Whatever Happened to VG-10?

seems like a versatile steel. tough enough to use as a slip joint whittler, easy to sharpen and scary sharp when used as a modern EDC folder, strong enough for a 7-inch fixed utility blade.
 
Quillan said:
Moderation in all things, brother. VG-10 is excellent, plain and simple. Does it have the edge retention of "new" super steels? Probably not. It also doesn't have issues with chipping, or difficulty in sharpening. Literally anyone, with a bit of practice and a good sharpening system can put a surgically hair popping edge on it, and can reasonably expect it to hold up very well under typical use. Great steel.
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All I know is from my own experience and that experience is that my shun 4 inch deba has chipped from butchering chicken when chopping through back bones and whatnot. Nothing major but the next time I cut up a chicken ill bust out the loupe and take some pics.

Fwiw I am sure its a perfectly good steel for folders.
 
Ryanol said:
All I know is from my own experience and that experience is that my shun 4 inch deba has chipped from butchering chicken when chopping through back bones and whatnot. Nothing major but the next time I cut up a chicken ill bust out the loupe and take some pics.

Fwiw I am sure its a perfectly good steel for folders.
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To my experience with larger VG-10 knives like the Fallkniven NL1 and NL2, VG-10 holds an edge very well!

If the edge is too thin for the material being cut it can chip or bend, but this happens to many a good steel when the edge is too thin.
The cure is to set the edge thicker, when sharpening.


Regards
Mikael
 
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VG-10 works fine ! It's like N690 which is common in Europe. Both good quality practical blades.
 
Hard to export till recently and japan has become more expensive to manufacture things in the past 10 years or so. It has started to show up in cheap Chinese knives. So I wouldn't be surprised if it gets the poor reputation that 440c has gotten over the years thanks to an association with cheap knives.
 
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VG-10 rocks. I bought amongst others a Spydie Moran and a Spydie Perrin - both are excellent slicers!

If one cant get VG-10, one could go for the N690Co, which IIRC Sal calls the 'European VG-10.'
 
Mikael W said:
To my experience with larger VG-10 knives like the Fallkniven NL1 and NL2, VG-10 holds an edge very well!

If the edge is too thin for the material being cut it can chip or bend, but this happens to many a good steel when the edge is too thin.
The cure is to set the edge thicker, when sharpening.


Regards
Mikael
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Agreed.
 
Ryanol said:
Agreed.
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Thank You! :thumbup:

There are so many wellmade knives out on the market in VG-10, that it would be a loss not to use them.

3 lam. VG-10 favorites.
The bottom is one of the 25 first Fällkniven P folder.
They are the only P's in lam. VG-10.
IMGP5623.jpg
IMGP5623.jpg


Regards
Mikael
 
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It's a great steel. Holds a great edge and is easy to sharpen.

It may not be the sexy steel right now, but there are still lots of good knives using it and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one with it.
 
I put vg10 in the same league as 440, maybe even just right below it. Sure you can use it, but why would you want to when there are MANY better steels...
 
rajincagin said:
I put vg10 in the same league as 440, maybe even just right below it. Sure you can use it, but why would you want to when there are MANY better steels...
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To me VG-10 works more like stainless A2.
As my models are laminated, the outer shell is softer and very tough.
The harder core stands for edgeholding and wear resistance..

Those MANY better steels are seldom availible in the designs I like!
I do buy and use powdersteel knives, but I have yet to find knives like the Northern Light series in powdersteel.

Let's not forget that blade geometry and heat-treatment comes before the steelchoice!
When these parameters are put together in a good design, the result will be awesome.
Even in VG-10.


Regards
Mikael
 
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rajincagin said:
I put vg10 in the same league as 440, maybe even just right below it. Sure you can use it, but why would you want to when there are MANY better steels...
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Say what now!!??

VG-10 is an excellent steel IMO and those Spydies, that I have owned (Moran & Perrin etc) have been EXCELLENT slicers......and thats an understatement.
 
Mikael W said:
To me VG-10 works more like stainless A2.
As my models are laminated, the outer shell is softer and very tough.
The harder core stands for edgeholding and wear resistance..

Those MANY better steels are seldom availible in the designs I like!
I do buy and use powdersteel knives, but I have yet to find knives like the Northern Light series in powdersteel.

Let's not forget that blade geometry and heat-treatment comes before the steelchoice!
When these parameters are put together in a good design, the result will be awesome.
Even in VG-10.


Regards
Mikael
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Its All about the heat Treat and geometry of the blade.
Shun seems to leave their VG-10 knives too hard? I get more chipped up Shun than any other brand with VG-10 steel.
 
rajincagin said:
I put vg10 in the same league as 440, maybe even just right below it. Sure you can use it, but why would you want to when there are MANY better steels...
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That's ridiculous, what and how much do you cut? It will depend on need and wants really.
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
Its All about the heat Treat and geometry of the blade.
Shun seems to leave their VG-10 knives too hard? I get more chipped up Shun than any other brand with VG-10 steel.
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I don't use Shun, but I agree about the importance of heat-treat and geometry.
How do the Shun's perform after You have reprofiled and sharpened them?


Regards
Mikael
 
Mikael W said:
I don't use Shun, but I agree about the importance of heat-treat and geometry.
How do the Shun's perform after You have reprofiled and sharpened them?


Regards
Mikael
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If the heat treat was not right, It would be the same as before you did work on them.

I suspect that some of the Shun knives are to hard? I can't say 100% that's the reason, I just know that many come into my shop for sharpening with small and large chips. More than any other Japanese culinary knife with a cladding and core of VG-10.
 
I dont think anything "happened" to it. A lot of spyderco and Fallknivens have it. IMO its a great steel. Not too bad to sharpen and hold a really sharp edge. Probably my favorite stainless steel and I am not a huge fan of stainless as it is.
 
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