What kind of performance difference....

[diamdave]

...can I expect if I buy a Gerber Freeman in s30v vs. aus 8?

I know it (s30v) is a 'better' and sought after steel.... can someone put it in practical terms for me....durability, edge retention, sharpness, etc?

 

[mete]

Having knives with both those steels I can tell you that S30V is significantly better in all respects .While AUS8 is a good steel the S30V to me is the best stainless for knives. I suppose that the real question is whether or not the extra cost of the S30V is worth it to you.

 

[diamdave]

yes, this is quite true. The difference would be $35 out the door vs. approx. $78 delivered. Just trying to get a feel for what the real-world cutting results/differences are.

 

[Temper]

I had a small drop point made by DMKnives, its really sold me on the S30V.

 

[Sando]

diamdave, it's worth it.

Just like mete and temper said, s30V isn't just hype. I don't know what it is, but the stuff cuts like crazy. yes technically speaking the vanadium carbides are the difference, but in the using difference is more than I expected. Put it this way in knoop harndess numbers:

Martensite (hardened steel): 500-800
Cementite (iron carbides): 1025
Zirconia: 1160
Titanium Nitride: 1800
Alumina: 2100
Vanadium Carbide: 2660!

Then S30V has the property of holding it all together with fine grain, yup it's worth the $35.

Steve

Steve

 

[mete]

It's not just the vanadium because there are other steels that also have vanadium. The composition is excellent but the fact that the carbides are much smaller and evenly distributed makes a big difference .For well over a year I've used a sebenza for my edc so it cuts various things and it's great. S30V !!!!!

 

[fitzo]

Something no one's mentioned is that comparing steels assumes perfected heat treat for those particular steels to obtain their optimum performance.

All too often factories will use the "latest and greatest" steel but not heat treat them for optimal characteristics, often leaving them several points too soft for best edge retention in favor of ease of sharpening. I bought several knives from a well known factory when the speed-opening mechanisms came out and am VERY disappointed with their edge holding despite having supposedly excellent steels.

There are other issues like sharpening angles and such, but my point is the name of the steel doesn't mean much unless it's capabilities are maximized for performance.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[Michael J. Spangler]

can the same be said for the rest of the CPM steels?
thoguht S60V only has a littl more S90V has almost double the vanadium

 

[diamdave]

well, thanks to all . I placed my order in s30v for the Freeman. Hopefully Gerber does, like you say, a decent heat treat, grind angle, etc. Knife sure does feel good in the hand.