Vg-10

E

emann

Joined
Apr 27, 2005
Messages
39
Alright well we've seen that a few people here have had a problem with S30V so I'd like to know how peoples experience with VG-10 has been? Is it better or worse then S30V? How would you rate it compared to say 440A, 440C, AUS-8, ATS-34, ATS-55, D2 and S30V?
 
Honestly I don't think I've done anything extreme enough to notice a difference between any of the better steels. However, if some of the top makers use s30v as their premium steel of choice that should say something. I doubt they'd just throw it into their knives untested. If they felt VG-10 was better than s30v why would they use s30v?
 
VG10 seems easier to sharpen than D2 or S30V in my experience when using the strop for maintainance. (less strops for the same effect usually). For that matter I think VG10 probably is only negligibly behind D2 or S30V in edge holding and probably so close most people would not notice the difference so when you factor in how close it is for edge keeping, the ease of sharpening makes VG10 better in the minds and hands of a lot of people. I don't know how many guys have commented here on how much easier it seems to them to get a decent edge on VG10 over S30V.

In my experience VG can be brought back to a good biting edge pretty quick. Not that the others aren't close behind if they are maintained lightly on frequent basis. Just that D2 is usually tougher for 'radical' sharpening vs light maintainance type of sharpening. The difference is really negligible

I'm sure the geometry of the edge plays in that ease though and it may just be the Spyderco VG10 blades leading me to that conclusion and/or impression because that is all I own in VG10 steel. I would not say VG10 keeps it's edge quite as long as D2 or S30V to me from my wood carving with all three steels. But surely it is close and as I mentioned above the VG seems to me to be slightly easier to maintain. Personally I'd go with D2, VG10 or BG42 over any of the other choices in your list I think. Probably my top three picks right there. I realize that you did not ask about BG42 though.

BG42 is one of my favorites, maybe even number one right now. D2 is quite good though for most cutting tasks. If you want stainless VG is for sure a good choice.
 
NO VG10 BLADE HAS EVER CHIPPED OR BROKEN, EVER!!! IT'S THE BEST!!!!!!!!!
S30V SUCKS! IF YOU SEE A KNIFE MADE WITH VG10, FOR GODS SAKE BUY IT, OR BUY 2!!!!!! :p



Personally I think VG10 is one of the best steels around, but S30V is clearly better. Seems that bashing S30V is the cool thing to do this summer. All aboard the bandwagon!
 
WadeF said:
If they felt VG-10 was better than s30v why would they use s30v?
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Because of availability. VG-10 is not available in raw stock outside of Japan.
 
Great link there Jeff. I found that lemon juice test quite telling. Something a lot of guys that use their EDC for food prep chores may want to really look at regarding D2. There is something to be said for a good stainless steel in the food prep arena, particularly when that food is acidic in nature. Now I know why my Dozier Thorn lost that edge so fast slicing tomatoes at the family reunion :--(
 
I can get a “scarier” sharp edge on VG-10 than on any other stainless, and the edge seems to last as long as with S30V.

VG-10 seems to roll instead of chipping, and has good lateral strength and shock resistance.

I prefer it to other stainless steels —other than Chris Reeves S30V (he’s got the heat treat perfect on that one).

For anything but folders I prefer tool steels, and VG-10 is probably not as robust as any of the tool steels I like to have on fixed blades (INFI, 52100, A2).
 
The ease of restoring vg-10 to "hair popping"

even after extended use, makes it one of my favorites.
 
emann said:
Alright well we've seen that a few people here have had a problem with S30V so I'd like to know how peoples experience with VG-10 has been? Is it better or worse then S30V? How would you rate it compared to say 440A, 440C, AUS-8, ATS-34, ATS-55, D2 and S30V?
Click to expand...

My expirerence is that VG10 holds an edge about as well as ATS34 and 154CM. Maybe a little better. It is a little harder to sharpen then those steels though.
 
VG10, M2, D2, S30V, BG42, all are good.

i have several S30 knives and edc a spydie ATR, zero problems.

why i remember when S30V was available only on customs and was the bomb, now it sucks.

not in my experience.
 
djolney said:
I can get a “scarier” sharp edge on VG-10 than on any other stainless, and the edge seems to last as long as with S30V.

VG-10 seems to roll instead of chipping, and has good lateral strength and shock resistance.
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I agree with that. VG10 seems to be a very good steel to keep a highly polished edge on. If you strop periodically, even on just your pant leg or a piece of cardboard, the edge comes back readily.

Anywho, since this is a thread dedicated to VG10, I'll ask this question again. I've noticed an effect in Spyderco's VG10 that is mesmerizing. If you look at the grain of the steel closely, there seems to be an almost 'Damascus' quality to it. Most steel grains I've seen have just been sraight lines going down the face of the blade. VG10 is different. There are still lateral lines running through it but there is also a wavy delineation throughout. It reminds me of reptile or fish scales. I first noticed this on a Spyderco Scorpius and saw the same effect(though less prominent)on a Spyderco Viele II. This either means this is something indicative of Spyderco's stock or heat treating or I am a complete and raving lunatic. I have confirmation on the former* so I'm pretty confident. Can anyone tell me what that effect is? Is it martensite or austenite? It is quite unlike anything I've come across. It is an extremely subtle quality of the steel but I find it to be really fascinating and beautiful. I would vehomently oppose any black coating of a VG10 blade. It would be the same to me as coating a Damascus or Laminated blade. Any info would be greatly appreciated, and if I'm completely mistaken, the directions to the nearest "Delusional Knifeaholics Anonymous" meeting would be great. Thanks.

*
BuckyKatt said:
Your reviews weren't lame at all! I found your Scorpius review very interesting, and I've had one for 9 or 10 months now. Your comment about the layered steel made me dig it out... and yep, mine has the same effect. Very subtle, but it really does look like multiple layers.
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VG-10 is one of my favorite steels. The thing I really like about VG-10 is that it holds an edge well, but is also easy to sharpen. I'm actually suprised that more companies are not using this steel.
 
VG-10 is one of my favorites too. I think I prefer it to most S30V knives in fact. S30V is great for wear resistance, better than VG-10, but I can get VG-10 sharper, and much easier. I tend to touch up my EDC every day or every other day anyway, so the added wear resistance of S30V isn't that big a deal to me.
 
Laceration, I've noticed and been fascinated by the same thing on the Spyderco blade surface.
It's a "watery" look. Many proof coins (which have mirror surfaces) display the same effect. Very strange. A flat appearance that turns "orange peely" in the right light.

:confused:
 
VG-10 rocks, IMO. Tied with S30V as my favorite stainless, and might be my favorite if it were available in more knives, particularly customs(kind of like INFI is my favorite steel overall, but the selection of knives it's available in is very limited). S30V gets all the attention, including mine, because it's available, and a great steel for knives in "normal knife use" sizes. In my experience VG-10 gives up a little edgeholding, and maybe a little toughness, but more than makes up for it with how easy it sharpens, and the wonderful edges it takes with minimal fuss.
Never had problems of any kind with VG-10, though I have only used it extensively in Calypso Jrs. so it's not like I've really done anything that would test its limits. My Calypso Jr. is my "sports" knife. I wear it swimming, even in the ocean, boating, walking, jogging, working out-never a spot of corrosion on the blade, though I got a bunch of surface rust on the lockbar once. Yes, the sides of the lockbar rusted after a couple of days at the beach without being cleaned, but the blade never did. The rust just wiped off, but there was a good bit of it, and I was really surprised that the lockbar would rust at all.
 
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