S35vn vs 1095

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FrozenTurtle

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Mar 14, 2017
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Are they comparable in anyway? I have never owned a S35VN blade,but I have a ESEE 1095 and a Tops. The 1095 seems very meh. I wasn't impressed with the ESEE 6 and the Tops only has a certain role I use it for. Thanks.
 
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Completely different steels. Both can be heat treated and tempered to be great quality, but in different ways. 1095 is lower alloy carbon steel, should take a fine edge easier, but lose the working edge quicker. It will also corrode much quicker in wet environments (not an issue for most people who understand the steel). S35v should not rust unless neglected or used for long periods around salt water. Should hold a working edge longer.

All of this is discounting thickness, grind, etc... which are just as important
 
goodeyesniper said:
Completely different steels. Both can be heat treated and tempered to be great quality, but in different ways. 1095 is lower alloy carbon steel, should take a fine edge easier, but lose the working edge quicker. It will also corrode much quicker in wet environments (not an issue for most people who understand the steel). S35v should not rust unless neglected or used for long periods around salt water. Should hold a working edge longer.

All of this is discounting thickness, grind, etc... which are just as important
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Assume we have Unobtainium, the perfect steel for the kind of knife we are making. Cannot it's perfection be utterly trumped by poor geometry (blade and handle) and poor heat-treatment?

I share the fascination with pursing perfection in steel. (What else can we discuss but details? They are "just" cutting tools. Most of us are way outside the boundaries of "need" and solely in the land of "want.")

I suggest that material for knives is like flour for baking. It's the baker that counts.

(Anyone know who makes apx 4" knives of Vanadis 4E ? :D)
 
Well if you don't like 1095 from Tops or ESEE, there is actually a decent chance that you just don't like 1095 because they both are VERY highly regarded for their HT and are just about as good as 1095 can get.

That said, it's been noted above and is absolutely true that edge geometry, blade shapes, etc... all have an enormous impact on the performance of the steel. 1095 with a hollow grind in a thin slipjoint pocket knife is going to perform very differently than the same steel with the same HT in a .25" thick chopping knife.
 
19-3ben said:
Well if you don't like 1095 from Tops or ESEE, there is actually a decent chance that you just don't like 1095 because they both are VERY highly regarded for their HT and are just about as good as 1095 can get.

That said, it's been noted above and is absolutely true that edge geometry, blade shapes, etc... all have an enormous impact on the performance of the steel. 1095 with a hollow grind in a thin slipjoint pocket knife is going to perform very differently than the same steel with the same HT in a .25" thick chopping knife.
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Maybe it is the edges on the two blades. From what I have seen or heard about S35VN I would like to get my hands on it. I was just trying to find something to compare it to that I own.
 
19-3ben said:
Well if you don't like 1095 from Tops or ESEE, there is actually a decent chance that you just don't like 1095 because they both are VERY highly regarded for their HT and are just about as good as 1095 can get.

That said, it's been noted above and is absolutely true that edge geometry, blade shapes, etc... all have an enormous impact on the performance of the steel. 1095 with a hollow grind in a thin slipjoint pocket knife is going to perform very differently than the same steel with the same HT in a .25" thick chopping knife.
Click to expand...
Im not really a huge fan of my KA BAR either now that I think of that one.
 
goodeyesniper said:
All of this is discounting thickness, grind, etc... which are just as important
Click to expand...

Some people will tell you that steel alloy, heat treat, and blade grind are all equally important in the performance of the knife. So choosing a steel is only 1/3 of the process.

Knives such as ESEE are not optimized for cutting and edge-holding, probably most production knives that use 1095 are not. 1095 is used to create a tough knife that can be beat on in the field and will survive, which is why it isn't hardened as much as it could be. Also a slightly lower hardness would make it easier for the user to sharpen it in the field.
 
LG&M said:
Who produces a blade in 1095 much harder then 57-58?
Not custom.
I like 1095, kabar does it well.
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Nobody and if you watch the video of the heat treatment method used by TOPS, you understand why. LOL. As for Kabar,they do not use 1095. They use 0170-06
 
bdmicarta said:
Some people will tell you that steel alloy, heat treat, and blade grind are all equally important in the performance of the knife. So choosing a steel is only 1/3 of the process.

Knives such as ESEE are not optimized for cutting and edge-holding, probably most production knives that use 1095 are not. 1095 is used to create a tough knife that can be beat on in the field and will survive, which is why it isn't hardened as much as it could be. Also a slightly lower hardness would make it easier for the user to sharpen it in the field.
Click to expand...
How hard would a W2 knife at 61 be to sharpen in the field AND how often would you have to sharpen it in the field? Remember that a THIN edge will be easier to sharpen that a thick one.I would like to see a comparison between some of these commercially made1095 tough knives and say a 1084 blade at 60Rc made using best methods.
 
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