Hi Nozh2002. VG-10 is an ingot steel (not a powdered metal). It is made by Tekefu foundry in Japan. Spyderco has imported and used VG-10 in a short run to test mfg of the steel. processing is about like ATS-34 / 154cm.
Powdered metals are made all over the world. In the US, Crucible is probably the biggest with their CPM steels. Timken Latrobe produces a powdered metal called CV-20 (or 20CV). There are several German made powdered metals. In Japan, Hitachi's ZDP-189 and Cowry (I don't know who makes Cowry) are two I have used. The primary advantage of powdered metals is the ability to put large amounts of certain elements into the steel that would not normally be accepted by the steel. The formation of a powder that is then fused (but not melted) is the key to the very homogenous steels that result. The large amount of carbon and vanadium in the CPM steels make for inceased abrasion reisistance and cutting power not available in ingot steels.
Damasteel is a German made powdered metal that is more trying to look like damascus than put in exteme amounts of certain elements, but the process is the same.
In addition, the processing of these steels is a major part of the resulting performance, especially the heat treating process. A good steel not properly processed can be a poor performer. A "lesser" steel with exceptional processing can perform well.
The bending of tips is first atributed to prying, which is, IMO a disrepectful to treat a quality knife. If the tip comes to a point, it can be broken....period! There is not steel that will stop the tip from bending or breaking. Adding thickness would increase the steels ability to resist breaking or bending, at the sacrafice of the sharp point.
Hope this helps.
sal