Should I buy S30V blade or CPM-D2?

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rob_engineer

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Jun 11, 2008
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Posted this in another forum but have not gotten many replies. Thought I'd post it here and get your advice. Thanks.

Time to buy myself a new everday carry knife for father's day. I was going to buy the Spyderco Sage because I like a flat grind. As an engineer and fan of different blade steels, I also saw that the Paramilitary model is available in CPM-D2. I have the Military in S30V, but that is too big for everyday use. The Paramilitary should fit the bill. So, my question is, should I buy the Paramilitary in the S30V steel, or the CPM-D2 version. I am leaning towards the D2 because I do not surrently have any knives made with that alloy. I understand the D2 should be easier to sharpen than S30V?
 
I think it depends on what your EDC cutting needs are. The Sage is a fine knife. It's my second fav Spyderco right after the... Para :D The Sage will end up being slightly larger than it may look in pix. It can handle a lot of work. It won't be as tough all round as the Para and the liner lock is not quite as robust as the Para's compression lock, but don't sell the Sage short.

OTOH, I don't think there is anything you could possible expect of a folding knife that the Paramilitary can't do. It will be a bit wider and thicker in your pocket and hand than the Sage, if that's any concern. I usually carry my Sage down in my RFP and my Paras IWB at 10:00. Everything is very comfortable in those locations.

As far as S30V vs CPM-D2, all of my EDCs are S30V except my VG10 Caly 3. S30V is just about perfect for what I need in a 3" EDC blade. I haven't used my D2 Millie or Para for anything that would give me a good idea of their performance, but I can vouch for S30V.

I have used Benchmade's D2 on one of the Cabelas mini-Grips as an EDC for a while. It has excellent edge holding ability. I found it a bit more time consuming than S30V to get it as sharp as I like it and I'm guessing that it would take a little more time to bring it back from heavy use than S30V, but I don't have any complaints about how it performed. I just really like S30V and I'm comfortable working with it.
 
If the CPM D2 is a new steel... (I've never seen it peceeded by CPM before) I say try it out and let us know when you think. It wont be significantly worse than s30v, so give it a try!
 
rob_engineer said:
Posted this in another forum but have not gotten many replies. Thought I'd post it here and get your advice. Thanks.

Time to buy myself a new everday carry knife for father's day. I was going to buy the Spyderco Sage because I like a flat grind. As an engineer and fan of different blade steels, I also saw that the Paramilitary model is available in CPM-D2. I have the Military in S30V, but that is too big for everyday use. The Paramilitary should fit the bill. So, my question is, should I buy the Paramilitary in the S30V steel, or the CPM-D2 version. I am leaning towards the D2 because I do not surrently have any knives made with that alloy. I understand the D2 should be easier to sharpen than S30V?
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D2 is a bitch to sharpen and it is not stainless. Having said that, I love D2!
 
I've got a Spyderco Native with an S30V blade that is an excellent knife. My Kershaw Outcast is D2. I like D2 in bigger knives and S30V in smaller pocket carry knives. So, I vote for S30V.
 
The new cpmd2 is easier to polish out and finer grained than regular d2. I think you will like it better than the s30v. Mike
 
CPM s30v is stainless and holds edge better. CPM D2 take better edge.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
The CPM D-2 is harder to sharpen, less resistant to rust and must be kept clean. The S30V is easier to sharpen, more resistant to rust, and can be neglected for a while without any appearance of problems.

In my experience, my Koster Bushcraft in CPM-D-2 holds a sharper edge longer than my Kershaw Blur in S30V. The trade off is sharpening time versus edge retention.

Get the CPM D-2!
 
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nozh2002 said:
CPM s30v is stainless and holds edge better. CPM D2 take better edge.

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...

CPM D2 is not the same as D2. Different process, slightly different composition. From what I have read, it has superior properties to D2.

I reasonably certain Vassili has tried the new CPM D2 and is in a position to give an accurate comparison of its properties compared to S30V, which I know he also has.
 
D2 is not stainless. It is somewhat rust-resistant but nothing close to the rust resistance of actual stainless. As long as you keep that in mind, you'll find D2 to be a great user steel. It doesn't get quite as sharp as CPM S30V but it'll stay sharp longer.
 
My experience with CPM D2 - it need less effort to get to the whitteling hair sharp then CPM S30V. CPM S30V requires diamond powder 0.15 microns, but CPM D2 got that sharp right after Geen Rouge and produce easy long curving shave.

I am talking about Tyrade - my experience with CPM D2 is limited to this knife.

D2 on BM Elishewitz Ares which I sharpened just yestarday, require bit more effort, but still less CPM S30V - no Diamond Powder needed to whittle hair.

Now I am not sure that everybody understand that D2 and CPM D2 totally diferent steels with same composition and while D2 has huge carbides 50 microns because of highest carbon content among non PM steel, CPM D2 does not have huge carbides - they as I understand should be no more then powder particles - 1~2 microns.

So in result those two steels act differently.

I hope Crucible will add some Va and W and Cr and makes something like Japanese SRS15...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
They're very similar. The Sage is more ergonomically friendly, because it is easier to close. Compression locks on the paramilitary are a bit clumsy to close. However, both are excellent knives with excellent steels. The properties are very similar. If I were you, I'd go with the Sage, more compact, better ergos, and fully stainless, it's a better EDC.
 
I went ahead and ordered the D2 paramilitary today from knifecenter.com. Mostly decided on that because out of the 200 or so knives I have bought in my lifetime, none have been with D2 alloy. I already have some CPM440 and S30V as well as ATS34 and 154CM knives and want to try something different. Thanks for your input.
 
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