Why the craze over sv30 ?

T

Tarantado

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Why is this so popular among makers like Mercworx despite its
reviews? sv30 isnt really combat rated or is it?:confused:
 
Tarantado said:
Why is this so popular among makers like Mercworx despite its
reviews? sv30 isnt really combat rated or is it?:confused:
Click to expand...

What the hell does "Combat Rated" mean? sounds like some marketing snake-oil "mall ninja" speak to me. It (S30V) is good steel, and that is why people use it.
 
Tarantado said:
Why is this so popular among makers like Mercworx despite its reviews? sv30 isnt really combat rated or is it?:confused:
Click to expand...
First of all, Mercworx itself isn't all that popular. Second, you would have to point out specific reviews opposing S30V, since it is pretty popular among knifemakers, manufacturers, and customers. Third, "combat rated" isn't a term we commonly use to describe steels.

S30V is the latest in a long series of stainless steels that have properties optimized for cutlery. But a knife requires a lot more than just a choice of steels. The overall design, the edge geometry, the steel itself, the heat treatment are all important in fashioning a useful tool -- or weapon.

The days of swords and shields in battle are over. Knives for a combat zone today are more likely to match camping/hunting utility knives, like the classic Matrine Ka-Bar, or workbench toolkits, like Swiss Army Knives or multitools.

Knives used in the field, where chopping or prying may be necessary, need a different approach than knives used primarily for slicing, especially softer materials like food.

S30V, like many high-end steels, is adaptable to all these purposes. But no one steel is perfect for everything.
 
I only have one S30V knife, but it has pretty decent edge retention and gets an edge much easier than my D2 knives (though the D2 edge seems almost impervious to wear)

Terrible value though
 
I have a bit of trouble sharpening my Dodo. :confused: Good thing when I do get it sharp it stays that way for a good while. :thumbup:
 
Since this looks like a thread going no where, I'll chip in. I have three Sebenzas in S30V. Two small and a large that was rebladed with the stuff. One small doesnt hold a very good edge.The large held a better edge , but not as good as the BG42 I stuck back in it. And the Small Wood classic really lives up to the hype that has been given it. I get better use from ATS 34 or BG42, sorry. BUT, it has proven a good steel for the average user who wants a steel that is easy to sharpen. And that sells knives.
 
I think it's a great steel. I've had great edge retention with it, it stays sharp long, and that's good, since I suck at sharpening.

EDIT: Plus, it's one of the newest, latest, and greatest super steels. Of COURSE it must be superior to good old 440C!
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
What the hell does "Combat Rated" mean? sounds like some marketing snake-oil "mall ninja" speak to me. It (S30V) is good steel, and that is why people use it.
Click to expand...
I consider my Busse knives Combat Rated . Ive always been confident
with them since ive beaten them up to extremes and they just beg for more. I really dont buy knives in the mall nor do I talk to ninjas, but It kinda scares me after reading Cliff Stamps review of
the Recondo where I see easily shattered Bg42 which is described as toughfer than s30v compared to INFI or Busse's A2
 
Esav Benyamin said:
First of all, Mercworx itself isn't all that popular. Second, you would have to point out specific reviews opposing S30V, since it is pretty popular among knifemakers, manufacturers, and customers. Third, "combat rated" isn't a term we commonly use to describe steels.

S30V is the latest in a long series of stainless steels that have properties optimized for cutlery. But a knife requires a lot more than just a choice of steels. The overall design, the edge geometry, the steel itself, the heat treatment are all important in fashioning a useful tool -- or weapon.

The days of swords and shields in battle are over. Knives for a combat zone today are more likely to match camping/hunting utility knives, like the classic Matrine Ka-Bar, or workbench toolkits, like Swiss Army Knives or multitools.

Knives used in the field, where chopping or prying may be necessary, need a different approach than knives used primarily for slicing, especially softer materials like food.

S30V, like many high-end steels, is adaptable to all these purposes. But no one steel is perfect for everything.
Click to expand...

I just got a new Sog X42 Field knife in s30v though I thought it was going to be i Bg42. Most of my knives are Busse's in A2 or INFI which I consider
combat rated and its only lately that I realized that Im not always in combat
and that other than my Beckers I could use something less intimidating
in a picnic barbecue, so in search of a civilized blade considering function
and form and price the x42 fit the bill. See Cliff Stamp's review of the Recondo , though not s30v {BG42} which is supposed to be toughfer and I guess Brittle, shattered. Its probably not fair to compare stainless to carbon
but i just want to know how it ranks. Thank you for your feedback and
also to all who replied, Its good to know I have a good blade for my specific purpose.
 
I'm not very impressed with Spyderco's S30V. It is easy to sharpen and can achieve a very nice edge but it doesn't seem to hold it very well. I would like to know how hard they get the steel. It seems very soft to me. Maybe they purposely ran it softer to counter the toughness issues surrounding the steel but it doesn't seem much different from their VG10 to me. In fairness, the only other S30V knife I have any experience with is the Rat Trap but SRKW's stock appears to be much better. It lived up to the hype while Spyderco's seemed pretty lackluster.
 
S30V is an improvement over the earlier stainless / semi-stainless - D2, ATS34 / 154CM, BG42 in terms of toughness / edgeholding...but the key, as with any steel is in the heat treatment & the optimization of the grind & edge.

With production knives, there may be a hit or miss...but with customs, if S30V doesn't perform better than the abovementioned steels, then I think you need to review the heat treatment / grind issue.

Personally, I like S90V or CPM420V, or even CPM440V (altho' there was the brittleness / chipping issue). I managed to get my CPM440V Gunting extremely sharp - sharper than any other steel.

ZDP-189 seems to be the steel to beat now.

Carbon steels are just as good as the stainless, but if you're in the tropics like I am with 95% humidity, stainless seems the way to go.

My 0.02, which aint worth much anyways :D :p
 
Tarantado said:
I consider my Busse knives Combat Rated . Ive always been confident
with them since ive beaten them up to extremes and they just beg for more. I really dont buy knives in the mall nor do I talk to ninjas, but It kinda scares me after reading Cliff Stamps review of
the Recondo where I see easily shattered Bg42
Click to expand...
Yeah, that sort of thing happens when you chop cinderblocks or hammer them into concrete floors.:rolleyes:
 
I had a Spyderco Military with S30V and it did seem to "bite" and slice more aggressively than any other blade-steel that I have used.

FWIW, the second most aggressive slicing steel that I have used is probably AUS-8.

Allen.
 
I consider my Busse knives Combat Rated . Ive always been confident
with them since ive beaten them up to extremes and they just beg for more
Click to expand...

So you haven't actually used them FOR combat? You sure you're no confusing that spec with Extreme and Beg for More spec?

I think that was CLiff's problem with the SOG, got his spec confused you see.

Are you Sure you don't need Ninja Essence Spec? :p :p
 
Well, thanks to Tarantado maybe Busse will add a "Mall Nina Combat Spec" to their nuclear proof claim. :p

Not a huge S30V fan myself. High carbon beats stainless for me any day.
 
:D
DaveH said:
So you haven't actually used them FOR combat? You sure you're no confusing that spec with Extreme and Beg for More spec?

I think that was CLiff's problem with the SOG, got his spec confused you see.

Are you Sure you don't need Ninja Essence Spec? :p :p
Click to expand...
Ok my terminology may not be precise with the combat rated term. but then what is your definition of combat? a knife fight ? gun fight? fight with wife? for me
combat is a serious survival situation which may or may not involve fighting an enemy.and
its a military term casualy used to decribe extreme conditions where equiptment or brain
failure will result in ones or others demise. Now I dont have to be involved in a military
conflict to be in such an extreme situation.I like to be prepared because in every day life
alone one can easily be in an extreme situation when it comes to life threatening emergencys
like fires, vehicle accidents, earthquakes. etc.. so most of the time when I carry a blade
I dont want nor do I have time {seconds count} to worry wether its gonna break if I use it to pry or shatter if i have to punch through metal. lastly how did the ninjas get involved here
dont they use swords?
 
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