What are pros and cons of zdp189?

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lonestar1979

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Mar 2, 2014
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I had a knife in zdp189 long time ago,and it was sharp as straight razor, but lost it,never sharpened it.How does this steel perform for all around edc tasks(slicing and cutting mainly),how long does it hold an edge compared to other steels-super steels,and how hard is it to sharpen?Do I have to sharpen it with water stones, or something else??? I am getting AL MAR eagle HD in this steel soon and would like to hear various opinions!
 
Diamond stones are an advantage when sharpening. I haven't tried water stones on zdp189, but think it would be slow. I edc a caly3 in zdp189, & like the steel very much. It is not hard to sharpen, just slower to make sharp. But it does hold the edge very well. I get out of it what I put in, in other words. I haven't any complaints about the steel.
 
There have been some good discussions on this topic recently. Great steel,l holds an edge very well, separates the men from the boys when it comes time to sharpen, etc.
 
A Delica ZDP189 is my primary EDC. My others are a Native LW S35V and a Manix2 LW S110V and ZDP seems to hold its on with them.

I use a Sharpmaker to maintain them with the standard rods and it's relatively easy, just takes a bit longer than 'lesser' steels.

I used the Sharpmaker's CBN rods to reprofile a Delica ZDP with an asymmetrical edge to 30°. Again, it just took longer.

If you go with Diamond/CBN stones/rods, be it free hand or system, they'll sharpen any steel.
 
It's chippy! And the Rev is correct, it takes patience and effort to sharpen. Once you get it there, however, you'll have a scalpel sharp edge with good retention. 'Separates the men from the boys' about sums it up.
 
FW JSB said:
It's chippy! And the Rev is correct, it takes patience and effort to sharpen. Once you get it there, however, you'll have a scalpel sharp edge with good retention. 'Separates the men from the boys' about sums it up.
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Compared to what? Doing what?
 
singularity35 said:
Compared to what? Doing what?
Click to expand...

My experience is that it's more prone to chipping that S30V and other Crucible steels, but that hardness is partly what gives is the great edge retention. To clarify, I was speaking more of the sharpening process causing the chips. You have to go easy with the stones. But it gets very, very sharp.
 
The easiest way is to not let zdp189 get dull. I have a Delica zdp189 and I just strope it once or twice a week. It holds an edge very well.
 
my zdp endura was chippy alright, because i brought it down to less than 10 degrees per side. zdp 189 is one of (if not the) hardest knife steels around and it is hardness that allows one to sharpen an edge to unbelievable levels. the zdp has no peer when it comes to slicing but it can turn dull faster than vanadium steels. as a cutter/beater, a zdp knife should have a stouter sharpening angle, at least 18 degrees per. better yet, give it a stout convex.

and you don't need ceramic or diamond stones for sharpening zdp 189. natural stones or even Al2O3 sandpaper will do. but it takes longer.
 
It may be chippy,, but man does it it hold an edge!! I've had my dragonfly in zdp for a few months now and maybe once touched it up on ceramic rods.
For basic slicing,, I don't see any issues
 
Pro: it's very hard.

Con: it's very hard.

Always a trade off between edge holding and ease of sharpening.
 
It's prone to rust, in spite of having around 20% Cr. This sounds odd, but the Cr is largely tied up in carbides with the large amount of carbon in the alloy.
 
Very high hardness, gets scary sharp and holds an edge very well.

Tougher to sharpen. Prone to rust due to high carbon despite high chromium. Many laminated ZDP with more stainless material outside of the edge for economy and combat rust.
 
the only issue i have with a zdp-189 diving knife will be the sharpening.
diamond stones really help, tried a few oil and water stones but those are to soft to perform well
wouldn't want to use it as a survival knife or for field use due to its hard steel.
 
Like all steel, how good ZDP is depends upon the edge design, heat treat and thus the manufacturer. I have a William Henry Tracker with 3" blade for about 15 months now and it has not needed sharpening. It has not chipped but the edge is thin a little less than 30 degrees.. I've done everything I would normally with a knife; used it many times in the kitchen and bar. There has been no rust, but I rinse off blades after use with real acidic things such as lemons. I have stropped it on the Sharpmaker a few times, but it didn't really need it. For me, it's all "pro" and no "con". One of my favorite knives and steel. Too bad CRK won't make a sebenza with it :)
 
This modified Endura ZDP-189 has been my primary EDC knife for a few years now.



I took this knife with me last year on our last US trip covering 17 US states, and just before we departed from home i polished the edge up to hair whittling.
Used it for all kinds of light to medium EDC tasks during our holiday for almost 6 weeks (like preparing various kinds of food, opening packages, cutting string, etc), and when we returned home the edge could still shave arm hair on skin level.
I keep it sharp on a Paper Wheel with 1 micron diamond compound.
 
coop1957 said:
The easiest way is to not let zdp189 get dull. I have a Delica zdp189 and I just strope it once or twice a week. It holds an edge very well.
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+1

I find that if I give my Spydie Stretch a few strokes on a ceramic stick once a week it stays sharp a very long time. When it gets to the point of needing more, it gets a 1 minute re-bevel on a 800 grit belt followed by a leather strop.
 
Holds a razor edge longer than most steels.
No problem sharpening with diamond.
Great for light use.
No cons I know of if you don't get too rough with it.
 
One of the best edge holders I have ever used. But in my climate near the water, it is prone to rust.
 
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