Spyderco in HAP40

jeffsenpai

jeffsenpai

Gold Member
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Feb 24, 2010
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1,069
Hey all,

I have seen these Spydercos in HAP40 steel command pretty good prices on the secondary market here on the forums, and elsewhere. Is the HAP40 steel really that good, or is this a case of a sprint run being overvalued by a bit. I admit I like the burnt orange color too, but I know little about the blade steel. Any insight?
 
It's a sprint run, 1200 pieces never to made again in a good steel with everyones favorite frn knives

That's why the prices will go up.


The steel is great but it's not magic.

It has less wear resistance then ZDP189 but more then vg10

It sharpens very well and takes a great edge.

It will rust in high humidity.

If you love to sharpen and have an affinity for Japanese steel its totally worth it. Also if your a collector.

It really depends on how YOU determine what makes a great steel.
They all have trade offs and compromises. No exceptions
 
DeadboxHero said:
It's a sprint run, 1200 pieces never to made again in a good steel with everyones favorite frn knives

That's why the prices will go up.


The steel is great but it's not magic.

It has less wear resistance then ZDP189 but more then vg10

It sharpens very well and takes a great edge.

It will rust in high humidity.

If you love to sharpen and have an affinity for Japanese steel its totally worth it. Also if your a collector.

It really depends on how YOU determine what makes a great steel.
They all have trade offs and compromises. No exceptions
Click to expand...

This is true, but I'll throw my experience with HAP40 in and say it's certainly worth picking up for you get the chance. They are worth the cost.
 
It's basically m4 but with a lot of cobalt (so really a bit diff.than m4),I think Ankerson did some tests on it and it did good but not 10v good,anyhow I really like the burnt orange,and they get crazy sharp...i regret not getting the stretch version,but I guess thats life.
 
Mike Christy is a boss on the subject

[youtube]hyRwAuxj28g[/YouTube]

M4 still has more retention.
 
I personally feel that we have reached a point that there is diminishing returns in pocket knife steel. HAP40 is way too expensive when compared to ZDP-189 and CPM-M4 which still blow it out of the water.

Folks have to remember that Spyderco is still in business to make money along with making cool knives. ;)
 
David Lowry said:
I personally feel that we have reached a point that there is diminishing returns in pocket knife steel. HAP40 is way too expensive when compared to ZDP-189 and CPM-M4 which still blow it out of the water.

Folks have to remember that Spyderco is still in business to make money along with making cool knives. ;)
Click to expand...

True, like I said it depends on what the user places emphasis on.

HAP40 sharpens better then m4 and ZDP189 and can take a hair splitting edge with relative ease.

Hap40 is for users that want a great blend of ease of sharpening and wear resistance.

The cost has to due with it being a sprint run and it's not available to us makers.
 
DeadboxHero said:
True, like I said it depends on what the user places emphasis on.

HAP40 sharpens better then m4 and ZDP189 and can take a hair splitting edge with relative ease.

Hap40 is for users that want a great blend of ease of sharpening and wear resistance.

The cost has to due with it being a sprint run and it's not available to us makers.
Click to expand...

This, and for those of us who maintain our own knives and also have jobs, ease of maintenence is important.
 
I personally liked Hap40 over M4 and ZDP-189. It seemed to take a finer edge more like carbon steel does, and it held a great edge for me cutting lots of cardboard like Mike. Is it a necessary upgrade, no. But for the collecting/novelty aspect, I think it is worth it. I generally only buy knives with new steels just to test them out and experiment, not because I need it. Well maybe I need it in a sense :D.
 
David Lowry said:
I maintain my own knives as well as have a job. I have no want for HAP40 since I have ZDP and M4.
Click to expand...

That's fine.
I paid the premium because I love the Delica and I love steels that take insane edges with ease. And once the sprints are gone there gone.



The only thing your missing out on iss that Hap40 takes a faster hair splitting edge slightly easier then M4. With slightly less wear resistance then M4.

This knife isn't for everyone. It doesn't have the super working edge endurance of zdp189 or the corrison resistance. It's race care steel.
 
I have a HAP40 Stretch and one in Super Blue and I am very pleased with their performance. I had a ZDP/CF version, but as much as I like carbon fiber, I sold it due to chipping issues.

This thread needs a pic.

 
Pro: takes a great edge from a sharpmaker in a few minutes, takes on a nice patina, the orange they chose is a excellent balance of a colour you'd find in nature but is still noticeable.

Cons: Hard to find if you don't get on it right away.

My Delica has bumped a lot of in theory nicer blades out of my pocket. I wasn't a FRN fan before this but the blade totally eclipses my previous dislike.
 
The HAP40 sprints got me back into Spyderco's. I have two Delica's, two Endura's and one Stretch in HAP40, and will probably add another Stretch and a Dragonfly or two. Love the steel.
 
Here's the HAP40 thread in the syderco sub forum.

Based on my experience with other blades of similar composition, (high speed tool steels with 5% and higher cobalt), I feel a few points harder would definitely surpass ZDP189 and possibly M4 in edge retention. Edge strength and stability should also increase dramatically with a harder treat, without toughness and corrosion resistance significantly suffering, if at all.

If the above is correct, I'm guessing it's treated a little soft only for ease of sharpening.

But even as it is, it still exhibits qualities that put it near the top of the list of available production blade steels that I desire.
 
jpm2 said:
Here's the HAP40 thread in the syderco sub forum.

Based on my experience with other blades of similar composition, (high speed tool steels with 5% and higher cobalt), I feel a few points harder would definitely surpass ZDP189 and possibly M4 in edge retention. Edge strength and stability should also increase dramatically with a harder treat, without toughness and corrosion resistance significantly suffering, if at all.

If the above is correct, I'm guessing it's treated a little soft only for ease of sharpening.

But even as it is, it still exhibits qualities that put it near the top of the list of available production blade steels that I desire.
Click to expand...

It's already at 63-64 hrc
 
I've nearly pulled the trigger a number of times on the latest Hap40 Spydercos , but have hesitated at the last minute .
I just can't justify the extra cost when I already have ZDP 189 knives of the same models .
I'd be interested in knowing why Spyderco has ZDP as a standard offering in the Japanese models , but limits these other steel options to sprint runs ?
I would have thought that Super Blue and Hap40 would have been very successful additions to the standard lineup and been a real long term money maker for them , just like the ZDP line has been .

Ken
 
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