Spyderco VG10 and S30V

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rc3mil

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Been looking at getting a Spyderco folder for EDC but im having a tough time deciding on the steels. Blade will be used for general EDC cutting tasks, rope, cardboard, twine. Which steel would be the better choice and which is easier to sharpen up? Which holds an edge longer and which is tougher?
 
Either one is fine. I wouldn't worry about it (and you probably couldn't tell the difference in normal usage).
 
VG10 is a bit less expensive and easier to sharpen. S30V is pricier and is tougher to sharpen. I like, use, and own knives in both steels.
 
RevDevil said:
VG10 is a bit less expensive and easier to sharpen. S30V is pricier and is tougher to sharpen. I like, use, and own knives in both steels.
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soo..

1.) VG10 easier to sharpen
2.) VG10 cheaper

So S30V must keep an edge longer? Or why is it more expensive than VG10?
 
I can get most knives pretty freakin sharp but I do not have good luck with S30V. With enough patience I can get it to tree top hairs but it doesn't like to get sharp for me easily. VG10 is a lot easier to sharpen but doesn't hold it for a real long time. I really like M4 and ZDP with M4 being easier to sharpen and it gets really sharp, easily. I don't know how much you are wanting to spend but I suggest the Gayle Bradley for M4 or the Stretch or Caly 3 for ZDP.

What kind of sharpening equipment do you have?
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
I can get most knives pretty freakin sharp but I do not have good luck with S30V. With enough patience I can get it to tree top hairs but it doesn't like to get sharp for me easily. VG10 is a lot easier to sharpen but doesn't hold it for a real long time. I really like M4 and ZDP with M4 being easier to sharpen and it gets really sharp, easily. I don't know how much you are wanting to spend but I suggest the Gayle Bradley for M4 or the Stretch or Caly 3 for ZDP.

What kind of sharpening equipment do you have?
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Well im awaiting my Edge Pro Apex which should get here on Friday. Weird cause the UPS tracking website thing hast been updated for 3 days. Im starting to worry a bit actually. :(

About $150 price range

PORTLAND, OR, US 05/01/2010 3:10 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN hmmmm
 
I've never had a knife in VG 10 with a bad heat treat. I've never had a knife in S30V hold an edge worth a d@mn. I consider VG 10 to be far superior. I won't even consider another knife if it's only made in S30V.

YMMV.
 
sodak said:
I've never had a knife in VG 10 with a bad heat treat. I've never had a knife in S30V hold an edge worth a d@mn. I consider VG 10 to be far superior. I won't even consider another knife if it's only made in S30V.

YMMV.
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Pitty they dont make the Military or Para in VG10.
 
The S30V is more expensive than VG-10 for two reasons. It is made using the powdered metallurgy process which is more expensive and time consuming. It contains more additives which also increases the final cost. The thing I like about S30V is that it contains 3% Vanadium carbide which is one of the hardest carbides soluble in steel, Rockwelling at 82 on the C scale. This adds considerably to the wear resistance of S30V. S60V and S90V have 6% and 9% Vanadium respectively, and I like those even more. I will agree that the 30,60,&90 steels are harder to sharpen, but you get benefits on the back side. They are harder to dull. Wear resistance in is wear resistance out (no free lunch).
 
Both are great! The S30V is a little better if you have the right sharpening equipment like dmt stones or something.
 
rc3mil said:
Pitty they dont make the Military or Para in VG10.
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I for one am glad they don't. I prefer S30V.

tiguy7 said:
The S30V is more expensive than VG-10 for two reasons. It is made using the powdered metallurgy process which is more expensive and time consuming. It contains more additives which also increases the final cost. The thing I like about S30V is that it contains 3% Vanadium carbide which is one of the hardest carbides soluble in steel, Rockwelling at 82 on the C scale. This adds considerably to the wear resistance of S30V. S60V and S90V have 6% and 9% Vanadium respectively, and I like those even more. I will agree that the 30,60,&90 steels are harder to sharpen, but you get benefits on the back side. They are harder to dull. Wear resistance in is wear resistance out (no free lunch).
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S30V actually has 4% Vanadium.
 
I prefer Spyderco's CPM S30V over VG10. I don't find it that hard to sharpen and it does hold an edge considerably longer than VG10. That is not to say VG10 is bad - it's a great steel as well. If you are looking on a budget and would like to gain some experience sharpening, then VG10 is your best bet. It's a win-win.

My recommendation, save your money and get a knife with VG10. You'll find that the steel performs very well and will enjoy the knife. ;)
 
I used to have a Spyderco with VG-10, and I like the current S30V a lot better. It is not a lot harder to sharpen, and it holds an edge longer.
 
i love vg10, it sharpens up super fast no problem (even with ceramic, with diamond it takes no time at all) s30v, will be a harder to sharpen, unless you have a diamond system then it wont really matter. s30v will hold an edge longer. both are pretty corrosion resistant so dont worry about that. vg10 is one of my favorite steels though.
 
Well,imo,VG10 is fine if it will be used in a light work. but if you use it as a PSK,S30V is stronger.
 
i've got both too... it's pretty much a coin toss.
i guess the other question is, what kind of sharpening tools do you own/are willing to buy?
s30v - kinda needs DMT or the like.
vg10 - ceramic stones (i.e. spyderco sharpmaker if you can't/don't want to freehand)

of course, if you've got a good strop, you could just "keep" it sharp by swiping either steel a few times a week (as long as the blade hasn't become damaged).

hell, strop it out of the box anyway, they don't mirror their blades at the factory.

sodak said:
I've never had a knife in VG 10 with a bad heat treat. I've never had a knife in S30V hold an edge worth a d@mn. I consider VG 10 to be far superior. I won't even consider another knife if it's only made in S30V.

YMMV.
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sorry to hear that, have you ever reprofiled s30V? drop the angle a few degrees on diamond and stone it to 8000, then strop; you'll become acutely aware of why it's a "super-steel"
 
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I have never gotten a knife in S30V, but have lots of them in VG10.
VG10 is a great steel. It takes a fine edge and holds it for a long time.
I have a Spyerderco kitchen knife in VG10 that I have used frequently for more than 1 1/2 years. I finally used a strop in it a couple of weeks ago. It is far better than any of my 440C kitchen knives. The only knife in the kitchen that has gone longer without sharpening is a Pixie in M2, an old Gerber.
 
S30V is one of my favorites. I prefer it over any other steel. VG-10 is no slouch but S30V is by far my favorite. Now my only wish is that Emerson used S30V, but thats completely off topic.
 
M0NK said:
sorry to hear that, have you ever reprofiled s30V? drop the angle a few degrees on diamond and stone it to 8000, then strop; you'll become acutely aware of why it's a "super-steel"
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Yeah, unfortunately. I even took my most expensive S30V knife, had it thinned out nicely by Tom Krein, then had it professionally re-hardened from 57 to 60.5 HRC. Both of those helped, but it still wouldn't even come close to VG10, not to mention D2 in edge holding.

I've pretty much given up on this steel, it looks good on paper, and lots of forumites really like it, I detest it. Most of my S30V knives didn't hold an edge as long as AUS 8A. I am mystified as to why this is, perhaps bad luck, I don't know. I have sent the offending ones to other forumites, and they confirmed my bad results. I've never seen the micro chipping that others have reported, I just have seen lousy edge holding.

I've never had a lemon from Spyderco in VG10 (or ZDP 189, for that matter), so I'm very confident in recommending it. Others have had great luck with S30V. Maybe it just hates me....

YMMV.
 
Sodak is a steel junky and sharpening nut. I'm actually surprised to hear his opinion of S30V.

The main reason I'm not a huge fan is because while I can get it shaving sharp, I can't get it stupid scary sharp which I like to do these days. I can get other steels with higher carbide content sharper. I would rather have a steel with higher wear resistance that will hold an edge longer and that I can get sharper easier. S90V, ZDP189, and M4 are all easier to sharpen and get sharper in my experience. Re-profiling may be harder but that is different than just a normal sharpening job.
 
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