We are bored with S30V

Lapedog said:
I heard that cts xhp is fairly inexpensive for makers to purchase, no more than s30v. For some reason spydie and bm are stuck on s30v
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I'd wager they buy in bulk and have stock that needs to be used. That and switching steels requires dialing in new heat treats and what not. Just a guess.
 
Ya I just posted a similar topic recently. In it I stated I’m in. S30 and 35 rut and looking for new offerings and flavors.

I think for what it is the steel is great. For the average knife user it’s killer... I would say for a knife enthusiast it’s just meh! Good for what it, application specific and abused folders I prefer it on but for edc and stuff I am finding myself wanting something more exotic. I have a lot of blade in those 2 steels I just bought another yesterday and I will probably acquire more but it’s the nature of the beast to try new flavors or we would just have chocolate and vanilla!
 
plenty of full productions (not sprints) spydies and BM available in cpm20cv s90v 204p s110v etc..
case in point BM 940-1501
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PM2
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BM griptilian M390
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IMO there’s nothing “wrong” with S30V. It’s just not all that sexy at this point. It’s great that we have such a variety of good steels.
 
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I am fine with S30V. It works for me and every knife doesn't need to be offered in every steel. While some steels may be trendier, I have found that steels rarely effect my usability of knives-I adapt. Maybe I am just more tolerant given that S30V is a significant upgrade to the steels of my youth-though I really didn't have problems with them either.
 
S30V is a benchmark for me, one of the best cutlery steels ever developed IMHO. I do like S35Vn and find it a bit easier to sharpen; I think S30V holds an edge a tad longer -- though that may just be because of small differences in individual manufacturers' heat treat, blade geometry and what I happen to be cutting. My S30V knives include BM Mini-Rukus, Buck Custom Shop 112, Spydie Para 2. I also have a CS American Lawman and Recon 1 in CTS-XHP, and that is also a great steel, finer-grained than S30V and quite easy to sharpen. They're all kissin' cousins and it's great to have different choices so we can buy more knives to play with. I wouldn't downgrade steels like 12C27, CPM 154 (BassPro 110) and even 420HC (the way Buck does it), either.
 
Absolutely nothing wrong with S30V especially at its price point now days. It's always fun to get a knife with a new and exotic steel but that doesn't make S30V obsolete, especially from an EDC/user standpoint.
 
I personally like s30v. A good steel is a good steel. At this point, the only steel i find to be superior is m390. I also really like sandvik 14c28n. I think s30v only gets a bad rep because it is becoming more common. 1095 and 52100 have been around for a very long time and i still think those are good steels. Just because it is more common does not make it inferior. I don't think s35 has a significant enough difference to justify a higher cost. S30v is a very well rounded steel. m390 does everything just a bit better but is significantly more money. When you go to s90 or s110 you gain wear resistance at the cost of edge stability, toughness and corrosion resistance.
The most important knife steel trait for me is edge stability and fine grain. s30v just happens to be one of the few alloys specifically made for knives. It is a composition that industry leaders such as sal glesser and chris reeve put their money behind.
 
I don’t have an issue with S30V and it rarely influences my knife buying. Knives that have poor ergonomics do.
 
Something to add to that question, how much would everybody be willing to pay more for an upgraded steel on the same knife. Let's say a fictional knife so brand loyalty doesn't come into play. The basic version comes in whatever lock type you prefer, has a typical construction overall, good fit and finish and good ergos. Version 1 costs 125$ and has S30V Steel, Version 2 has an upgraded steel be it M390/20CV or equivalent of your choice. Everything else about the knife is identical. Same lock, same handle material, same lock type. How much of a premium would you be willing to shell out if any?
 
For folders or small edc fixed blades i much prefer the m390 family. I find it way easier to get a good edge on it and it seems to keep that razor edge much longer than the s30v-s125v family. (Of that family I find s35vn is somewhat more to my liking)

For big fixed blades I like carbon steel, still gotta try 3V.
 
microtech85 said:
I personally like s30v. A good steel is a good steel. At this point, the only steel i find to be superior is m390. I also really like sandvik 14c28n. I think s30v only gets a bad rep because it is becoming more common. 1095 and 52100 have been around for a very long time and i still think those are good steels. Just because it is more common does not make it inferior. I don't think s35 has a significant enough difference to justify a higher cost. S30v is a very well rounded steel. m390 does everything just a bit better but is significantly more money. When you go to s90 or s110 you gain wear resistance at the cost of edge stability, toughness and corrosion resistance.
The most important knife steel trait for me is edge stability and fine grain. s30v just happens to be one of the few alloys specifically made for knives. It is a composition that industry leaders such as sal glesser and chris reeve put their money behind.
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Call me crazy but I really prefer M390 to 20CV. I love American made and all but I feel like I can actually tell the difference. I feel like 20CV has noticeable lower edge stability than M390 even if they are pretty much the same chemical composition. My experience is in comepletely different models so that certainly could be it, but from my personal experience I do prefer M390. 20CV maybe be better in pure edge retention, but M390 is far more than I’ll ever need in that category.
 
b00n said:
Something to add to that question, how much would everybody be willing to pay more for an upgraded steel on the same knife. Let's say a fictional knife so brand loyalty doesn't come into play. The basic version comes in whatever lock type you prefer, has a typical construction overall, good fit and finish and good ergos. Version 1 costs 125$ and has S30V Steel, Version 2 has an upgraded steel be it M390/20CV or equivalent of your choice. Everything else about the knife is identical. Same lock, same handle material, same lock type. How much of a premium would you be willing to shell out if any?
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$40 is the first thought that pops in my head, if I’m being honest.
 
S30V doesn't have any Oh Wow factor anymore with so many "improved" or higher-end steels around and it's gone from being state-of-the-art to run-of-the-mill in the last few years. I have lots of knives in "better" steels and quite of few in older, less upgraded steels too. I tend to prefer S35VN to S30V for ease of sharpening and keenness, but if a knife I like comes in S30 instead of S35, the steel offered won't be a deal-breaker.

I wanted a NeOn to add to my den of Shirogorov bears and decided I preferred the fully open-backed, single post construction of the Ultra-Lite to the partially-closed spine of the Lite version with its (very nice) back-spacer. The U-L comes in S30 (though there was a run of Elmax) while the Lite is generally M390 or S90V. I already had 4 bears in M390 and 1 in S30V. The S30V knife is way easier to sharpen and takes a wicked keen edge. Shiro does a nice job with that steel and I was real happy to find the NeOn I wanted on the Exchange and never thought that the steel was a shortcoming in any way. I don't mind that that model generally goes for a hundred bucks less either.

That a knife has a certain desirable steel won't make me buy it anymore than S30V will stop me from buying a knife that I really like. Hell, I've got Benchmades in 154CM that I like as much or more than some of my M390 BMKs. My AFCKs in ATS34 and TSEK in 440C, of all things, get as sharp or sharper than any of my "super steel" blades. I think it's great that there are so many options out there and so many things to try. Once you get above a certain level, they're all good and S30V is not below that bar.
 
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I tend to agree with the OP. Not saying s30v isnt good but are you getting your money’s worth if your $200 knife has s30v instead of something more modern.
 
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