VG-10 vs ZDP-189

high desert

high desert

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May 20, 2009
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Well, I guess I am going to order a stretch. I've owned many spydercos over the years and have always been happy with the performance of the blades made of VG-10. Is the ZDP-189 blade worth the added cost?
 
high desert said:
Well, I guess I am going to order a stretch. I've owned many spydercos over the years and have always been happy with the performance of the blades made of VG-10. Is the ZDP-189 blade worth the added cost?
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With a short answer>> YES!! And keep in mind you are hearing it from a guy who deeply respects VG-10 blade steel. With one of my very favorite fixed blades of all time and that being Spyderco's first Temperance model with VG-10. I have the PE & SE versions of that great blade and I hope to have both of them for years to come.

But when it comes to ZDP-189 it's a comparison something to the effect that
VG-10 is like a really decked out Cadillac whereas the ZDP-189 is like a Rolls or a Bentley.

Now they are different animals in the steel kingdom and both are highly respectable but ZDP-189 is not hype it's really darn good steel. And it makes a folder rank all the way up to 13 on a 1 to 10 scale with VG-10 getting a 9.8
 
I agree, ZDP is awesome, and I personally LOVE the "Night Sky" Blue they chose for the ZDP FRN Stretch II. You can't go wrong with either one though.

Canis
 
Wow, I can't believe the irony. I just spent about 20 minutes sharpening up my ZDP-189 Delica and an additional 5 minutes sharpening my VG-10 Delica. I was going to post this question:

What do you guys cut with your knives that ZDP-189 holds an edge so much longer than VG-10? I just had quite a box cutting session, and ZDP honestly didn't hold up any much better than VG-10. I understand that cardboard is going to kill the edge of any steel, but I would expect ZDP to hold up better than it does...

As for sharpening: as I said, it takes a lot more to get ZDP sharp than it does to get VG-10 sharp. I have a hard enough time getting the belly area of knives sharp, and ZDP likes to remind me that I suck. VG-10 sharpens right up, on the other hand.

So really, I don't know what to say right now other than I'm not super impressed (again) with ZDP-189. This is the second chance I gave it (I previously owned a ZDP E4).
 
THG a lot of it depends on the type of sharpening job you do on the ZDP that will set it apart. I use the double bevel method I learned in Razor Edge's book of sharpening. and I really am careful to grind in adequate relief before I try to hone out my final edge. Now if you just sharpen ZDP at one set angle like let's say at the 30 degree angle on the sharpmaker you may not do much better that VG-10

Also ZDP really like's to have it's edge polished with something super hard like the Ultra fine stone of Spyderco's or in my case I use an ARkansas Blue-Black stone which really gives it a wicked edge.

Yeah it's got to have a very careful sharpening to realize the extra potential it has. But it's proved it to me on many of occasions.

The only negative I've ever found with ZDP-189 is that it's very susceptible to corrosion from food acids. I had one of my ZDP blades get ravaged by cutting up some tomatoes and not cleaning the blade. I paid dearly for that one and never to repeat that again :o
 
I recently got my Clay 3 CF with laminated ZDP189 and I am loving the "stupid" sharp edge it has. Easily the sharpest knife I have. I also agree that it's full potential is when it's cleanly sharpened and with a finished polish. To avoid timely sessions of sharpening a few [5 each side] swipes on Ultra Fine rods keep it glistening after a few days of consistent use.
 
Last time I made a leather sheath I used VG-10 instead of ZDP-189. When I use ZDP-189 the knife lasts through the entire project, VG-10 only went 3/4 of the way.
Also, I've been trying to dull my serrated ZDP E4 for the past few weeks. After 250 feet of cardboard it was still pretty sharp, and could just scrape off some arm hair.
At 400 feet it's starting to snag and push cut paper a little rough.
While the serrations probably boosted it's performance, I'm still very impressed.
 
THG said:
What do you guys cut with your knives that ZDP-189 holds an edge so much longer than VG-10? I just had quite a box cutting session, and ZDP honestly didn't hold up any much better than VG-10. I understand that cardboard is going to kill the edge of any steel, but I would expect ZDP to hold up better than it does...
Click to expand...

I have found that ZDP holds an edge about four times as long as VG-10 or S30V, cutting the same heavy cardboard and fiberglass strapping. That's been my experience. What else can I say? My mileage has varied from yours.

If anyone is interested, I find both VG-10 and S30V to hold an edge about five times as long as AUS6, cutting the same cardboard and fiberglass strapping. I really don't have much use for AUS6.

I haven't found an appreciable difference in cutting performance between VG-10 and S30V.
 
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