• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

S35VN at 55-57R vs 59-60? What differences will I notice?

G

geohans

Joined
Dec 24, 2013
Messages
43
All things being equal-- which of course they never are-

I'm looking at two knives for all around utility, camping, hiking. Either would be a significant investment for me.

I am not a steel expert, but I can read pretty well. . . . . . and I am aware this is dependent on personal usage styles, but I am asking in general terms.

Many Thanks!
 
If......if all things were equal, and they never are, you're correct there, I would expect you would gain some toughness but sacrifice edge holding ability. This is an educated guess. I have not used S35 VN at 57, but I have used it at the 59 range. I've had a Hinderer XM-18 Spanto and a Hinderer XM-24 Slicer both in S35VN. Both knives held a decent edge, and worked well. I have used a PM2 in S35VN to cut/pry zip ties off of a metal post. The steel did fine and didn't chip or roll. My guess, as stated, would be slightly tougher at 57, but a better edge holding ability at 59.
 
Vegas Blade said:
If......if all things were equal, and they never are, you're correct there, I would expect you would gain some toughness but sacrifice edge holding ability. This is an educated guess. I have not used S35 VN at 57, but I have used it at the 59 range. I've had a Hinderer XM-18 Spanto and a Hinderer XM-24 Slicer both in S35VN. Both knives held a decent edge, and worked well. I have used a PM2 in S35VN to cut/pry zip ties off of a metal post. The steel did fine and didn't chip or roll. My guess, as stated, would be slightly tougher at 57, but a better edge holding ability at 59.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I thought.
 
S35 VN had some problems when makers started using it with chipping at higher hardness. That's why you see a lot at 58 RC.

If you trust the maker and they have experience with S 35VN, and they warrant that their blade geometry will hold up to chipping at 59 RC at the intended tasks, you should have no worries. 60 seems a tad high, I would go with the 57 is you plan to do a lot of chopping and hard use.
 
If both blades were the same thickness, length, grind, etc., the comparison might be useful - but I'm guessing one is a larger, thicker blade than the other, and possibly a fixed blade?
 
Both fixed blades, Mr. Newell. The 55-57 is .22 thick; the 59-60 is .19 or so. Flat grind, similar length and width.

ETA chopping and prying are on the list of things the knife must do. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Man, there are SO many steels that come to mind that would be far better than S35VN for the uses you describe. 1095, 5160, 52100, 3V,INFI, A2 even. I just think when you run S35VN that low you are really better going with a different steel. Yes, it's still stainless, but who cares, you have lost a bunch of performance going that low.
 
Vegas Blade said:
Man, there are SO many steels that come to mind that would be far better than S35VN for the uses you describe. 1095, 5160, 52100, 3V,INFI, A2 even. I just think when you run S35VN that low you are really better going with a different steel. Yes, it's still stainless, but who cares, you have lost a bunch of performance going that low.
Click to expand...

+1,
If you want a tougher steel with as good of edge holding go with 3V, or if you really want the stainless, go with ELMAX, its tougher even at higher hardness levels than S35VN.
 
I wish they made s35 in the low to mid 60's.

Most my kitchen knives are above 62 and they hold up fine for mundane tasks.

Better yet, sebenza with white carbon at 64 rc would be heaven.
 
What are some knives with ELMAX?

BTW generally Sebenzas are not getting in a lot of chopping action I suppose. . . . .
 
geohans said:
Both fixed blades, Mr. Newell. The 55-57 is .22 thick; the 59-60 is .19 or so. Flat grind, similar length and width.

ETA chopping and prying are on the list of things the knife must do. Thanks!
Click to expand...


If the 55-57 you are referring to is a Chris Reeves knife, I believe they are all hollow ground.
 
I have a Pacific arriving Wednesday. If CRK offered different steels, I would be very interested. But the Pacific is essentially the design I want.

Of course it's not possible to try/test the knife for edge retention, then return it if it fails. But I won't need to use it for a week, and could return it.

If someone has a specific knife I should look at that's similar in design (thumb ramp, choil, 4.5-6in) but with a steel that is better for a wide variety of uses, please suggest. I tried and failed.

Spartan's Harsey knives are S35nv at 59-60, but an additional $100, and I find the grips less convincing than the Pacific.

In any case thanks for the input.
 
I don't recall reading any bad feedback on the Pacific. Let us know what you think. :thumbup:
 
A Justice said:
S35 VN had some problems when makers started using it with chipping at higher hardness. That's why you see a lot at 58 RC.

If you trust the maker and they have experience with S 35VN, and they warrant that their blade geometry will hold up to chipping at 59 RC at the intended tasks, you should have no worries. 60 seems a tad high, I would go with the 57 is you plan to do a lot of chopping and hard use.
Click to expand...

Who had problems with chipping at higher hardness? Where can i find a knife in S35VN at 60Rc? Who is "many" and where do I see it a lot? Many companies don't provide a very accurate public Rc number at all, rather a generic range (58-61). In this example 4 points can make a huge world of difference depending on whether you sit at the low end or the higher end. With HT technology being what it is in this day, it's pretty simple for the knowledgeable in the science to control the final numbers and produce whatever is needed. Ambiguities do not help to educate, but promote more misinformation and that helps no one. The advertised hardness is one thing, but the real life score is usually different.

ETA: I just found a small fixed blade with a Rc of 55-57. I cannot say that I would be too interested in it at that hardness. I really do value edge holding in smaller knives over toughness. But then again it all depends on the intended use after all.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top