Whatever Happened to VG-10?

redsquid2

redsquid2

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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I never had a knife with VG10 myself. Just doing a search, it seems like the information on it, is from 12-13 years ago. However, I notice Hattori still offers knives in VG10.

Is there something better now? Is it Japanese? Difficult to obtain outside Japan?

Thanks,

Andy
 
In my research, I read that it is difficult to sharpen, but takes a wicked edge and keeps it.
 
It is good steel. Some new steels have been introduced in the last year and VG-10 seems to be taking a back seat. VG-10 was considered a "super steel".
 
A lot of makers are still using it. Spyderco, Moki, Fallkniven, Mcusta... It may not be as popular as it once was, but certainly not hard to find. It's a good steel, it takes an incredible edge, is easy to sharpen, and holds the edge fairly well.
 
redsquid2 said:
In my research, I read that it is difficult to sharpen, but takes a wicked edge and keeps it.
Click to expand...

I've never had any issues with sharpening it. Virtually all of Spyderco's Seki City-produced knives still use it. It's a good steel.
 
Like all steels, it becomes less "sexy" when something new comes out to sell to the steel junkies! :D All the "hot" steels now? Give 'em a couple years and the same will happen to them.

It doesn't make them any less good. It just makes them less "marketed." I mean, everybody has a VG-10 knife (or a 440C knife)...Marketing/Sales needs to sell them something else. :D Like Tessio said, "...its only business, I always liked VG-10...."
 
VG10 is probably my favorite stainless steel considering cost, ease of maintenance, edge retention, etc. I have never had any problems sharpening it.
 
It's the 154CM of Japan (not literally, just that's what it's closest to in performance and popularity). On the Spyderco forum many people prefer it for its excellent balance of properties.
 
I was lucky enough to find a Kershaw Double Cross pocket folder in VG10 damascus a few months ago. It is very easy to sharpen, and I even strop the smaller sheepsfoot blade on a stainless polish charged strop to get it farther along.

It takes a ridiculously wicked edge, and hardened at 59 +/- on the Rockwell scale, it holds it very well.

Everyone should try out this steel. It has worked great for me!

Robert
 
I saw a camillus pristine at wally world with vg-10 for not much yesterday. I did not like the feel. It was hard to open.
 
I had the ..."Oh, it's only 1095" or whatever with Kabar Becker or ESEE blades and the GEC traditional knives. Works well. Oh my... Condor uses 1085..... got to have some of that new stuff over the old stuff. It is all about selling knives. For most people, how many do you really need? But when a new steel comes out, you ask yourself... hmm, might want to try that on this knife; supposed to be better....
 
Wooly Bugger said:
VG10 is probably my favorite stainless steel considering cost, ease of maintenance, edge retention, etc. I have never had any problems sharpening it.
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this.... maybe I look at things bass-ackwards, but I prefer VG-10 and 1095 because its so easy to touch them up in the field with a small medium/fine ceramic stone, while others prefer "super duper steels" that never EVER get dull lol
 
marcinek said:
Like all steels, it becomes less "sexy" when something new comes out to sell to the steel junkies! :D All the "hot" steels now? Give 'em a couple years and the same will happen to them.

It doesn't make them any less good. It just makes them less "marketed." I mean, everybody has a VG-10 knife (or a 440C knife)...Marketing/Sales needs to sell them something else. :D Like Tessio said, "...its only business, I always liked VG-10...."
Click to expand...

Tessio! Nice reference.
 
22-rimfire said:
Condor uses 1085..... got to have some of that new stuff over the old stuff.
Click to expand...

Condor mostly uses 1075 actually. Which only reinforces your point.

To the OP, Spyderco, SOG, the new Camillus brand, and A.G. Russell use lots of VG-10.

VG-10 may have been harder to sharpen back when Arkansas stones and ceramic hones were by far the easiest to find sharpening tools. Now silicon carbide has made a resurgence, and diamond hones are easy to find. Both SiC and diamond will make quick work of sharpening VG-10.

If you want a VG-10 blade to try out the steel, I recommend A.G. Russell's FeatherLite One Hand knife or Spyderco's Centofante III/Endura/Delica/Dragonfly.
 
VG-10 is very common in a lot of middle of the road Japanese kitchen knives. I could probably rattle off 15 manufacturers that have VG-10 lines in their products. I think it is fairly easy to sharpen--certainly nothing like ZDP-189 or S90V. The blend of properties (e.g. stainlessness, ease of sharpening, edge retention, price, etc.) are what make it a good choice for a wide variety of applications.
 
Have had nothing but positive experiences with vg-10. Gets wicked sharp and holds it for quite awhile. The only knife I have with it still is my Street Beat. I just took it to 15°incl and man is it sharp. I have seen rust on it once though in the hole on the blade. I've carried it a lot and when I go running that's my go to knife so it was inevitable I guess. Q-tip and some CLP and it was taken care of.
 
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