I tried to video this process but unfortunately my camera sucks and wont film long enough to get full video. I tested the Spyderco Southard(204P), Microtech Socom Elite(204P), Spyderco PM2(20CP), and Benchmade Griptilian(CPM M4). These knives have cut plenty of rope already but never more than 6 feet. My test was very similar to how Crimsontideshooter does his, as well added some of my own in. The test consisted of 10 feet(40 total) of 3/8" manila rope cut on a 4X4 of relatively soft wood, as well as 1(4 total) large cardboard box for each knife. I know 1 box isn't much but this was a big box and it is some thick, nasty stuff. The sharpness was tested on phone book paper(**spoiler** nothing else was needed). Initial sharpness on the knives was hair shaving but not quite hair whittling.
I do want to say this is not an apples to apples comparison. All the knives had the same profile except the Socom Elite. I reprofiled the knives on the wicked edge.
Southard, Griptilian, and PM2- 30 degree edge through all stones on wicked edge(1000 grit diamond), then ultra fine SM, stropped, then 40 microbevel with SM brown stones, and stropped again.
Socom Elite- 36 degree edge taken through all stones (1000 grit diamond), stropped, then 40 degree microbevel with SM brown stones, and stropped again.
I measured all the knives just behind the edge. A little bit of a surprise to me but maybe you guys knew these already,
PM2-.032"
MT-.028"
Southard-.026"
Grip-.023"
First up was the MT. It cut really easy and was very comfortable to cut with. No hot spots I could notice at any time. About 7 feet through I noticed it got slightly harder to cut with. It still sliced PB paper easily though. At 9 feet it had lost all semblance of a fine edge and I could easily run my fingers across it. It didn't really feel sharp, but it still cut really well. Then it was on to the cardboard. It flew through cardboard(not as well as Griptilian but still damn smooth). After all the cutting was done the knife still sliced PB paper surprisingly easy. I think perhaps the edge is so thin it will cut even when relatively dull. I say that because it really didn't seem sharp. No rolls or chips to speak of and really an impressive blade. I expected this because I've cut 6 feet a few times and it never had an issue. I then honed it and it was back to shaving hair easily.
Now to the Southard. There is no reason to say how much I love this knife as it has been said over and over again here and everywhere else... but I love this knife. Its beautiful, tough, and the fit and finish is flawless. It isn't a beast like the MT however, I feel the MT could be ran over and hit with a hammer and be fine. I don't question the toughness of the Southard though and its very well built.
I'm not sure why but the Southard took a much more aggressive edge than the MT. I mean it just ripped through the rope. Through 7 feet of rope, I literally couldn't tell it had cut. Yes reread that, I was amazed too. Spyderco knocked this out of the park! 10 feet of manila rope later and it still would cut paper like nothing. It was not hair shaving but it was sharp enough I couldn't run my finger across it. The only thing that slowed it down was glue from the cardboard. Once I cleaned it off it still sliced PB paper dare I say easily! I honed it just because I wanted it to shave hair again. It did take a few more strokes to get back to hair shaving than the MT but that was probably me using crappy angles. I'm not sure the hardness but I did hear it was rumored to be harder than previous Spyderco M390, I would tend to agree with the results I had.
The Benchmade Griptilian was next and this was a limited edition run from GPKnives in CPM M4. This knife had the thinnest edge of all that were tested and it was pretty obvious while cutting. The Grip also took the keenest edge. This edge although really toothy could occasionally whittle hair. I was pretty impressed with M4 to be honest I didn't expect it to be this good. The knife did dull the quickest of the 4, at about 4-5 feet in the knife had 2 small rolls that slowed it down. The knife still was able to slice phone book paper the entire time but it would get caught those 2 spots. This knife also cut the cardboard the easiest and the cardboard didn't dull the knife anymore than it was already. So although the M4 steel couldnt stay as sharp as the others it was the easiest to hone/strop and the sharpest afterward literally scaring my arm hair away. I am now a big fan of M4. I dont like its stainless properties, but I guess I just wont let it sit outside in the rain.
Last but not least the Spyderco PM2 in 20CP. This is my old faithful knife. I've carried this knife a lot and will continue to do so. This has been my favorite knife for as long as I've had it and was my first high end steel. 20CP has been tested by the best guys I know of so I'm not telling you guys something you dont know but figured it was a good benchmark. I would put this steel in 3rd in this test only as in my test both the MT and Southard out performed it. This knife did take a ridiculously aggressive edge, second only to the Southard. The PM2 stayed sharper than the Grip but it did get a small roll after 4 feet which the 204P knives did not get at all. The knife lost its fine edge pretty early on right around the same time as the M4, however it stayed much sharper than M4 thereafter. In fact I would say it really never dulled at all after that point. It cut PB easily throughout as expected. This knife and the MT were probably the 2 hardest to sharpen with the M4 being the easiest. Overall the PM2 is still easily my second favorite knife, but the Southard just has way too much going for it. I am trying to get a Hinderer in January, but until then I will say the Southard is damn near perfection in my book!
I've rambled enough, so I will just end saying thanks to everyone who does their cut tests on here because it helped me with mine and I really hope some others will do a test with the Southard to verify my results because I was blown away.
I do want to say this is not an apples to apples comparison. All the knives had the same profile except the Socom Elite. I reprofiled the knives on the wicked edge.
Southard, Griptilian, and PM2- 30 degree edge through all stones on wicked edge(1000 grit diamond), then ultra fine SM, stropped, then 40 microbevel with SM brown stones, and stropped again.
Socom Elite- 36 degree edge taken through all stones (1000 grit diamond), stropped, then 40 degree microbevel with SM brown stones, and stropped again.
I measured all the knives just behind the edge. A little bit of a surprise to me but maybe you guys knew these already,
PM2-.032"
MT-.028"
Southard-.026"
Grip-.023"
First up was the MT. It cut really easy and was very comfortable to cut with. No hot spots I could notice at any time. About 7 feet through I noticed it got slightly harder to cut with. It still sliced PB paper easily though. At 9 feet it had lost all semblance of a fine edge and I could easily run my fingers across it. It didn't really feel sharp, but it still cut really well. Then it was on to the cardboard. It flew through cardboard(not as well as Griptilian but still damn smooth). After all the cutting was done the knife still sliced PB paper surprisingly easy. I think perhaps the edge is so thin it will cut even when relatively dull. I say that because it really didn't seem sharp. No rolls or chips to speak of and really an impressive blade. I expected this because I've cut 6 feet a few times and it never had an issue. I then honed it and it was back to shaving hair easily.
Now to the Southard. There is no reason to say how much I love this knife as it has been said over and over again here and everywhere else... but I love this knife. Its beautiful, tough, and the fit and finish is flawless. It isn't a beast like the MT however, I feel the MT could be ran over and hit with a hammer and be fine. I don't question the toughness of the Southard though and its very well built.
I'm not sure why but the Southard took a much more aggressive edge than the MT. I mean it just ripped through the rope. Through 7 feet of rope, I literally couldn't tell it had cut. Yes reread that, I was amazed too. Spyderco knocked this out of the park! 10 feet of manila rope later and it still would cut paper like nothing. It was not hair shaving but it was sharp enough I couldn't run my finger across it. The only thing that slowed it down was glue from the cardboard. Once I cleaned it off it still sliced PB paper dare I say easily! I honed it just because I wanted it to shave hair again. It did take a few more strokes to get back to hair shaving than the MT but that was probably me using crappy angles. I'm not sure the hardness but I did hear it was rumored to be harder than previous Spyderco M390, I would tend to agree with the results I had.
The Benchmade Griptilian was next and this was a limited edition run from GPKnives in CPM M4. This knife had the thinnest edge of all that were tested and it was pretty obvious while cutting. The Grip also took the keenest edge. This edge although really toothy could occasionally whittle hair. I was pretty impressed with M4 to be honest I didn't expect it to be this good. The knife did dull the quickest of the 4, at about 4-5 feet in the knife had 2 small rolls that slowed it down. The knife still was able to slice phone book paper the entire time but it would get caught those 2 spots. This knife also cut the cardboard the easiest and the cardboard didn't dull the knife anymore than it was already. So although the M4 steel couldnt stay as sharp as the others it was the easiest to hone/strop and the sharpest afterward literally scaring my arm hair away. I am now a big fan of M4. I dont like its stainless properties, but I guess I just wont let it sit outside in the rain.
Last but not least the Spyderco PM2 in 20CP. This is my old faithful knife. I've carried this knife a lot and will continue to do so. This has been my favorite knife for as long as I've had it and was my first high end steel. 20CP has been tested by the best guys I know of so I'm not telling you guys something you dont know but figured it was a good benchmark. I would put this steel in 3rd in this test only as in my test both the MT and Southard out performed it. This knife did take a ridiculously aggressive edge, second only to the Southard. The PM2 stayed sharper than the Grip but it did get a small roll after 4 feet which the 204P knives did not get at all. The knife lost its fine edge pretty early on right around the same time as the M4, however it stayed much sharper than M4 thereafter. In fact I would say it really never dulled at all after that point. It cut PB easily throughout as expected. This knife and the MT were probably the 2 hardest to sharpen with the M4 being the easiest. Overall the PM2 is still easily my second favorite knife, but the Southard just has way too much going for it. I am trying to get a Hinderer in January, but until then I will say the Southard is damn near perfection in my book!
I've rambled enough, so I will just end saying thanks to everyone who does their cut tests on here because it helped me with mine and I really hope some others will do a test with the Southard to verify my results because I was blown away.
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