Should I go with S110V and if so, which knife do you prefer?

BMCGear

BMCGear

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So, I think I'm gonna pick up a new Spyderco for EDC. I've been missing the ergos that Spyderco offers and some of the knives I'm considering come in S110V for a few bucks more.

What is S110V like? How is it with sharpening?

Edit to add:

I'm seeing that Spyderco makes the PM2, Manix 2, Military, and Native 5 in S110V. Which model do you prefer for EDC?

Thanks,
 
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PM2 and Manix 2 are my favorite. Military is larger than the two and native is smaller. Locks on both manix and pm2 are the most fun as well. Manix is a little wider in pocket than the pm2. Both slice great and s110v stays sharp forever. I can't comment on sharpening as mine hasn't needed it yet. Manix has a slightly thicker tip than the pm2. Honestly its just going to come down to personal preference. You really need to handle them. I'm sure you will get an array of responses but my guess is you will likely have more people recommend the pm2 the most. PM2 or Manix are great and you can't go wrong with either. If you can't handle one before you buy i'd recommend trying to find some comparision photos between these knives and knives you own or are familiar with to gage the size. All of the above a faily slim in pocket thickness wise.
 
The Manix is nice but it was too wide for my front pocket carrying taste. The pm2 is a much better fit and it feels almost as robust in use. Never had a native because I don't want a back lock, the military is on my list but it may be too big for some people's taste.
 
I failed to mention the lw versions. The manix 2 and native 5 both come in a lightweight version to further complicate things. I edc the manix 2 lw. Its very light and much stronger than you would think for a linerless knife. If weight is a factor then I would definitely give this a shot.
 
All those mentioned are great folders. My choice, if I'm picking just one, is the Para2.

S110V is challenging to sharpen. Using a Sharpmaker to keep the edge maintained is the way to go, rather than let it get too blunt.
But sooner or later, with enough use and touching up, it will eventually need re-profiling, and unless you have the skills/equipment/patience to do this it may be best to get it professionally sharpened.

I find it very difficult to get the fine sharpness on S110V/S90V that I can get on other steels. With enough patience I can get close, but I have found that a good slightly toothy working edge is best, the edge holding is awesome, and the SM makes it easy to maintain for a lot of use.

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I agree about it being significantly harder to sharpen, the s30v took a very sharp edge with a lot less effort and with the normal spyderco brown and white rods I can't get s110v quite as sharp. I've been seriously considering the diamond rods but I don't know if they are too coarse.
 
I think, that for me, it comes down to how I am dressed and how I plan to carry the knife. If I were wearing dress slacks everyday, or a suit, I might opt for the Native 5 LW at 2.5oz or Manix 2 LW at 2.9oz. More than this and your pants are going to sag. The Manix is a pocket hog.

I wear kakis or blue jeans most often, so I can carry a Military with no issues. I have a Military and a PM2 and have decided that, except for the lock, I prefer the Military. I have large, thick hands and the Military fits a little better. (A Manix 2 XL has my hand cramped between the guard and the pommel, for some perspective).

I cannot say about sharpening because the knife has not needed it yet. However, from what I have read, diamonds are the only way to go.
 
Get the one that fits your hand and needs. You can't go wrong with none of it. Personaly like the G10 Manix the most. Military is too long for me, Native just too short. PM2 is in the same length, but prefer the ergo of the Manix. Fit my hands perfect. I choose G10 version because I like the heft of it. FRN is cool and very light, just prefer the feel of G10 better.

S110V is awsome steel. It's almost unbeliveble that Spyderco offers this steel in so many knives. Holds edge very, very long time. It's stainless and I don't have any problem keep it screaming sharp with basic Sharpmaker. Just keep the knife straight, don't push very hard and give it a few more pass than S30V;)
 
I have the PM2 in S110V. Great size and ergos, fantastic lock and just a pleasure to operate. Easiest one handed opener and closer I've experienced, and I'm a lefty. But... since discovering the Native 5 LW, I've come to prefer the lighter and smaller package. I rarely find that I need more blade length and the trade off is a noticeably more comfortable carry. The back lock on the Native 5 is fantastic and it gave me a new appreciation of the strength and simplicity of this design. I have an S110V Native LW on the way and much as I like the PM2, the Native will likely see a lot more use. As for the steel, I've only had to touch up my PM2 on the Sharpmaker brown rods. I do this pretty regularly and so far the knife has kept the extremely sharp, toothy edge it came with. S110V has very high corrosion resistance, which I like--as long as I'm going to use a stainless steel, it might as well be extremely stainless. I have a couple of HAP40 and Superblue knives so it's nice to have something I don't have to use quite as much care with. If I know I'm going to subject the knife I'm carrying to some abuse, I tend to go for one of the carbon steels--a lot less work to bring back to sharpness. If I know I won't be able to sharpen my knife for a while and may not get much chance to clean it up after use, like when I'm traveling, that's when I go for the S110V. Another point about the PM2: I get my knives wet a lot, mostly fresh water, and one drawback of the compression lock vs the back lock is that the more complex construction tends to trap water.
 
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