I have a blurple Manix 2 arriving today. Though S110V is said to hold an edge very well (though difficult to sharpen to that edge), Spyderco has the only folders using it in Blade HQ's vast roster. What are the reasons for their choice and other maker's avoidance?
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Why no S110V?
- Thread starter BruceMack
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Very impressed with my Military in S100V; a few strokes on a 220 grit (ultra-coarse) DMT, followed by the same on a DMT red (600 grit) produces a hair-popping edge that lasts a long time. The Military is a superb slicer.
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- Jan 8, 2013
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Expensive, costs a lot to grind, market restricted to enthusiasts willing to pay a premium in price and their time/ materials in sharpening.
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- Oct 15, 2017
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^^ There's your answer, but I have the same manix you're getting today. Definitely no regrets about getting that baby, you're gonna love it! I also usually only take my S110V down to 600 grit (on a diamond stone). What a great toothy edge it takes. Enjoy!
Comeuppance
Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
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Steels like Maxamet and S110V eat through grinding belts like nothing else, and take notably longer to produce. Also, the materials are not produced in the same quantities more common steels are, and have a higher material price. It's a lot of bother for a company to get into, and is honestly quite a gamble as far as profitability goes.
Spyderco is the only brand that I'm familiar with that will regularly take the gamble of rolling out models with extremely uncommon steels. LC200N, Maxamet, S110V, ZDP-189, K390... and those are just the regular production knives, not taking into account the nearly endless sprint runs of exotic steels.
In addition to that, they are typically on point with their heat treatments and grinds, and typically release these models at an affordable price point. They're a steel nerd's dream company.
Spyderco is the only brand that I'm familiar with that will regularly take the gamble of rolling out models with extremely uncommon steels. LC200N, Maxamet, S110V, ZDP-189, K390... and those are just the regular production knives, not taking into account the nearly endless sprint runs of exotic steels.
In addition to that, they are typically on point with their heat treatments and grinds, and typically release these models at an affordable price point. They're a steel nerd's dream company.