Thanks for all the threads that basically claim my great old knives are now obsolete useless trash !

[Random Dan]

Will S30V ever be an "outdated" steel to you?

When I got into knives back in the late 90's 440C and 154CM were the king of steels for folders. VG10 and D2 were advanced steels (that I still love) and ironically 1095 wasn't nearly as common as it is now. S30V would be released in 2001 and was instantly the king of stainless for folders...

www.bladeforums.com

Just the concept of a tool being "outdated" because of its steel composition would have been weird when I was growing up .

With few exceptions , you got whatever steel they used . They never said specifically and almost no-one cared . You just used it till it stopped working for you .

I feel that the peer pressure is real . Bleeding edge or nothing . And not just steel type either . Lock type , handle materials , pivot , blade shape etc .

Camping out to get the jump on the newest model cellphone is silly enough , IMO .

When it comes to knives ...ridiculous .

Looks to me like everyone replying that thread agreed that S30V was not outdated. I think you're preaching to the choir here.

 

[DocJD]

Looks to me like everyone replying that thread agreed that S30V was not outdated. I think you're preaching to the choir here.

Entirely missed my point .

The very possibility that S30V , which is still currently a mainstream premium steel for Spyderco , is feared to become soon obsolete/"outdated" is the issue .

WTF should this even be remotely a concern on any decent quality knife , let along moderately expensive Spyderco models ?

Do you not see a problem here ?

You can't buy a ~$200 Spyderco without worrying that it is already outdated or on the verge ?

 

[DocJD]

Merchandising /advertising hype is all about creating a perceived need for a product , when no real actual need exists .

Ad campaigns are designed to brainwash you into believing that you need to buy their crap products because otherwise you'll be ugly , stinky , sick , unstylish , not cool or sexy and forever alone .

And that your once perfectly good knives have become unacceptable somehow and need replacement .

Your brain evolved to discern truth from deception ...so use it !

 

[5DoorEstate]

There are swaths of offerings here for slipjoints and fixed blades, yet periodically we get the “by God the Buck 110 my Pappy gave me does just fine, Mr. Magnacut fancy pants” posts. I never see the ones prompting the outbursts. Progress is ok. So is ignoring it.

 

[Random Dan]

Entirely missed my point .

The very possibility that S30V , which is still currently a mainstream premium steel for Spyderco , is feared to become soon obsolete/"outdated" is the issue .

WTF should this even be remotely a concern on any decent quality knife , let along moderately expensive Spyderco models ?

Do you not see a problem here ?

You can't buy a ~$200 Spyderco without worrying that it is already outdated or on the verge ?

I know what your point is, but I guess just don't see what you're seeing. A single user asked (did not state) if S30V was outdated, and from reading the post it was clear he was talking about whether S30V should still be used on current production knives, not whether there is anything wrong with existing S30V knives. Furthermore, I didn't see anyone responding to the thread saying S30V was bad, much less "obsolete useless trash".

Personally, I would not worry at all about a $200 Spyderco ever being outdated. Why worry about what other people think anyway?

 

[Hashishiin]

Yes, this here above. Really, there are a few folks who'll say this or that for the sake of questioning, and after this long of people knowing, caring and having a say in their steel, as opposed to before, the question becomes natural. Of course, the answer is "Not really, no, it cut great before, why wouldn't it now?" just like most of us feel 440C is not outdated.

The real question, is ATS-34 outdated? We still have 154CM in abundance, lots of 440C, 420HC, N690, VG-10, AUS-series, XHP... just about no ATS-34, I think Paragon did a folder, and I just found out Microtech, still uses it, too. Why is this? I have heard from some folks into knives years ago, and hear reports of chippiness and weak edge compared to normal stainless steels, but never used it myself, while I do have an ATS-55 Civilian, that one being just for Spyderco, I think. ATS-34 opinions/experience/comparisons?

I like the steel choices, and the classic steels. If it's a good knife, a better one doesn't negate it.

 

[DocJD]

Why worry about what other people think anyway?

Your brain evolved to discern truth from deception ...so use it !

Yeah , kinda my whole point here is to encourage being self guided . To not be unduly influenced by hype or group think .

Not a big problem for me normally , although I do remember buying and wearing a hideous pair of purple velour super wide bell bottoms , way back .

 

[The Grendels]

When I got my first knife decades ago I was so stoked that the blade was Surgical steel. I figured if surgeons used it, it must be the best. Yeah, I got it at a gas station because I worked there as a kid, pumping gas and wiping windshields. Those were the days.

You'd swear that a doctor of medicine would have better taste in steel, but they're probably better to ask their opinions on luxury watches. Surgical steel is sort of like military grade that way. A friend of mine knew a doctor who used obsidian blades for surgery though.

Alexander the Great conquered the world with weapons that would be considered crap today.

It’s not the wand…it’s the magician

Having Aristotle as your personal tutor gave him a leg up on the other kids at school, but his grasp of logistics, strategy, and tactics was off the scale. I've seen the algebra used to calculate the number of ponies required to move stores and most people today would look at it slack jawed.

As for the age/expense of the knife, it really depends on the brand and knife in particular. I would take my older Schrade Old Timer Gunstock Trapper 194 OT over any of Scrade's new stuff. Anyone with an older Gerber knife probably feels the same; although there are rumblings of them trying to make a few new models at Gerber that aren't like all the other Gerbers. I have zero problems with some of my knives having less swanky steels (like Aus8), which are on some of my knives that get the most use (Ontario Rat 1 and Cold Steel Tuff Lite).

 

[DangerZone98]

TL;DR: I do not think newer steels are super duper advanced or cost-efficient to consider stuff like 1095 or 5160 “obsolete.”

Just my two cents. To me, outdated or obsolete would entail that said product is no longer practical to use because newer offerings are vastly more efficient or convenient when it comes to performing the same task. Take flintlock rifles for hunting. A semi-automatic or even a bolt-action rifle would serve the hunter far better and provide a greater margin of error. Flintlock rifles are also relatively more difficult to get ahold of. Basically, there is a large enough gap in performance to consider the flintlock rifle “obsolete.” A modern bolt-action offers far better rate of fire, reload time, range, etc.

I do not think this is the case for older steels like 1095, S30V, 5160, you name it. Rather, newer steels simply offer better results in measurable parameters such as edge retention or corrosion resistance. The new kids on the block do not invalidate what you can do with the older steels. Personally, I’m not too crazy about one of my knives making 250 rope cuts before going dull and another one making “only” 90 rope cuts. Your old blades will still cut, and unless you’re abusing your blade, it probably won’t go dull after the first cut. Old proven steels are here to stay.

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

9 years later, my GB1 is still going strong, as are all my Spydercos from 2013-14.

Same here. GB1 - unbelievable model, absolutely favorite for some work.
I don't care who said what, most of the new models are mostly pretty ladies, not much suitable for work.
Nothing wrong with this, I do have such folders, because I enjoy pretty lines and craftsmanship,
still, I tend to prefer more practical models...

 

[Olumin]

Eventually they'll come up with some shape shifting nano-tech metal that will never get dull & will never break. Only then will I consider my old knives obsolete.

 

[K.O.D.]

Same here. GB1 - unbelievable model, absolutely favorite for some work.
I don't care who said what, most of the new models are mostly pretty ladies, not much suitable for work.
Nothing wrong with this, I do have such folders, because I enjoy pretty lines and craftsmanship,
still, I tend to prefer more practical models...

The one common denominator in my collection is that they are comfortable in hand. They all get used, some more heavily than others. I like sculpted handles on the heavy users, like the GB1, Manix 2, PM2, ZT 0095BLK, and Demko ad20.5. I trust those not to slip even with custom scales, and the MXG clips don't dig into my hand like many standard clips do.

Most of the time, the various steels blend in with one another, with not enough discernable differences in edge retention for me to notice. Part of that is the steels, part is the varied heat treatments. The real standouts have been CPM-M4, CTS-XHP, and S90V in production knives. The only M390 to really stand out is Cheburkov, as I would expect at that price point. Biryukov's S125V trumps them all though in edge retention. The steel itself, his heat treatment, the edge geometry, have made it next level. At some point I wanna try his #7 in S390 laminate, as it will add significant toughness to the equation.

While dads Buck 110, SAK may still work, they don't work as long. I can tell you growing up on a farm in Iowa, my grandfather would have loved a knife in something like M4 or 3V.

 

[JWright214]

They all work and it’s ok to like what you like. I like all of them, if they work when I need them to. The different steels are cool and it’s fun to read about them, and try them first hand.

I don’t find any of them obsolete. In fact, 98% of the time, I have a “soft” 1095 Izula in my pocket. A lot of these newer steels are not new, they are just new in their use as a knife steel.

Just like all other tools, match your needs to the best tools. If you need high amounts of a particular quality, buy a steel that matches that. That’s the reason we have different steels with different qualities. If you don’t then buy what you like. If you like to be prepared for everything, then buy the best balanced quality steel, or have two different knives on the opposite sides of the spectrum. That’s why I daily carry 1095, O1, A2, 420hc in a fixed blade, but pair it with a folder that has a more modern steel.

I stick to the basics and “older” steels, but will branch out on occasion for a newer steel of interest. The key is to buy it because YOU actually want to, not because someone tells you that you “need it”.

 

[BillZee]

This is a knife collecting forum........
Buy & collect what ever knives you like or want.......
I will say "good for you" and enjoy!

 

[dialton]

Well, I must say the the old steels worked fine. A man who can be happy with a few knives instead of being obsessed with the next great purchase may be a lucky guy. Having said that, we are on bladeforums, the home of the collector, obsessed, hard user, enthusiast and everything in between. I for one much prefer the somewhat newer steels for their edge retention in combination with ease of sharpening. However, once I got to the ATS34 range, I really can’t see that much improvement from there forward but possibly I don’t use them hard enough to recognize it. I also really enjoy the pocket clips and thumb stud opening as opposed to deep pocket digging. Using my thumbnail to open a knife is not as user friendly IMHO so I see those as forward progress over a standard pocket knife.
Fact is, I cut lots of stuff with those old knives, didn’t know any different and was glad to have em.
Carry and use the old stuff (they’re still really cool) or follow the trends. I’m really really glad I’m not sitting somewhere trying to keep one eye out for danger while trying to knap out a cutting tool.
Takes all kinds and lots will have a different opinion. Ain’t it great

 

[Alberta Ed]

You need more knives.

 

[DMG]

Your knives are garbage and you should be ashamed to use them, Doc.




Pm me for my address. I will dispose of them for you.

 

[dialton]

3 classic examples. Are the old ones obsolete merely because there are now more and newer versions that are no longer the “in” thing?
Does that negate the usefulness and enjoyment of the older versions?
I say no but I do prefer the newer versions of some things and no longer use the older ones. That decision is not driven by what others think but what I choose to do. If someone else wants to use the classics, cool!
I hate the new cars that want to correct my crummy driving but others can’t live without the technology, Bluetooth, internet connection on and on. Good for them
Be a leader, not a follower. I need to refer back that when I see a new offering or a post of something that I “need”
We live in the land of plenty! Thank you to our veterans and all behind the scenes who make that possible

 

[dialton]

One more thought and I will move on and leave it alone. The coolest thing about the older stuff is when I see someone who has not followed the trend, possibly carrying grandpa’s, their own or dads knife that shows wear, has patina, has stories that go with it and still performs it’s designed task in fine fashion. Bye

 

[Sagandavis]

I haven’t seen any threads calling old steel trash… I see more threads like this trying to create that narrative. It surprises me that people in the knife world don’t celebrate that steel technology is increasing and now designed specifically for knife use.