Techno steel change from CTS-XHP to CPM S30V?

Norcaldude

Norcaldude

Joined
Dec 19, 2014
Messages
1,983
Apparently the steel on the Techno has been changed but all the catalogs and websites still say CTS-XHP. This is per a post over on Reddit.

"I've just received an email reply from spyderco. They said that they've been doing a rolling change with the techno and all new models are cpm s30v"
 
This is completely unacceptable on Spyderco's part if it's true, especially the (alleged) fact that the brochure that the S30V Techno came in still listed it as CTS-XHP. Spyderco really needs to come forward and explain itself on this one.
 
Last edited:
I have no stake in this issue, but it is certainly interesting. I think most would consider xhp to s30v a step down, as would I. I am sure Mr. Glesser will chime in, and I'm looking forward to his comments.
 
No need for two threads on the same subject. Merged.
 
I thought S30V and XHP were fairly similar in performance (Depending on what you're cutting etc.), and even more so in price range. I don't remember the Chaparral 1 changing in price at all when they switched from S30V to XHP.
 
3rdGenRigger said:
I thought S30V and XHP were fairly similar in performance (Depending on what you're cutting etc.), and even more so in price range. I don't remember the Chaparral 1 changing in price at all when they switched from S30V to XHP.
Click to expand...
Ha I thought this too. The outrage...
 
uofaengr said:
Ha I thought this too. The outrage...
Click to expand...

It's not necessarily "an outrage" but it still merits a prompt response from Spyderco. Someone paid for a knife in CTS-XHP that was advertised as such, labeled as such everywhere, including Spyderco's website and the info that came with the knife, and it wasn't in CTS-XHP. After which the buyer contacted Spyderco and they didn't even apologize or acknowledge that any mistake was made.
 
awww, well that's a bit of a let down! One of my favorite things about the Techno was the CTS-XHP steel. I'm still sad that I lost mine on a beach in sub-tropical Mexico...I proudly used that CTS-XHP Techno as my only EDC for over a year and suddenly am not to interested in replacing it with an S30V Techno :(

Sal, may I ask you why the change?

Did you make this change because you're going to start doing Techno sprint runs?! One can only hope ;)
 
brancron said:
It's not necessarily "an outrage" but it still merits a prompt response from Spyderco. Someone paid for a knife in CTS-XHP that was advertised as such, labeled as such everywhere, including Spyderco's website and the info that came with the knife, and it wasn't in CTS-XHP. After which the buyer contacted Spyderco and they didn't even apologize or acknowledge that any mistake was made.
Click to expand...

It's false advertising, plain and simple.

What's next? You advertise S30V and use 8cr13mov or VG10?
 
brancron said:
It's not necessarily "an outrage" but it still merits a prompt response from Spyderco. Someone paid for a knife in CTS-XHP that was advertised as such, labeled as such everywhere, including Spyderco's website and the info that came with the knife, and it wasn't in CTS-XHP. After which the buyer contacted Spyderco and they didn't even apologize or acknowledge that any mistake was made.
Click to expand...

Yup. I have a slight preference for XHP over S30V, but I wouldn't pay more or less for one over the other. However, this is a transparency issue, which is something Spyderco usually does very well. Even if the steel choice was a straight upgrade I would be a little unhappy if I paid for a knife with X steel and it came with Y steel.

Given Spydercos reputation I'm more than willing to give them the benefit of the doubt (maybe an S30V Techno leaked out before they announced the change), but I would like to hear from them about why/how this happened.
 
Amazon has a no questions asked return policy. He should return it and get his money back, then contact a reputable online dealer and ask them specifically if they have any XHP Technos which I'm sure many still do. They'll be glad to sell him one. And that Reddit thread is funny with all the experts saying that S30V is a good steel, but XHP is exotic. These folks are probably a good reason why Spyderco doesn't post their HRC info as discussed in another thread.

I do think that it sucks that the new catalog and all that says that it's XHP and they had been planning a change to S30V who knows for how long. Maybe someone from HQ will chime in. Thanks to OP though letting us know about the change.
 
3rdGenRigger said:
I thought S30V and XHP were fairly similar in performance (Depending on what you're cutting etc.), and even more so in price range. I don't remember the Chaparral 1 changing in price at all when they switched from S30V to XHP.
Click to expand...

Moving the Chaparral 1 from S30V to XHP didn't require a price change. Why would moving in the other direction mean a buyer overpaid? Spyderco has been making rolling changes like this for as long as I can remember (and my memory goes back pretty far).

It's unfortunate that the knife was not listed as S30V on any materials, and maybe a few got out accidentally before they were able to update those materials; however, I don't see this as a downgrade or a con job. Stuff happens.


Spyderco has no control over how the seller advertised the product. I agree that their website needs to be updated to reflect the change, but I don't feel that an apology was owed. In the email exchange, the buyer does not express outrage over the steel in his knife or demand an explanation. He only expresses concern that his knife is counterfeit which the customer service rep allays with an explanation that the steel choice for the Techno is being changed.
 
I think it's a matter of you can't have it both ways. The knife companies (not just Spyderco) have used blade steels as marketing material for a while now. They have stressed how much better XXSUPERSTEELXX is than YYSUPERSTEELYY to get people to buy their knives. And people have responded to this marketing, it works well, people online have long discussions about which steel is better. They do tests, they make youtube videos about the different steels and the steel performance.

Spyderco (and other companies) have used these exotic steels to justify prices for their knives that not too many years ago would have been considered insane.

So, now that Spyderco (and other companies) have turned a bunch of knife enthusiasts into steel fetishists, they have to realize that the type of steel makes a difference. Especially when we are talking about a knife with an MSRP of $319.
 
Norcaldude said:
I think it's a matter of you can't have it both ways. The knife companies (not just Spyderco) have used blade steels as marketing material for a while now. They have stressed how much better XXSUPERSTEELXX is than YYSUPERSTEELYY to get people to buy their knives. And people have responded to this marketing, it works well, people online have long discussions about which steel is better. They do tests, they make youtube videos about the different steels and the steel performance.

Spyderco (and other companies) have used these exotic steels to justify prices for their knives that not too many years ago would have been considered insane.

So, now that Spyderco (and other companies) have turned a bunch of knife enthusiasts into steel fetishists, they have to realize that the type of steel makes a difference. Especially when we are talking about a knife with an MSRP of $319.
Click to expand...

I see your point to an extent, but I feel it only works if the steel change is a definite downgrade. While S30V isn't new and exotic, it's not a step down from XHP. In my uses, they both are great blade steels with a lot of value to offer the user, but I'd be very hard pressed to say one is better than the other. One is just, obviously, newer and trendier than the other in the current knife market.
 
IMHO (and it might be not the most popularnopinion here on the forum) I see NO DIFFERENCE between XHP (Techno) and S30V (Chubby) performance in terms of edge retention and cutting performace/aggression. Design & usability is of course quite different, but steel? Reaaly, it's exactly the same. And personally I prefer S30V as I've had nothing but great expirience with S30V, especially heat treated by Spyderco. So for me it's fine actually. Might have been communicated better, maybe. But it doesn't affect the performance of Techno as a knife / tool.
 
Actually... I'll be getting Techno in s30v just to try and compare both steels in the same blade shape & geometry :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top