VG10 Sharpness

MW740

MW740

Joined
Aug 21, 2002
Messages
732
Does VG10 get sharper than most other steels or is it my imagination? I cannot get an edge on any other steel that I own like I can get on VG10. These steels include ATS-34, AUS-8, A2, 440C, D2,M2, and 1095. My sharpening technique is consistant because I use a sharpmaker, so that variable is out.
 
VG10 surely works well, I've a small friction folder by Ohta of Japan that gets wicked sharp and keeps it's edge. Recently was reunited with one of my favourite blades, Spyderco's large Calypso in VG10, Vorpal sharp she got! BUT I also have a custom by Louis Van Der Walt DragonFly with ATS-34 and that became extremely sharp as well, I think it may come down to the Heat Treat? and not so much as the steels? I sharpened an O1 blade by Brian Lyttle at Ashokan and when I took it to a soft napkin to wipe down the oil from my stones and touched the edge to the napkin, I literally gasped at it's sharpness! man that thing was sharp!!! He grinds his blades fairly thin so after sharpening this knife he finished at Ashokan seminar he asked me to put the edge on it, an honor to be sure, I was floored at it's keeness!

G2
 
VG-10 seems to take a very aggressive edge, for some reason. Its edge-holding is close to many good high carbon steels (Carbon V a.k.a 50100b), although it takes longer to sharpen. Probably the best stain-resistant steel I've come across for blades.
 
Yeah VG10 takes a killer edge. However you should be able to get A2 just as sharp if not sharper. At least my A2 M4 gets sharper than any other knife I have sharpened.
 
I suspect some of the difference that you are seeing is due to blade profile and heat treatment. I can get at least as good an edge with some 1095 and AUS-8 alloy blades that I own. I can't get quite as good an edge on a couple A2 alloy blades I own, but those are thicker blades with saber grinds compared to flat or hollow grind edges on the sharper blades.

The other scary sharp alloy that comes quickly to mind is 12C27.
 
The 2 knife steels that I can get the best edge on are VG-10 (Al Mar SERE 2000 & Spyderco Temperance) and 154CM (Gerber Yari).
 
Hm.. I actually think that VG10 is sharp (as in very fine cut, say, on a piece of paper), while CPM440V makes the most aggressive cuts.
 
My erstwhile CPM440V (s90v) gunting took a keener edge than my VG10 delica. My delica VG10 was the sharpest knife I had out of the box.
 
I would agree with Jeff that it is most likely a case of edge profile raising the cutting ability, there are some very high performance VG-10 blades like the Temperance, which at the same level of edge finish would cut much better than many other blades due to the edge geometry and thus would shave and cut paper better and thus appear sharper.

While some of the other steels listed have large grain structures (440C) some of them like M2 have very fine grains and should not in any way have a limit on sharpness. Grain structure anyway has only a very small effect unless your level of tolerance for sharpness is extreme, demand hair shaving above the skin for example.

The ease of sharpening can also be effected by many other factors including comfort of the blade in hand, and even its weight. Using a Sharpmaker the force exerted on the rods is a major factor and thus the weight of the blade has an effect.

-Cliff
 
I have resharpened my Fallkniven F1 with VG-10 steel several times,and it has always ended up to razor sharpness. A few times the edge has been severly damaged, with deep nicks. I always use a fine DMT diamond bench stone to sharpen away the nicks,and i finish with an extra fine Arkansas bench stone to get the final sharpness.
And VG-10 will really get a hair shaving sharpness!
I think it´s the best stainless steel i have ever used.I have not tried all steels,but this is my opinion about VG-10. It has never stained a bit for me and it hold an edge for long time.

Manowar
 
VG10 and AUS8 always seem to take a slightly keener edge than the other blade steels I've sharpened when seeking a scary sharp level.
 
Originally posted by MW740
These steels include ATS-34, AUS-8, A2, 440C, D2,M2, and 1095.
Click to expand...

Do not forget that VG-10, unlike these other steels, was developed specifically as a cutlery steel.

ATS-34 was for jet engines IIRC, for example.
 
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