We are bored with S30V

I used to have a job where I broke down boxes quite regularly. I used a Benchmade 940 (in S30V steel) for most of that time. Performance wise, it was fantastic, and relatively easy to sharpen.

Much later I saw the 940-1, and thought “Ooooh SuPeR StEeL!” Well, I EDC’d it until it got dull, then I could never get it sharp again because it wore out my patience trying to do so.

I have blades in Damasteel, M390, Sole author Damascus, and other steels. But when I actually need to cut something I grab my CRK Umnumzaan in “soft” S35VN.
 
S30V is a fantastic steel, and will remain an excellent choice for many years to come.

Realistically, all of my knife needs are adequately served with basic carbon steels that have been around forever. However, I still buy and enjoy more modern "super" steels.

I'm more interested in geometry than the latest and greatest in steels.
 
BBuser said:
In my meager experience s30v & s35vn seem to last no longer than a Buck in 420hc even though everyone says they're better.
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"Everyone" says they are better because that is what "everyone" has been told. Do pick 420 over these two, always.

Gaston
 
Gaston444 said:
"Everyone" says they are better because that is what "everyone" has been told. Do pick 420 over these two, always.

Gaston
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Wrong, but good try at lying again, to deceive people into thinking you know ANYTHING about knives. How's the sock sheath working out?

There are legitimate gains to powder steel over ingot. Get over it.
 
The sad thing is the silly over-evaluation of an honest steel (insert here 420HC, 440C, 1095, S30V, VG10, and on...) eventually discredits totally said honest steel. In my experience, S30V offers a nice balance of everything most of the people like in a knife steel : takes a sharp edge (fine and polished, even ?) ? check ! Keeps it for a reasonable time ? check ! Allows various uses from whittling to cardboard cutting and food prep ? check ! Doesn't stain or rust ? check ! I will never frown upon an appealing knife because the steel is S30V. Now, you can't please everybody and some people have special requirements for their knives. That's fine but doesn't detract from the real value of S30V.
 
I know that I was thinking about starting a thread saying that s30v might be under-rated. I started being turned off by since I wanted to try all the other steels. Sharpening my trusty old manix XL I can't think of why I need anything else. Spyderco keeps using it, but the only knock on it is that it's not m390, s110v, ect.. ect..

It's still seems to me like high end steel.
 
Spyderco and Benchmade are charging lots of cash for for S30V . Kershaw Blur and the Link are below $85.00 .
 
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I think I really just want to see more fixed blades in 3v more than anything. But beyond that, I have avoided S30v for years, but I got it in my hands and found it to be just fine over all. I like that it has become a standard, since that pushes a fair amount of knives towards newer steels, which is all fun (knives over $200). But in reality, I really don't mind steel over all if the geometry is fine. Hence why despite my CPM 20CV knives, or XHP knives, I still rock that rostfrei magic that victorinox uses in combination.
 
Who cares, the crazy "MODERN SUPER STEEL" talk is just a fad, if S30v worked 5 years ago then it works just fine today.

I agree that prices need to come down as newer stuff comes out but otherwise a good steel is a good steel.

Besides, I'll take 154 over most steels any day of the week

the sheep will be sheep.
 
First off, sorry to be this guy, but this thread totally exemplifies how freakin' privileged we are to have an S30V complain thread. First World problems in the truest sense and I guess I'm grateful for that!

I'm only 35 years old and I see how many leaps have come along in my almost life time of loving knives, so I can only imagine what our older members here must think of something like S30v being the current "base" steel in the world of higher end cutlery...

BM's S30v turned me off years ago and the couple tries since then haven't impressed me very much. Maybe I'm just a baffoon or unlucky, but it's been pretty chippy in my experience, with micro serrations ultimately allowing me to go a lot longer than is right without sharpening (I guess good in a lazy sort of way). The only knives of mine that have lost their tips in a noticeable way have been S30v. It seems to take a lot of effort sharpening, for my admittedly not very skilled self for not much in return. While I'd much rather see and use other steels, I'm at a point where I'm cool with Spyderco's S30v if I really like the knife - it seems like they've got one of the better mass produced S30v HT's in the business...CPM-154, PSF27/D2, Elmax, and XHP are all in a close enough performance class and ultimately give me more for my sharpening efforts.

The addition of Niobium has made S35VN a lot more likable in my uses, and for sharpening as well...to think of how S30V heat treatments (and ultimately performance) have come such a long way over the years has me excited to see how S35VN will evolve over the next few years as people experiment and push limits with their HT's and really get to know how to work with the added Niobium.

There are soooo many sweet steels out there these days. The increasing Nitrogen trend makes me tingle. And there are things about a quality carbon steel, remember - steel in it's most basic form, that will NEVER get old.

So yeah, it's definitely not my favorite for my own reasons (and perhaps disabilities), and I do get bummed out seeing it on certain Spydercos that I believe would shine with something else, but I ultimately would feel like a fool to really complain about and hate on S30v...
 
I don't mind it at all for folders. For fixed blades, I prefer to sacrifice some of the rust resistance for better performance.
 
Like it for folders.. :thumbsup: For FBs prefer A2 or 01..:thumbsup: John
 
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As a newbie, I am finding hard to keep up with you guys. My first good knife has S30v and now it’s passé. Lol. BM Crooked River.
 
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