Spyderco HAP40 Thread

ejames13 said:
Use your tip for what? While I haven't done any kind of prying with it, I would consider the tip of this knife extremely fragile. It's ground even thinner than the standard Delica, which is already pretty thin.
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Yes, this particular Delica is insanely thin. That is why I am not getting one. I guess I am not afi enough to appreciate this feature. If you want super thin and can work with the limitations of that type grind then you will love this knife and if not get the HAP40 Endura. I am probably the weird one who wishes the Delica was FFG but the same spine thickness of the Delica in saber grind. The current FFG Delicas are just too thin for my liking.
 
aussiek2000 said:
Can anyone comment on how brittle HAP40 is? I use the tip of my knife several time on a daily basis (I know, I know.....) and want to make sure it's not going to snap off on the first day. Only Knife I have broken is a Leek. My tenacious, 0550, and griptilian have held up to the the abuse fine.
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Honestly, on a thin tip like that, I'm not sure how much difference steel type is going to make. Personally, I love the thin grind on this Delica and have zero fear of doing damage, even though I ground my spine even thinner. Of course it will depend on your use. I have expensive custom fillet knives that have a tip that is much pointier and MUCH thinner than the one on the Delica. I have cleaned hundreds (likely thousands) of fish with them. I use the tip extensively in the cleaning process and have never once done any damage. As long as you aren't prying or using it as a screwdriver, I don't really see how you could damage it, outside of dropping it.
 
Can't wait for the rest of the series to come out!

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Went by the outlet store and met a totally awesome guy who sold me a Hap 40 Delica for myself and Des Horns for my cousin. Exactly the kind of knife nut I would hope to meet working there. Loving the knife so far.
 
Wharn said:
I really need to stay off these forums haha... Just ordered myself the Endura from CS, thanks.
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Picked a Delica from another shop maybe a week ago. And today, grabbed an Endura as well. You all are bad for my wallet. ;)
 
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I left this over on the Spyderco forum but thought I would drop it in this thread too. I like this steel a lot!

---I received a Hap40 Delica a couple of weeks ago and have done some sharpening and testing on 5/8" hemp rope. I have carried the knife as an "edc" the whole time but honestly, outside of fish cleaning I just don't use my pocket knife too much so it takes me a long time to build even a rough idea of steel performance. What I can pass along is my experience so far in sharpening and rope cutting.

Hap40 sharpens to a very keen edge with minimal fuss. A microbevel takes it to screaming sharp in just a few passes and it seems to be more forgiving to my technique than steels like s110v and s90v. I haven't polished the edge yet but given how sharp this steel gets off a 1200 dmt I am confident that it can be taken to hht sharpness with another 60 seconds of refinement. I am able to get a bit higher level of initial sharpness out of m4 than I am from s90v/s110v, and a hap40 easily goes to the next level beyond that. I'd put it more in line with Hitachi's super blue in ability to take high level sharpness.

As far as rope cutting, I have only done one test and it isn't much like how jim does his tests so I'm not sure if anyone will find this useful. Rather than trying to test to a determined level of sharpness (or dullness) I make a large number of cuts with two knives and measure sharpness after the cutting. In this example, I compared the hap40 Delica to a Manix 2 in s110v. Both were finished on a 1200 grit dmt and both would grab beard hair on contact. Well, the s110v would grab and the hap40 would bite into it like a pitbull. I tried everything to get the s110v to that exact level and just couldn't quiiiiite get it there so went ahead and ran the test. What was immediately apparent was that geometry was going to make the test unfair. The Manix is much thicker stock and thicker behind the edge than the thinly ground sprint run Delica (thinner even than the standard Delica I believe). There was a notable difference in force and pressure required from the first cut that was obviously due to blade geometry.

I used 5/8" hemp and would make a 4 slice motion...forward/back/forward/back. I could easily cut the rope with one motion but I'm trying to create wear as quickly as possible so i do the sawing motion. After 80 cuts (which is 320 back and forth motions) I tested the two steels. The hap40 edge had significantly more bite. Both would still shave but the s110v required more pressure...almost scrape shaving. Both would still cleanly slice magazine paper but the hap40 made a significantly cleaner cut. The s110v wanted to snag just a tiny bit in a couple of places.

FWIW, I have tested s30v in the same way and both of these steels outperformed it. I have also done the same testing with an m4 custom (Gayle Bradley Flipper) that is ground to .010-.012 bte. M4 at that grind was comparable to the more thick s110v blade but under performed the hap40 Delica, which though thinly ground is still thicker than the m4 custom.

My thoughts on this steel so far are very favorable. I like high edge retention and wear resistance but not at the cost of ease of sharpening and initial sharpness level. That is why my preferences sometimes lean towards the slightly less wear resistant steels. I believe this is the best steel I have used as far as giving great edge retention while remaining very easy to bring to high level sharpness. One of my favorites for this combination of qualities has long been m4 but from what I have seen so far, hap40 outperforms it in both areas. It is capable of achieving higher initial sharpness (given my ability and protocol) and so far is showing better edge retention.
 
Really well said. All I can offer is that it has a certain strange attraction that I've never felt with any Delica I've held.
 
I wrote this over there as well...

Nice elaborate break down, Lance. I usually don't go as far as head to head comparisons between steels, other than just comparing daily use between knives (very unscientific). But I do enjoy seeing what others come up with.
I can relate to much of what you mention, and agree.

I don't really mind if I have to get on the Sharpmaker for touchups. It gives me a chance to look over my knife and can be enjoyable. (Sometimes I feel like some people begging for S110V in everything are just hoping to avoid ever using a sharpening device.)



Has anyone else noticed chipping?
I have not.
No chipping experienced on either of my HAP40 knives.
Just thought I would ask.
Was a bit baffled to see a mention of chipping above...


So far all-around this is a very enjoyable steel for a knife user. Great match for this Seki Sprint Run!
I really dig patina, but slow and easy and not overreactive is great for an edc.





Oh, and I will add the fact that I have noticed these HAP40 knives may be healthier for your diet!

I find myself buying and eating larger quantities of fruits and vegetables for snacks than normal, just so I can enjoy slicing and peeling them! :D :p


Now, when will it come forth in a Caly!?!
 
40 degree microbevel. A few quick passes on the sharpmaker with the regular fine rods. I might be able to get this steel sharper than super blue.

 
Surfingringo said:
40 degree microbevel. A few quick passes on the sharpmaker with the regular fine rods. I might be able to get this steel sharper than super blue.

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Very nice, excellent show of skill.

I am finding very good performance with my HAP40 Delica too. I cut a lot of heavy plastic sheeting and various other construction materials, ran it into some dried grout on a tile floor with minimal damage to the edge, just a little flat. I have also hit a few nails cutting along boards, again only producing a flat spot in the edge. No chipping or concern of it from what I have experienced so far.

I sharpen with waterstones to a 2k finish, shaving sharp but aggressive and has worked well so far. I will probably try a finer finish after seeing your photo though, looks like it gets pretty sharp ;)
 
Jason B. said:
Very nice, excellent show of skill.

I am finding very good performance with my HAP40 Delica too. I cut a lot of heavy plastic sheeting and various other construction materials, ran it into some dried grout on a tile floor with minimal damage to the edge, just a little flat. I have also hit a few nails cutting along boards, again only producing a flat spot in the edge. No chipping or concern of it from what I have experienced so far.

I sharpen with waterstones to a 2k finish, shaving sharp but aggressive and has worked well so far. I will probably try a finer finish after seeing your photo though, looks like it gets pretty sharp ;)
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Please Jason - get yourself a Stanley Fat Max or something - anything but your new Delica :eek: :D
 
Jason B. said:
Very nice, excellent show of skill.

I am finding very good performance with my HAP40 Delica too. I cut a lot of heavy plastic sheeting and various other construction materials, ran it into some dried grout on a tile floor with minimal damage to the edge, just a little flat. I have also hit a few nails cutting along boards, again only producing a flat spot in the edge. No chipping or concern of it from what I have experienced so far.

I sharpen with waterstones to a 2k finish, shaving sharp but aggressive and has worked well so far. I will probably try a finer finish after seeing your photo though, looks like it gets pretty sharp ;)
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Thanks man, you were actually one of the first people on this forum to offer me some sharpening advice several years ago. As far as edge finishes, I am going straight back to a 1200 grit dmt finish as that is way more functional for my daily use and is still crazy sharp on this steel. I had to take it up at least once though just to confirm what I already knew from how it sharpened at lower grit.
 
Welcome to the wonderful tiny world of high speed steels, of which there are now 3, in production knives (1 discontinued, 2 presently available).
 
Lances pic is better but I was having a hard time not cutting through the hair.

This is a freehand bevel around 25 degrees finished on the UF stones. I had a bur after reprofiling so I cut it off on the edge of a spyderco medium stone and then put a 30 degree microbevel on it with the sharpmaker using the medium and fine rods only.

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