Vg10 & Zdp189

S

'songsrflipnswt

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May 23, 2008
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Is there any noticeable strenghs/weaknesses in vg10 and zdp on a Spyderco Endura? I have little knowledge of both steels and just want some general and personal opinions on the steels.
 
'songsrflipnswt said:
Is there any noticeable strenghs/weaknesses in vg10 and zdp on a Spyderco Endura? I have little knowledge of both steels and just want some general and personal opinions on the steels.
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Well, I have the Endura in ZDP-189, and it's certainly a nice piece, but can't say I'm loving the BRG handle. I'd rather have had it in black, but what can you do?

That said, the blade is wicked sharp, even after sustained use without sharpening. I found a good deal on eBay and got it brand new, in the box, for $75 shipped.
 
I have the Delica 4 and the Native III in VG-10 - FRN. They both hold an edge very good and I have maintained a razor edge on both. I have dropped the Native from a 12 foot ladder onto concrete while the knife was open. It sustained no damage. Not sure if the FRN or the blade hit the ground first but it still cutting. I have no knives with zdp or enduras. Just my $0.02
 
VG-10 is a good all-around steel. It holds an edge well and is quite easy to sharpen. ZDP-189 is harder, more wear resistant, and less stain resistant. It will hold a thinner edge than VG-10, and it will hold it through much more use, but getting that edge on there isn't as easy. I personally prefer the edge-holding of ZDP-189 over the ease of sharpening of VG-10, but many folks feel the opposite.
 
What Yablanowitz said. They're both GREAT steels with different strengths. Get whichever you like, depending upon your requirements. If your wallet allows, get both!
 
yablanowitz said:
VG-10 is a good all-around steel. It holds an edge well and is quite easy to sharpen. ZDP-189 is harder, more wear resistant, and less stain resistant. It will hold a thinner edge than VG-10, and it will hold it through much more use, but getting that edge on there isn't as easy. I personally prefer the edge-holding of ZDP-189 over the ease of sharpening of VG-10, but many folks feel the opposite.
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Really? ZDP corrodes more easily than VG10. ZDP has 22% Chrome (if I remember correctly) so that would lead me to believe that it was really corrosion resistant. Of course the insane carbon content 3% will steal alot of the chrome into carbides but I really thought ZDP would have enough to handle most environments.

I dont have a knife with either ZDP or VG10 so I do not know from own experience.
//Jerker
 
Both are excellent steels. My VG-10 folder is my sharpest out-of-the-box folder.
 
Razorsharp244 said:
Really? ZDP corrodes more easily than VG10. ZDP has 22% Chrome (if I remember correctly) so that would lead me to believe that it was really corrosion resistant. Of course the insane carbon content 3% will steal alot of the chrome into carbides but I really thought ZDP would have enough to handle most environments.

I dont have a knife with either ZDP or VG10 so I do not know from own experience.
//Jerker
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The specs on the steel are somewhat misleading, as the whole chemistry is a trade secret. I'm pretty sure there is more to it than just iron, chomium and carbon. I have several knives in each, have carried and used both, and have experienced staining on ZDP but not on VG-10. Go figure.
 
Thats easy to check, although I do believe it could be a pure carbon chrome grade. It would explain the insane hardness it gets. Vanadium, Molybdenium etc suppress hardness indirectly so reaching 65+ HRC would be very hard (impossible maybe) with significant amounts of these alloys.

The high carbon will be a bad guy when it comes to corrosion resistance though and should explain your observations.
//Jerker
 
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