The s90 military has been out for awhile. I am sure that there are a number of folks here on the forum that have had one long enough to get an idea of how s90 performs. I have a military in bg42 that I really like - frankly, I really do not see the need to upgrade, but I have a Caly 3 in zdp189 that is impossible to put down. I was just wondering, with the similarities between s90 and zdp189 on paper, do you guys (and gals) see similar edge holding capabilities with s90 that you see with zdp189? I am close to pulling the trigger on one and just wanted to see if I could get some feedback.
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s90 military?
- Thread starter stevewest
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yablanowitz
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For my use, which I admit is abnormal, the S90V Military holds an edge better than ZDP-189. That is no scientific test, just me doing what I do with knives at work, using different steels side by side. I work on a lot of abrasive surfaces and materials, and the S90V stands up to that better than anything else I have tried, including D2 and BG-42.
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What kind of materials to you cut?drywall, carpen, cardboard boxes.?
Do you know what s90v is hardened at?
zdp is one of the best steels in production right now what advandage would
it have over s90v.
Sorry for the 1001 questions
but you are experienced with all types of steel.You actualy put your highend folders to hard use.
thx gine.
yablanowitz
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Yes, old used carpet, drywall, waferboard, particleboard, plywood, mastic adhesive, vinyl tile, formica and cardboard are all fair game for my knives. Pretty much anything used to build apartments is going to get in my way sooner or later 
I'm not sure on the Rc hardness of the S90V, but I believe it is around 62-63, which is a couple of points softer than ZDP-189 is normally run. The difference is the volume of hard vanadium carbides in the S90V. Those carbides are hard enough to make the Rockwell scale pretty much meaningless. They are are also what makes the steel so abrasion resistant, both in use and on a stone. From what I have read, vanadium carbide is harder than the aluminum oxide of the Sharpmaker stones. That doesn't matter to me, I do almost all my sharpening on diamond hones.
The only advantage I see for ZDP-189 for me is it is slightly easier to sharpen, althogh for some reason I have a harder time getting a clean edge on it. That small advantage isn't enough to make me prefer it over the S90V.
I'm not sure on the Rc hardness of the S90V, but I believe it is around 62-63, which is a couple of points softer than ZDP-189 is normally run. The difference is the volume of hard vanadium carbides in the S90V. Those carbides are hard enough to make the Rockwell scale pretty much meaningless. They are are also what makes the steel so abrasion resistant, both in use and on a stone. From what I have read, vanadium carbide is harder than the aluminum oxide of the Sharpmaker stones. That doesn't matter to me, I do almost all my sharpening on diamond hones.
The only advantage I see for ZDP-189 for me is it is slightly easier to sharpen, althogh for some reason I have a harder time getting a clean edge on it. That small advantage isn't enough to make me prefer it over the S90V.
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Well then I look forward to mine; because BG-42 is my #1 stainless steel.:thumbup: So if it might be better than that I WANT one.
I wonder where the collector knives are? I don't have mine yet:grumpy:.
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Ahhh, glad to know I'm not the only one.
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After I get a S125V knife I think I will be satisfied with the huge carbide ( devil worshipping vanadium types according to Thom Brogan) and just begin to stick to knives purely for their ergonomics....untill they come out with more ZDP like steels anyway with decent sized carbides, high RC's and the ability to take mega sharp edges.
The S90V came with edges that I compliment Spyderco for, but even I have a difficult time reproducing unlike ZDP, BG42, VG10, SG2,52100, A2,super blue, and a few others. I can get s90v passably sharp but after my stretch 2 and to a lesser extent kershaws JYD2 Ti SG2, I want hair whittling sharp. I've yet to see that with a very high vanadium steel. Perhaps I need to invest in more equipment beyond what I have already. Joe
The S90V came with edges that I compliment Spyderco for, but even I have a difficult time reproducing unlike ZDP, BG42, VG10, SG2,52100, A2,super blue, and a few others. I can get s90v passably sharp but after my stretch 2 and to a lesser extent kershaws JYD2 Ti SG2, I want hair whittling sharp. I've yet to see that with a very high vanadium steel. Perhaps I need to invest in more equipment beyond what I have already. Joe
yablanowitz
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Since mine are all work knives, and "hair whittling" isn't in my job description, I don't see much point in trying to get any of them that sharp. Drywall tends to eat that kind of edge pretty fast. I've taken S90V to tree-topping arm hairs on a DMT extra-fine diamond hone, which is sharper than I really need. I kinda like the huge, ugly, evil, devil-worshipping vanadium carbides.
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Yes, old used carpet, drywall, waferboard, particleboard, plywood, mastic adhesive, vinyl tile, formica and cardboard are all fair game for my knives. Pretty much anything used to build apartments is going to get in my way sooner or later
I'm not sure on the Rc hardness of the S90V, but I believe it is around 62-63, which is a couple of points softer than ZDP-189 is normally run. The difference is the volume of hard vanadium carbides in the S90V. Those carbides are hard enough to make the Rockwell scale pretty much meaningless. They are are also what makes the steel so abrasion resistant, both in use and on a stone. From what I have read, vanadium carbide is harder than the aluminum oxide of the Sharpmaker stones. That doesn't matter to me, I do almost all my sharpening on diamond hones.
The only advantage I see for ZDP-189 for me is it is slightly easier to sharpen, althogh for some reason I have a harder time getting a clean edge on it. That small advantage isn't enough to make me prefer it over the S90V.
Yab thx for the info:thumbup:
I have both s90v and D2 military's now.
The d2 came sharper then anything I've ever had out of the box.
.It is hair popping sharp and with a fine toothyish edge,like what you would
expect from cpm d2.
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All the millies have been done to a very high level of quality, including the edges. The D2 was very sharp, but in my case the S90V millie is equally sharp. The only knives I've found that really came sharper were the Stretch 2 in ZDP, and a couple other ZDP knives including a caly jr. from the latest batch. Everything about that caly jr. was smoother and straighter than the others I've had. They're really getting to know their ZDP IMO. The other notable was a kershaw SG2 steel knife that had a sharper than a razor's edge.
I'm kind of exaggerating about the high vanadium knives as I do plan on getting a 10V knife, along with a S125V for testing. There are quite a few crucible steels I need to try still. M4, Cru ware, and who knows what else. I do like tungsten containing steels though, probably better than the super vanadium steels. M2 is a good example of steels I'll always like. ZDP will always be a favorite. For some reason I'll always like Vascowear too.
There is a place for the S90V, 10V steels though. For some reason they remind me of the carbide grit saws you see advertised that will cut through anything, but aren't sharp though. Joe
I'm kind of exaggerating about the high vanadium knives as I do plan on getting a 10V knife, along with a S125V for testing. There are quite a few crucible steels I need to try still. M4, Cru ware, and who knows what else. I do like tungsten containing steels though, probably better than the super vanadium steels. M2 is a good example of steels I'll always like. ZDP will always be a favorite. For some reason I'll always like Vascowear too.
There is a place for the S90V, 10V steels though. For some reason they remind me of the carbide grit saws you see advertised that will cut through anything, but aren't sharp though.
Joe