A consideration of how V-10 and ATS-55 came about might be instructive.
In the beginning
there was ATS-34 steel; extremely hot stuff 10 years or so ago. It had one major problem, however, it contained 4% Mo, an expensive alloying element.
Thus, from the warm embrace of Hitachi's electric furnaces, at the direction of Hitachi's bean counters, was born ATS-55. This is ATS-34 with the Mo decreased to 0.6%, and 0.4% Co and 0.2% Cu added to attempt to make up for the deficiencies caused by the lower Mo level. Judging from the paucity of knives made from this steel, the deficiencies were not corrected.
Another attempt was made in the form of VG-10; the Mo level of ATS-34 was reduced (but not as much as in ATS-55) to 1.05%. This is a fair amount of Mo, about the same as in A2 or D2. Also, 0.2% V and 1.4% Co was added. The vanadium helped by forming hard carbides, and the cobalt helped control the carbide grain size. All in all, VG-10 is a pretty good compromise steel.
However, when you compare it to a excellent ingot steel such as BG-42, which has 4% Mo, and 1.2% V, and is purified by the VIM-VAR (Vacuum Induction Melted-Vacuum Arc Remelted) process, the deficiencies of VG-10 become readily apparent. Ask Chris Reeve, who switched from ATS-34 to BG-42 if he would consider switching to VG-10. Expect a shocked silence followed by nervous laughter.
Comparing any traditional ingot steel, even BG-42, to a CPM steel will reveal that metallurgy has raised the bar far above ingot steels. Not only is the steel even more pure than VIM-VAR, it has even more alloying elements; CPM 440V has 2.2 % carbon; carbon is the stuff that combines with the other alloying elements to form carbides. Further, CPM440V has 5.6% V (CPM 420V has 9%V). The importance? More carbon plus more vanadium equals more vanadium carbides; vanadium carbides run 80-85 Rc. Mo and W carbides are about 75 Rc, and Cr carbides 65-70 Rc.
Thus, it is logical to expect that the alloys mentioned will perform roughly in this order; ATS-55, VG-10, ATS-34, BG-42 and CPM 420V or 440V. Let's be charitable and stipulate that the metallurgists have tweaked VG-10 so that it is the equal of ATS-34. Time will tell. No way will VG-10 ever be as good as BG-42 or the CPM alloys.
But wait, you say; here is experimental evidence showing that VG-10 kicks butt. Yes, edgehopper, your data could be correct. However, their interpertation is difficult, as there are many variables to be controlled.
Blade geometry, alloy purity, cryo, heat treatment (which controls hardness, grain size and other properties) are all variables which can contribute greatly to actual real world performance. The best data I have seen, controlling as many variables as possible are here:
http://www.ameritech.net/users/knives/edge.htm
The above comments apply only to steel alloys. The Haynes alloys, Talonite (r) foremost among them, are entirely different. A deceptively low Rc blade will outcut a steel blade with a higher Rc as the Haynes alloys are hard facing; that is, the material exposed by edge wear is just as hard as the edge itself was. To put it simply, as Tom Walz says, 'Talonite RULES; steel DROOLS!'
Hope this helps. Comments, criticisms and/or questions welcomed.
Walt, CSSG (Certified Spec Sheet Guru)
[This message has been edited by Walt Welch (edited 12-26-2000).]
