VG10 vs 154 cm steel

[coop1957]

These are two of my favorite blade steels. Spyderco VG10 steel blades seems to be an all around versitile and durable steel. The BM 154cm has an slightly better edge retention. Both are reasonable easy to sharpen.
What are your thoughts on these two blade steels?

 

[stabman]

I like em both! Never had any trouble sharpening either, and edge retention is good enough for me.
They may not be "super steels" compared to some others, but they are great all round steels for most applications it seems.
And they don't rust too easily.:thumbup:

 

[mete]

I have both and they are excellent steels ! Whether pocket knife , field knife , or kitchen knife they're great performers.

 

[The Mastiff]

Though I haven't conducted head to head wear resistance tests I'd question the idea that 154cm has better blanket wear resistance than VG10. IMO, VG10 is better all around. I've got scads of knives in both, including different manufacturers and at different RC's. I also have CPM 154cm whic might at higher RC's hold a slight edge, perhaps not. Someone around know of any tests? I'd be interested. Joe

 

[enderwiggin]

It's really hard to say. I've seen VG10 attributed better edge-holding than S30V, which does not have better edge holding than 154CM.

My understanding is, best edge holding to "worst" would be:

S30V
VG10
154CM

...I'm sure PLENTY of folks will be more than happy to argue against that. Either way, 154CM is a great using steel, and S30V holds a fantastic edge very well.

If VG10 is out-performing them both, I REALLY need to pick up a VG10 knife.

 

[jaislandboy]

i've had good experiences w/both steels....I have a BM Gravitator, Griptilian, MiniGrip in 154cm.....but i give the nod to VG-10 for edge retention on my knives used for slicing stuff....usually Spydercos :thumbup:

 

[knarfeng]

I like both steels. I don't have any trouble sharpening either steel.

In manila rope cutting comparison tests that I performed myself a Benchmade ATS-34 bladed Ascent performed better than a Spyderco VG-10 bladed Native III.

RJ Martin. the custom maker, posted that he had had photomicrographs taken and the grain structure of the 154CM was better than that of ATS-34. He said he considers 154CM superior to either ATS-34 or VG10.

Here is the thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=387528

 

[enderwiggin]

Knarfeng, thanks for the link. Here's a good quote that shows RJ Martin's opinion on the topic:

I am not aware of any dispute of the superiority of S30V steel over any of the alloys you listed. It is better than all of them.
154CM would be #2 on my list, with the new, CPM version well above the conventionally processed 154CM material.

I would rank D2 over ATS34, because in my experience ATS34 steel had impurities in it that caused pitting, as well as a poor microstructure.
Yes, I paid to have photomicrographs taken of the heat treated steels.....<G>

Even in the recent magazine article about CPM154CM and 154CM, Scott Devanna from Crucible plainly states that CPMS30V is a superior steel.

S30V is great stuff.

 

[dalefuller]

I have both steels in some of my EDC knives. They both perform very well in that role and I have no real preference for one over the other apart from the blade that uses it (profile, grind, thickness, etc.).

I typically carry just one knife at a time and that's almost always a folder with a 2.75" - 3" blade length (Delica 4, H&K14210, Caly 3, or small Sebbie). I never know what I'm going to be doing with that knife so I like a steel that can take some amount of "non-standard" use and still perform. VG10 and 154CM have so far been able to do that and still come back with minimum time on the Sharpmaker.

BTW, I have an early D4 that I rebeveled using my Edge Pro. The main bevel was taken down to about 12 dps and a 15 dps microbevel was added. The VG10 responded very well to the Edge Pro. It only took 20 or 30 minutes for me to reset the bevels and add the microbevel with my Sharpmaker. That D4 slices nearly as well as my Caly 3s now.

 

[miro44]

...
My understanding is, best edge holding to "worst" would be:

S30V
VG10
154CM
...

ill agree with that.
but both steels are great perfomers, really, only thing that i have noticed, is, that VG10 might be a tad easier to sharpen, but both are very easy.

 

[headroom]

....I have a BM Gravitator in 154cm.....

Pardon the slight OT, but if I may ask, how does your Gravitator sharpen up, jaislandboy? I am seriously considering on of these. Just waiting for replies to a few inquiries.

But yeah...nothing but good lovin from VG10 here. Brilliant all round steel for the working knife.