VG-10 Steel

O

Okieblade

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Jan 23, 2013
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Thought I would ask. Is it just me...or do you guys really like this steel??

I own a couple of dozen (well, actually 34 to be exact) folders. Some exotic steel, some with 8cr14mov.

There seem to be a couple of steels that I keep coming back to. VG-10 and 154-CM. Honarable mention given to AUS-8, (OK, I realize that this is a cheaper steel) as it seems to come screaming sharp from the box.

Anyone else have the same opinion about VG-10 blades? Spyderco seems to use it quite a bit as does SOG on their "real" folders.

Opinions, anyone??
 
I love VG-10. Easily my favorite steel. Sharpens up in no time, holds an edge more than long enough, and takes a screaming edge with little effort. Two similar steels I really like are AUS-10 and N690Co. Those steels are not used nearly as much as they should be.

Honestly, I am happy with boring old 440c. Great all around steel.
 
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Personally I'm a 154-cm lover! And I agree, AUS8 is good if you sharpen it right:)
 
I use a 154cm griptilian daily. Holds up very well in all aspects. As far as VG-10 goes I agree it gets very sharp. You can really feel the "stickiness" of the cutting edge on VG-10 too. It takes a very good edge and is really corrosive resistant. Really good EDC steel.
 
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Strangely after buying tons of knives I just got my first one in VG-10, the Spyderco Street Beat. I have been thoroughly impressed by VG-10 thus far.
 
The majority of my knives are in VG-10. Ease of sharpening, edge retention, and rust resistance are important to me in camping/EDC knives, which comprise the majority of my collection, so I've ended up with quite a few in VG-10.
 
I like S30V, S35VN and Elmax better. AUS-8A and VG-10 are good as well and seem to perform somewhat similarly in my use though I think AUS-8A come from the factory sharper and VG-10 retains an edge a little better.
 
VG-10 and 154-CM are two of my favourite steels. In my experience they both easily take a crazy sharp edge, hold it well, and are quite rust resistant.
 
Call me crazy, but of all the super steels, I find D2 to be my favorite.

Anyhow, I'd put VG10 and 154CM to be in the same toughness and edge retention category with 154 having a slight edge in both.

Love VG10, though, especially the Spyderco produced blades. Al Mar uses it too and its great...expensive, but great.
 
VG-10 is a fine steel and Ed Schempp likes it as well.

[video=youtube;ZNulyy1dn90]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNulyy1dn90[/video]

My experience with similar N690 has been very good. N690 is used by many South African makers and when it is ground thin and heat treated close to 60 HRC one gets a really fine knife IMO. However, it is not surrounded by so much hype as many of the newer steels.

From Bohler

BOHLER N690
Our best conventional knife steel. Great value in a corrosion resistant knife steel with excellent edge holding capabilities. Additions of chromium and vanadium enhance edge holding capability, while cobalt and carbon help to retain high hardness. Hardens and tempers to 57-59 HRC and 60-62 HRC with deep freeze. For maximum toughness, harden and temper to 57-59 HRC. For maximum wear resistance, harden and temper to 60-62 HRC.
 
I love VG-10. It stays sharp for a long time, isn't too difficult to sharpen, excellent rust resistance, and have a really nice shine to it.
 
As you can probably tell from other posters, VG-10 is an excellent user steel. Easy to touch up and easy to sharpen. Takes a redonkulously sharp edge, keeps it for a good amount of time, too (and like we've said, not a pain to sharpen). Very rust resistant, too. All of my particular examples of VG-10 have never rusted on me.
 
marthinus said:
VG-10 is a fine steel and Ed Schempp likes it as well.

[video=youtube;ZNulyy1dn90]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNulyy1dn90[/video]

My experience with similar N690 has been very good. N690 is used by many South African makers and when it is ground thin and heat treated close to 60 HRC one gets a really fine knife IMO. However, it is not surrounded by so much hype as many of the newer steels.

From Bohler

BOHLER N690
Our best conventional knife steel. Great value in a corrosion resistant knife steel with excellent edge holding capabilities. Additions of chromium and vanadium enhance edge holding capability, while cobalt and carbon help to retain high hardness. Hardens and tempers to 57-59 HRC and 60-62 HRC with deep freeze. For maximum toughness, harden and temper to 57-59 HRC. For maximum wear resistance, harden and temper to 60-62 HRC.
Click to expand...

My experience to n690 is limited to my benchmade monochrome but I would say its a favorite of mine.
 
Another fan of VG-10 here. Although there are many steels that exceed in a particular aspect or another (like toughness, edge retention, abrasion resistance aso.), VG-10 is very well balanced and this makes it excellent.
 
mcrow said:
I like S30V, S35VN and Elmax better. AUS-8A and VG-10 are good as well and seem to perform somewhat similarly in my use though I think AUS-8A come from the factory sharper and VG-10 retains an edge a little better.
Click to expand...

I can dig me some Elmax, but I bloody well dislike S30V. Takes so long to get an edge on, and loses the razor edge far too quickly. Elmax holds the razor edge a lot better, but it's pretty expensive. I just hate steels that prefer a toothy edge to a razor edge (I have heard Elmax does toothy, but it has been all razor on my Speedform 2).

What I want to know is why in the hell N690Co is not more widely used? For all-around edge performance, I have not seen a steel that is as well balanced other than VG-10, but N690Co seems to take a screaming edge easier without a noticeable difference in abrasion resistance. But comparing those two is like comparing a plain Camero and a plain Mustang, separate but basically equal (even though we all know the Camero wins).
 
dkb45 said:
I can dig me some Elmax, but I bloody well dislike S30V. Takes so long to get an edge on, and loses the razor edge far too quickly. Elmax holds the razor edge a lot better, but it's pretty expensive. I just hate steels that prefer a toothy edge to a razor edge (I have heard Elmax does toothy, but it has been all razor on my Speedform 2).

What I want to know is why in the hell N690Co is not more widely used? For all-around edge performance, I have not seen a steel that is as well balanced other than VG-10, but N690Co seems to take a screaming edge easier without a noticeable difference in abrasion resistance. But comparing those two is like comparing a plain Camero and a plain Mustang, separate but basically equal (even though we all know the Camero wins).
Click to expand...

The following is what I like to call: The other side of the coin, well, some of it.

Welcome to the "Anatomy of Hype"

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/426598-Frustrated/page2

"Kevin Cashen : The Anatomy of Hype
...
Cashen is a knifemaker of interesting character having earned his MS stamp but speaks out against the ABS testing procedures, has participated in cutting competitions but contends their application as as tools to evaluate blade performance. In "The Anatomy of Hype" Cashen speaks of the basics of the misinformation in the cutlery industry. His wit and acute perception takes hold of the following specific points of contention :

-The steel of the month club -Speaking of the magazines
-The Mysterious East -Shhh; it's a secret! -Eye of newt, and toe of frog;Double, double, toil and trouble; -The wild, wild, west. -Red Flags (The earmarks of hype) -Parlor tricks -Take me to your leader -I am Oz! The great and powerful!

The article is an exhaustive overview of the rampant hype in the current cutlery industry of which Cashen speaks from his own interactions and what he has witnessed. "

http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Cashen_Kevin_1407306193.aspx
 
Thumbs up on vg10 I have quite a few exotics but this steel as it comes from spyderco is awesome using steel, it easily takes a razor like hair popping edge maybe easier then any other ss I have used
 
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