm154 (or even 154cm)... but, even with those, beyond a certain price point, I want something "better".
That's really that it comes down to, for me... I've moved from budget to $100 knives, from there to $200, then to $300+. If I'm spending $300-500 on a knife, I want to feel like it's worth the money; and s30v just doesn't do that for me in that price range.
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That was sorta my point also. Obviously it's not "bad" steel by any means, but it's attempt to be all things to all people, sort of leaves it not great at anything and for the $, many prefer other choices. I think cpm154 is underrated and as I tend to favor toughness say over corrosion resistance and edge retention, I'd favor 3V for example. It should also be noted that knives using s30v prices have come down quite a bit, so maybe performance for value has improved there too.

I don't know how say s30v and 3V compare cost wise however. Can anyone speak to that?

I don't think even said "haters" of s30v claim it's bad steel, just that perhaps even for the $, there's better choices.

I'm not an expert on this topic and don't platy one on TV.
 
Jhansenak47 said:
I didn't offer a peer reviewed source. I was making the point that internet opinions on S30V are not generally peer reviewed and should be taken with a grain of salt. I clarified my original post in response to your question. It seems your feathers are ruffled and I honestly think you are reading more into what I said than is actually there. I like S30V and don't mind your opinion one way or another. BTW I never made any claim that you lacked expertise or knowledge and didn't add anything to the thread. Though I must thank you as it amusing to see people get in a tizzy for a non-existent, or at a minimum unintentional, tort. Have a wonderful day.
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I think anyone who reads what your response was to me would "get" why I may have pushed back a tad. Tizzy indeed...
 
craytab said:
All true. S35vn is a distinctive improvement over s30v.


Yes.
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Although I like both S30V and S35VN, I do believe that for me, S35VN is a bit easier to maintain. And IIRC, 35 is easier on manufacturing equipment than 30, so I've wondered why Spyderco chose to make 30 its main steel instead of 35. Availability, probably.

Jim
 
spyderg said:
My experience with s30v has been that factory edges tend to roll and get small chips fairly easily. Once I’ve sharpened it’s much better...however that’s with stones, when I’ve tried on the worksharp I get a chippy easy to roll edge again, (and I’m very careful to not heat up the edge). Don’t know exactly why but I’m guessing for whatever reason, s30v it very susceptible to heat effecting the edge, even small amounts.
I always am curious about factory edges and use them till dull or excessive chips or rolling requires sharpening to satisfy that curiosity. I’ve experienced the same thing on s30v from dif companies on a few different knives. They’ve all been just fine after sharpening. I have no concerns about buying a knife in s30v other than knowing it’ll take a bit more work than some other steels the first time I put a good edge on it.
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This is a very interesting line of thought ...

I exclusively sharpen on stones (DMT diamonds, or my worksharp plates from their guided system, but locked flat), and I have no problem at all with S30V. It forms a burr quite nicely and I can take it to a an extra-extra-fine stone to put a nice polished edge on it, strop it and cut curly-queues out of hanging paper or shave/top hairs. It holds an edge just fine through medium/hard usage (zip-ties, card-board, apples, wood ... whatever I need to cut that day).

It could be that the method used to create the S30V edge matters a significant amount /shrug - this looks like it might be a question for the Steel Nerds :)
 
James Y said:
Although I like both S30V and S35VN, I do believe that for me, S35VN is a bit easier to maintain. And IIRC, 35 is easier on manufacturing equipment than 30, so I've wondered why Spyderco chose to make 30 its main steel instead of 35. Availability, probably.

Jim
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I like it better as well. Not exactly sure why some companies haven't adopted it over s30v. Some have though. Kershaw made it the flagship steel for zt. Spartan uses it almost exclusively after using s30v. I've got s35vn from many different companies and makers. I'll take it all day long over s30v. That said, s30v isn't bad, just not as good as other options for my uses.
 
craytab said:
I like it better as well. Not exactly sure why some companies haven't adopted it over s30v. Some have though. Kershaw made it the flagship steel for zt. Spartan uses it almost exclusively after using s30v. I've got s35vn from many different companies and makers. I'll take it all day long over s30v. That said, s30v isn't bad, just not as good as other options for my uses.
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ZT using s35vn seemed kind of short lived (well maybe not), but anyways now they've moved to 20cv. Which I was cool with until I realized I would be fine with s35vn and a lower price.
 
hhmoore said:
I'm not a hater...but an s30v knife has to wow me on some level, or it isn't happening.
I'd rather have cpm154 (or even 154cm)... but, even with those, beyond a certain price point, I want something "better".
That's really that it comes down to, for me... I've moved from budget to $100 knives, from there to $200, then to $300+. If I'm spending $300-500 on a knife, I want to feel like it's worth the money; and s30v just doesn't do that for me in that price range.
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And performance for s30v at 60hrc I'd better than 58hrc m390/20cv/204p... Also geometry make a huge difference also.

Go fish.
 
I'm aware of that.
Not going fishing - I've said all I needed to in this thread.
I'm not sure why you tagged me, I never mentioned m390/20cv/204p (remainder of reply removed during proofreading, so as to avoid further participation).
Again, nothing against s30v - especially well treated and well ground s30v :thumbsup:
 
Mo2 said:
And performance for s30v at 60hrc I'd better than 58hrc m390/20cv/204p... Also geometry make a huge difference also.

Go fish.
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The word "better" ignores a lot of qualities people desire in a steel. Toughness. Easy to sharpen. Rust resistance. Just to name a few. I'll sacrifice a point or two on the precious hrc to get other qualities that are important for my use.
 
craytab said:
The word "better" ignores a lot of qualities people desire in a steel. Toughness. Easy to sharpen. Rust resistance. Just to name a few. I'll sacrifice a point or two on the precious hrc to get other qualities that are important for my use.
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Yea I guess it can be a bit easier to sharpen for some people and while s30v is rust resistant that m390 class is highly resistant even more so. Indeed can be chippy at higher hrc depending on geometry and what's being cut. But it sucks to see it be so low and give away the main qualities it was ment for, ie edge retention. it still is very rust resistant and fairly easy to sharpen with diamond at higher rockwell. Though reprofiling can take some more time, but that's usually a one time thing I feel.

A different steel would be a good alternative with those same properties too.
 
Mo2 said:
A different steel would be a good alternative with those same properties too.
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And we have that steel. Designed to out preform the previous steel. Which it does in multiple desired characteristics.
 
craytab said:
And we have that steel. Designed to out preform the previous steel. Which it does in multiple desired characteristics.
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Indeed.

Except when it doesn’t.

Context, application, finish, geometry, etc...

Sometimes, the price of the upgrade gets you a negative return.
 
craytab said:
Yup. And a lot of people don't.
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True.

To be clear to bystanders, I’m aware that it is a general truth that M390 and analogs > S30V, but am also submitting that, in certain easy to satisfy condition sets, you may get better mileage out of S30V.
 
Banter 247 said:
True.

To be clear to bystanders, I’m aware that it is a general truth that M390 and analogs > S30V, but am also submitting that, in certain easy to satisfy condition sets, you may get better mileage out of S30V.
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That is also true. The problem is those conditions assumed that the m390 blade is done poorly and the s30v blade is done correctly or even above the norm.

All things being equal, s30v is behind in most categories of even not so recently developed steels. S35VN is a prime example.
 
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