Spyderco S30V and BM S30V

mathman

mathman

Joined
Jul 1, 2005
Messages
186
Does anyone know if one manufacturer or the other has the better heat treat in this great steel?

I know there have been some concerns in the past about S30V...I just didn't know if it was primarily BM.
 
I own (in S30V):
Lil'T
Manix
Yojimbo

and have had no complains with the steel and have never experienced any excessive chipping. I even ran (accidentally) the tip of the Yo with heavy force into a reconstituted stone bench (lab table, more with the edge at the tip than straight down) which did surprisingly LITTLE damage to the blade (a small amount of chipping+blunting) that was easily fixed.

Can't really tell you much about BM's S30V, but I would be surprised if it is much different. Any company can have a bad day or receive a bad batch, but companies that you can trust in general (like Spyderco or BM) are likely to take care of problems, if such exsist, rather quickly. However it is possible that one company runs their steel a bit harder or softer. They will have their reasons for it and better or worse are ill suited to describe the differences. The steel will have different properties (generalizing it a softer steel would be tougher while a harder steel would be less prone to rolling an edge) but which is better or worse is largely a matter of personal preference or depended on the properties required for a given task.

The only reason I speak up is that even though every body is certainly entitled to their opinion, I wonder if not FoM's issues are rather with the Spyderco forum than with the Spyderco knifes, as I clearly recall him being all praise for Spyderco knifes (in particular those mentioned in his post) before he had a row on the Spyderco forum with some members (not me, btw.).
 
My para has the same messed up grooves and the tiniest bit of vertical play, and virtually all paras have off centered blades (closed).

And my spyderfly shipped with a bent latch, which later broke altogether....haven't gotten around to sending it back to have a new one put on yet. Maybe this summer.

Nonetheless, Spyderco has 90% of the designs I want to own, and I think I just have uniquely bad luck (well, the para's QC issues seem to be constant). The next five or so that passed through my hands were near flawless.

All my benchmades are flawless in every way....I guess I've bought....four of them. Handled probably every model they have had up for sale the last couple years.

I only have one S30V knife (another one is in the mail), my para, and the steel is superb. No complaints.
 
Well, back to the S30V question.

I only own a Dodo and Skirmish in this steel.

The Dodo's blade doesn't form a burr as readily. The Skirmish forms, and forms and .... a burr.

What's it prove? Got me? Just experience with two vastly different grinds of the same steel.

Had a small chip (only felt it with my thumbnail) in the Skirmish and the Dodo a while ago when they were new. Never had another, though.

Both sharpen adequately using 701MF stones. Both hold the edge about the same (never really did a side by side test due to the different grinds).
 
All I will say to that, is that it takes quite a lot to get banned on the Spyderco forum (as a matter of fact, you are the only person of which I know, who did get banned for something other than spamming), and certainly more than just having an argument with a forum member (who is not "friends with Sal", btw. although I am sure that they have mutual respect for each other).
 
Both Spyderco and Benchmade do very well for performing large-batch heat-treatments on their on S30V-bladed knives. My S30V-bladed 921 did great in its stock profile, as did many of my S30V-bladed Spydies.

I've only heard of one batch of Benchmade Skirmish knives having a questionable heat-treatment, but nothing about the rest of the Skirmishes or their other S30V-bladed knives.
 
Fisher of Men said:
HoB,

I was permanently banned from the Spyderco forums for arguing with a member who's friends with Sal (The Deacon). Sal has never returned any of my emails before or after I was banned.

My issues with Spyderco knives have nothing to do with being banned. They are simply because I have had the following things happen to have most of the folks on the Spyderco forum say that these problems are "acceptable" or "normal".

-Yojimbo that would not stay properly closed because of crappy ball detent.
-Many knives with the Spyderhole so sharp that it cut your thumb.
-3 Calypso Jr's with off-center blades and 2 of them with horizontal blade play
-Delica with blade play (vertical)
-Manix that rusted just from sitting.
-Thumbramp on a Paramilitary (a friends knife) that had messed up groves that I had to straighten out with a dremel.
-Black Salsa that I sent in because it wouldn't stay shut so they sent me a new green Salsa that also wouldn't stay shut. This green salsa was the last straw and that's when I gave up on Spyderco all together.

1 Problem with a used Benchmade with the liner lock. A Benchmade 905. Sent it to them and they fixed it and sent it back looking like brand new.

That is why I don't like Spyderco. Take it or leave it.

I never have any fit and finish problems with Benchmade and they cut just as well when properly sharpened.
Click to expand...

Permanently banned on the Spyderco forum? Amazing!
 
Spyderco has always done right by me, my Military s30v is scary sharp, no play. Sal will make things right if you let him know of a problem in my experience. No experience with BM s30v.
 
Maybe we find some ppl. who have had a problem with their S30V blade made by the one or the other.

Could we really conclude the level of quality of one or the other?

Guess not.

If there are concerns about S30V it surely is more related to the steel grade itself than the manufacturer.

No investigation could protect someone from a bad blade. I have had two bad blades from BM and some other things but still love them.
 
While testing a sea water fire main I got some salt water spray on my Paramilitary. When I got it out of my pocket a few hours later it had rust spots on the blade.

Doug Ritter, who designed the S30V blade of the Benchmade RSK Mk I says this:
".... the stonewashed (tumbled) finish we use on the RSK MkI S30V blade seals the surface to make it even more rust resistant, to the point that many yachtsmen are carrying the RSK MkI onboard."

There is no way that I would have carried that Paramilitary out at sea.


(I use my Spyderco Pacific Salt for that ;) )
 
David,

Fisher of Men said:
Yeah.....Spyderco bans me and keeps Vinny after banning him like 3 times.

LOL.........great job :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I know the whole story. All of it. You, Vinny, and the entire ordeal.

As do you.

The multiple usernames from the same IP address, everything. Your being banned wasn't just about the inappropriate posts by any stretch; it was as much about honesty.

I have no problem with your taking Spyderco to task over an issue, but it is only fair to tell the whole story. Would you like to do so or shall I?

Let it be, David, for your sake as well as everyone else's. I know that you are angry and that this IS very much about your being banned, but no good can come of a public fight. At one time you trusted me and respected my opinion; I am asking you to do that now.


All the best,

Hannibal
 
Dr. Hannibal Lecter said:
..... At one time you trusted me and respected my opinion; I am asking you to do that now.....
Click to expand...

I still and always will respect your opinion and trust you.

I'll let it be.

Thanks,
FoM
 
I think both s30v blades are good.

However, as our resident guru wizard knife expert, Mr. Joe Talmadge, says you should sharpen the blade for performance. This means that 40 degrees or 30 degrees etc. may not be the best total edge angle for a high performance knife.

A thin bladed s30v will probably cut better/easier than a heavier thicker s30v blade. However if you reprofile the thick blade you will improve its cutting ability.



http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=368828

http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?showtopic=26036
 
I've got two BM S30V blades, the RSK and a 921. The 921 1 chipped a tiny bit towards the tip. Not significant to me as I get those sorts of chips in ALL my other blades in about the same place. I can't blame that on steel but on my usage.

The RSK has never chipped though. It also has one of my better convex edges.

No spydies to compare. I'd guess I'd get a tiny chip near the tip on a spydie too.

Phil
 
To the rusty para owner...

I own a para and it doesn't rust easy at all. Interestingly, your para is FAR more rust prone than my two D2 knives.
 
Artfully Martial said:
To the rusty para owner...
Click to expand...

That's me. I was surprised..but had nothing to compare it to as it was my first S30V knife.

It was one of the first Para's produced - I don't know if that had something to do with it.
I only owned it very briefly (a couple of days) so I never got to find out if it was a freak occurence.
 
I've had a chipping problem with my UKPK and minor rust, the rust however was after it got left outside for a night in he woods and was easy to sort out. I don't know if the spyderco finish makes them more pron to rust but it's not unknown for their s30v knives to rust. I also think that it may have something to do with large sweaty men owning the knives in question
 
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