What is your preferred steels on Spyderco knives?

I like all the steels I have tried from Spyderco, but the ones that have really been outstanding for me are HAP40, Superblue, Cruwear and CPM M4.

K390 looks like it'll be up there but I haven't sharpened it yet, or used it enough to get a good feel for it.

And I can't not mention good ol' ZDP189: what a workhorse that is in the Dragonfly 2, the gold standard of small utility knives.

And that CTS XHP sharpens up real nice in the Chapparal!

And VG10s gotta be one of the best balanced 'standard' steels for a production knife manufacturer out there.

And...!

(I told you I liked 'em all!)
 
VG-10 for most Spydercos made in Japan, MBS-26 for Spyderco Kitchen Sharps, H-1 for rainy summer days, and CPM-S30V for those Spydercos made in the USA.
 
#1 K390 Holds a very sharp edge forever, super easy to sharpen, and tough for the edge holding you get.
#2 10V Close to the same as K390, just not quite as tough, but equally great!
#3 Anything else, don't matter if one of those first two are made, won't have any money left to buy anything else, I'll buy as many as I can. 204p, S90v, HAP40, M4, and Cruwear.
#4 S110v
 
ATJ999 said:
#1 K390 Holds a very sharp edge forever, super easy to sharpen, and tough for the edge holding you get.
#2 10V Close to the same as K390, just not quite as tough, but equally great!
#3 Anything else, don't matter if one of those first two are made, won't have any money left to buy anything else, I'll buy as many as I can. 204p, S90v, HAP40, M4, and Cruwear.
#4 S110v
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Dude, I LOVE my K390 Mule. Just super agressive too.
And 10V is great stuff too.
I think you nailed it.
 
I only have real experience with VG-10 so far, in a Boker+ Urban Trapper. I'm waiting for an Endura also in VG-10 though. Pretty excited about that! I've seen the HAP-40 offerings and I think they were not much higher in price. What's the real difference between the HAP-40 and VG-10?
 
The reground 3V on my two Tuffs is the sharpest and sliciest steel I've had in a knife to date.
And I've had a LOT.
I'm highly doubtful I'll find much better.
 
I've owned Spydercos since the mid90s in at least a dozen different steels that I can remember, and I must say that I have never been disappointed in any of them. Each have their merits, but I'd say for probably the last 5 years or so, my ZDP-189 and S30V blades probably see the most carry time and usage on a daily basis.



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I get the best results with M4 and HAP40. Also I am veeery pleased with my Endura ZDP-189, I like S110V as well, but in general, as far as I am concerned, the best steels Spyderco uses are carbon steels.
 
H1!

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For SS, XHP and S110V. Non SS, CRUWEAR, HAP40, and M4. Sadly, I haven't put my 52100 to enough use, but what I have, I've liked.

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Chris "Anagarika";16378978 said:
After trying HAP40, I found I like VG10 and ZDP more.
And Superblue and M4. 8Cr dulls too soon..

Not too reliable opinion :o as I haven't tried other steels from Spyderco, and my light use perhaps doesn't show the difference enough. Anything that gets keener and hold it as good or better than VG10 perhaps is a better description.
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Curious why you prefer both VG10 and ZDP over HAP40?
 
Sosa said:
I like to focus on the design rather than the steel. I have no interest in owning multiples of the same model in different steels.
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I'm with you on not having multiples of the same model. I do like to try new steels, but preferably on a model I don't already own.
 
I really like 'em all enough to lose focus on the steel. The Endura is my fav. Spydie. ...but if I could have any steel on my Endura it would be S35VN.
 
archieblue said:
I really like 'em all enough to lose focus on the steel. The Endura is my fav. Spydie. ...but if I could have any steel on my Endura it would be S35VN.
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I agree with the above. I would love to see a Delica in s35vn. I really love the way Spyderco does their HT on s30v and s35vn. They are masters of it. For me those 2 steels are the perfect all around edc steels in my book (with Spydercos HT). I am curious to see how their CTS-XHP is though.
 
I would be hard pressed to name a favorite. I like my Manbug in Super Blue quite a lot. I also like my Delica in VG-10. This really is a well balanced steel. I also like my S30V knives and CTS-XHP even more so. ZDP-189 is also a great steel. I guess I would have to say I like all of these, but really pushed I would go with VG-10.
 
Humint said:
I agree with the above. I would love to see a Delica in s35vn. I really love the way Spyderco does their HT on s30v and s35vn. They are masters of it. For me those 2 steels are the perfect all around edc steels in my book (with Spydercos HT). I am curious to see how their CTS-XHP is though.
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I couldn't be more on the opposite side as far as S30V and S35VN. I'd be happy never having a knife in those again. I've had many knives in those two that have edge stability issues. Some even after multiple reprofiles. I'm buying less into the theory of factory edges being the problem. It's just that steel and me don't get along. Sharpening with the brown stones yields more issues than fixes, and those are the only two steel's (out of ~15 I sharpen) that give me issue. XHP on the other hand sharpens up so nicely and gets stupid sharp fast. It also holds the higher sharpness edge longer than S30V. Sneeze on S30V and it's hair popping edge is gone. I'd rather have that keen edge longer than one that holds its working edge for a good while.

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