Sebenza now in S35VN?

[atony]

129.00 but I am going with double lugs so I imagine it will be a bit more.

 

[Reeek]

I'm hoping mine comes with it. I've had one on order for over a month now and still waiting so that might be a good sign.

I'm curious if anyone has noticed the S35VN on a recent umnumzaan? when that happens I'll have to send mine to the spa for a blade swap.

 

[ThumperACC]

But how well does your anvil shave hair after cutting a cardboard box?

My anvil is very sharp (looking) but doesn't cut cardboard very well, nor shave for that matter. However it really takes a pounding and comes back lookin' great.

 

[snowreaper1]

129.00 but I am going with double lugs so I imagine it will be a bit more.

Your replacing your s30v blade for the s35? If so Im looking for a plain edge
blade to replace mine that has serrations. Would you be interested in trading
or possibly selling your extra blade?

Thanks,

 

[HistoricalMan]

Just wanted to throw my two cents in and reaffirm that CRK are indeed shipping Sebenzas in S35VN now. I picked up a large 21 a few days ago from KnifeArt and it's S35VN. It has a birthdate of January 26th, 2011 so it looks like they made the switch first thing after the new year.

 

[atony]

Your replacing your s30v blade for the s35? If so Im looking for a plain edge
blade to replace mine that has serrations. Would you be interested in trading
or possibly selling your extra blade?

Thanks,

I think i'm going to hold on to it, maybe.

 

[JNewell]

I keep thinking about whether I want to add a knife, replace a knife, or ignore this topic. I found the following post from Phil Wilson (which, I think I have to point out in fairness, needs to be read in its entirely and not have little bits taken out of context):

ojfindon, All the steels you listed would make nice knives. you are already aware that the heat treating and geometry play a critical role so given that it is right on for each, I can offer some insight on some of the subtle differences in each grade. All you mentioned are in the stainless category so corrosion resistance would not be an issue given reasonable care.

CPM S30V, you will have a wider choicf makers with this one. It has been around long enough for most guys to work out the pros and cons. Most heat treaters will know what to do with it. I have made probably 100 or so fillet knives with it and that is a good test of all around balance of hardness and ductility. Be sure to ask for a sub zero quench since it makes a big difference on this grade. The 3% vanadium gives it some long range edge holding. I would specify RC 60 for the hardness for a hunter and 58,59 for a fillet or kitchen knife. All the high alloy stainless like this one do not take prying or chopping loads very well. This is especially true if you specify a thin grind and shallow angle edge.

CPM S35VN, I have not used this one myself but the addition of niobium should allow it to be pushed a little higher in hardness and the other tweaks to help improve the ductility. If you find a maker with experience then I think it would be an improvement over S30V. Could you tell the difference in edge holding or ductility? Probably not but the changes will most likely make it a little easier to work with for the maker.

CPM 154. This is the PM version of the old standby grade 154 CM. I still like the older grade better for some applications but the CPM did add some ductility and as a result for a utility hunter the hardness can be pushed up to RC 62/63. Even though there is no vanadium in this one it has 4% moly which contributes to a complex carbide that is almost as hard as vanadium. This combined with the higher hardness would give a little better performance over the 30V or 35V grades.

ELMAX I have only been using this one for a little over a year and 5 knives so far but it has demonstrated to be nice to work with. I have some test knives at RC 62 that do not chip with agressive whittling on seasoned fir. This is with a very thin edge behind the sharpened bevel (.010). Bohler claims a very fine PM structure and I think that contributes to the ductility and ease of working. Edge holding is very good due to the increased hardness and fine grain. You can get this steel very, very sharp. I think it would be a great candidate for your custom. This one also benefits from a subzero right after the quench and I would specify RC 61 as a good hardness target. Be sure your maker has a heat treater that has experience with the grade..

There are a lot of other steels, some mentioned here that make a fine custom. All have pros and cons, life is like that, but I wanted to speak to your original question. Hope this helps .. Phil

 

[JNewell]

And another post from someone with experience:

Reeve also helped Barber also develop CPM-S35VN before Barber left Crucible.

In our testing, S35VN had advantages over S30V both in manufacturing and abrasion resistance. I think it will just take a while to see more of it our there. Crucible had a hiccup last year that slowed production. Niagara is now handling Crucible streels and S35VN should be readily available for factories and custom makers.

sal

 

[Reeek]

Do we have to contact CRK directly to find out what the blade steel will be for all CRK knives after January 1, 2011 of does the Mod ever chime in?

I'm interested enough in the S35VN that I might very well change my Umnumzaan order (been waiting 4-5 weeks now anyway) to a Large 21 if the Zaan's are not going to be S35VN.

Thoughts?

 

[JNewell]

Based on a conversation with Heather, I think this is a rolling change that will be implemented as they run out of S30V blades, but I didn't ask your question directly so I could be wrong. I think what we're seeing at this end of the supply chain is that CRK ran out of S30V large Seb and tanto blades first.

If I had a plan to buy one soon, I might wait, but I've more or less decided that it isn't enough of a gain (if any) to make it worth selling one I've already got to finance a replacement with S35VN. There are comparability issues, but I would add that although I like my S35VN Mule, it isn't a miracle steel by any means. I think the primary benefit is lateral strength rather than edge retention, especially at CRK's current heat treat level.

 

[Reeek]

Fair enough and I have heard the same . . .

Based on a conversation with Heather, I think this is a rolling change that will be implemented as they run out of S30V blades, but I didn't ask your question directly so I could be wrong. I think what we're seeing at this end of the supply chain is that CRK ran out of S30V large Seb and tanto blades first.

If I had a plan to buy one soon, I might wait, but I've more or less decided that it isn't enough of a gain (if any) to make it worth selling one I've already got to finance a replacement with S35VN. There are comparability issues, but I would add that although I like my S35VN Mule, it isn't a miracle steel by any means. I think the primary benefit is lateral strength rather than edge retention, especially at CRK's current heat treat level.

 

[HistoricalMan]

There are comparability issues, but I would add that although I like my S35VN Mule, it isn't a miracle steel by any means. I think the primary benefit is lateral strength rather than edge retention, especially at CRK's current heat treat level.

I'm inclined to agree here.

 

[Medic1210]

I'm interested enough in the S35VN that I might very well change my Umnumzaan order (been waiting 4-5 weeks now anyway) to a Large 21 if the Zaan's are not going to be S35VN.

Perfect reason why they will not say "After X-date, all Sebenza's will be S35VN" because folks would stop purchasing the current blades in order to wait for the new steel.

 

[whetrock]

I wish I would have waited a month to purchase mine this s35vn seems like my kinda steel.

 

[JNewell]

I wish I would have waited a month to purchase mine this s35vn seems like my kinda steel.

Unless you habitually edge-pry, I don't think you'll notice a difference, honestly.

 

[Josh K]

Do we have to contact CRK directly to find out what the blade steel will be for all CRK knives after January 1, 2011 of does the Mod ever chime in?

I'm interested enough in the S35VN that I might very well change my Umnumzaan order (been waiting 4-5 weeks now anyway) to a Large 21 if the Zaan's are not going to be S35VN.

Thoughts?

I doubt you'll notice a difference between the two.

While I'm currently looking to pick up a Sebenza in S35VN it's only because my other 13 CRK are S30V with only a Sikayo in S35VN.

 

[cziv]

I posted that I'd never buy a Sebenza with the horrid Idaho stamp, but my lust for a Sebenza in S35VN got the better of me today and I pulled the trigger on a large 21 (plain). :foot:

I hope the stamp doesn't put me off since I'm really happy to see CRK finally roll out this steel.

It was my understanding when I purchased my Spyderco Mule, that it was Chris Reeve who was a pioneer of this steel:

Shortly after the introduction of CPM-S30V, Chris Reeve (of Chris Reeve Knives) began working with Dick Barber, a metallurgist at Crucible Steel (at the time).

The goal was to create an even better version of the steel that had better machinability and finish. After several years of testing and development, the result was CPM-S35VN. Chemically the same as S30V, but with the additional of Niobium (also referred to as Columbium).

High Chromium ferritic steels containing Niobium exhibit increased temperature stability and refined grain structure which is important when working hard steels used in items like jet and rocket engines, welding and knife blades. It increases a blade’s strength and ability to take and retain sharpness.

 

[JNewell]

Well...did some digging around and found some small Sebs with S35VN and with the old (non-ID marked) scales. I am going to have some 'splainin' to do but there is one inbound to me now!

 

[Josh K]

Well...did some digging around and found some small Sebs with S35VN and with the old (non-ID marked) scales. I am going to have some 'splainin' to do but there is one inbound to me now!

Sharing is caring.

 

[stjames]

Well...did some digging around and found some small Sebs with S35VN and with the old (non-ID marked) scales. I am going to have some 'splainin' to do but there is one inbound to me now!

Forgiveness is easier to get than permission anyway.