Will M390 steel show up in a Spydie?

Noctis3880

Noctis3880

Joined
Jul 22, 2009
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Just wondering if there's any chance this steel might show up in a Spyderco knife in the future(say, Para 2)? My own use with it would suggest that it's far above S30V and would put it pretty close to CPM-M4 in edge retention. Only gripe with it thus far is that I've only seen it in Benchmade knives(two in gold class, one in a super thick BM 755 MPR, and one in a KnifeWorks exclusive 710 model). To me, that steel is one for work, and it would seem only reasonable to put it in the FFG blade of a Paramilitary 2.

It comes as a shock that such a steel hasn't reached the flavor of the month status yet:eek:.
 
We definitely need to see more M390 steel. :D

In a Spyderco it would be awesome. :)

IMO it's just might be the ticket in the future.
 
We have a "Mule Team" run curently being finished up.

Uddeholm makes some very good steels.

M390 is the basic chemistry for 20CV (Latrobe). But Uddeholm's "version".

We're also planning to use Carpenter's "version" (CTS-204P) of the same steel.

Each foundry has their secret "tweaking" of these formulas. Their study will be fun for steel-heads.

It appears as though the steel foundries have "discovered" the knife industry in the past few years. Probably partially due to the downturn in the auto industry, which was their main "bread and butter", and I would guess partially from observing Crucible's succes.

The downturn was not a good thing for our foundries, but the the new opportunities for blade steels is a good thing for the Knife industry.

They have also expressed interest in providing the smaller amounts necessary for Mule Team runs. They feel the Mule Team is a good path to get some of their steels into the market.

We had plans to use many of these new steels in our Mule Team models, but at 4 per year, it will take years to "explore" them all. So some of the steels will be used in knives as well as Mule Teams.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
We have a "Mule Team" run curently being finished up.

Uddeholm makes some very good steels.

M390 is the basic chemistry for 20CV (Latrobe). But Uddeholm's "version".

We're also planning to use Carpenter's "version" (CTS-204P) of the same steel.

Each foundry has their secret "tweaking" of these formulas. Their study will be fun for steel-heads.

It appears as though the steel foundries have "discovered" the knife industry in the past few years. Probably partially due to the downturn in the auto industry, which was their main "bread and butter", and I would guess partially from observing Crucible's succes.

The downturn was not a good thing for our foundries, but the the new opportunities for blade steels is a good thing for the Knife industry.

They have also expressed interest in providing the smaller amounts necessary for Mule Team runs. They feel the Mule Team is a good path to get some of their steels into the market.

We had plans to use many of these new steels in our Mule Team models, but at 4 per year, it will take years to "explore" them all. So some of the steels will be used in knives as well as Mule Teams.

sal
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Hi Sal,

Thanks for the update on this, I am looking forward to seeing knives in these steels. :thumbup:

M390 is good enough for me to jump up and down and scream about it and if I could I would go to the top of a mountian and yell it out. The steel blows me away to say the least for a lot of reasons and I personally don't usually get that excited about a steel. :D

Phil Wilson also made some comments regarding M390 in my Rope Cutting thread. :)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=774510


Jim
 
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Hi Jim,

Interesting tests. Certainly a lot of effort. Reminds me of Dan Maragni's rope cutting tests on Cold Steel's Carbon 5. BNig [ile of sgtrands.

If I may suggests some adjustments to your testing?

I would suggest using at least 2 knives. I realize it's twice the effort, but consistency is better demonstrated.

I would also suggest that you make sure to have the edges as close as possible in edge angle, thickness and geometry. As an example, putting a micro bevel on one edge and not on the other could affect the results quite a bit.

I must confess that we didn't get the same results that you did. We found that M390 was closer to Latrobe's and Carpenter's versions of the same steel.

Real world testing will be good for all of these new steels.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Jim,

Interesting tests. Certainly a lot of effort. Reminds me of Dan Maragni's rope cutting tests on Cold Steel's Carbon 5. BNig [ile of sgtrands.

If I may suggests some adjustments to your testing?

I would suggest using at least 2 knives. I realize it's twice the effort, but consistency is better demonstrated.

I would also suggest that you make sure to have the edges as close as possible in edge angle, thickness and geometry. As an example, putting a micro bevel on one edge and not on the other could affect the results quite a bit.

I must confess that we didn't get the same results that you did. We found that M390 was closer to Latrobe's and Carpenter's versions of the same steel.

Real world testing will be good for all of these new steels.

sal
Click to expand...

Sal,

I do have a 2nd 710 in M390 that is new in box, but I only have one Endura 4 in ZDP and I would have to remove a lot of steel to get full bevel back to 30 inclusive so I think I will leave that one alone.

I have to get more rope for testing anyway so I can get another Endura 4 and make sure it's set at 30 inclusive and set the NIB BM to the same once I am ready to test again.

I will work on it and let you know what I find once I am done, might be a few weeks before I can get everything together though.

I plan on getting whatever you make in the new steels also and testing them in the future.

Jim
 
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Ankerson said:
Sal,

I do have a 2nd 710 in M390 that is new in box, but I only have one Endura 4 in ZDP and I would have to remove a lot of steel to get it back to 30 inclusive so I think I will leave that one alone.

I have to get more rope for testing anyway so I can get another Endura 4 and make sure it's set at 30 inclusive and set the NIB BM to the same once I am ready to test again.

I will work on it and let you know what I find once I am done, might be a few weeks before I can get everything together though.

I plan on getting whatever you make in the new steels also and testing them in the future.

Jim
Click to expand...
Perhaps another 710 in the standard D2 steel might provide a more accurate comparison, but that might hurt the pocket more than another Endura.
 
Noctis3880 said:
Perhaps another 710 in the standard D2 steel might provide a more accurate comparison, but that might hurt the pocket more than another Endura.
Click to expand...

Yeah it would. :eek:

I can get the bevels close enough thickness wise to test on both knives I believe. :thumbup:
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Jim,

Interesting tests. Certainly a lot of effort. Reminds me of Dan Maragni's rope cutting tests on Cold Steel's Carbon 5. BNig [ile of sgtrands.

If I may suggests some adjustments to your testing?

I would suggest using at least 2 knives. I realize it's twice the effort, but consistency is better demonstrated.

I would also suggest that you make sure to have the edges as close as possible in edge angle, thickness and geometry. As an example, putting a micro bevel on one edge and not on the other could affect the results quite a bit.

I must confess that we didn't get the same results that you did. We found that M390 was closer to Latrobe's and Carpenter's versions of the same steel.

Real world testing will be good for all of these new steels.

sal
Click to expand...

Hi Sal,

I have everything coming for round two. :D

New Endura 4 FFG in ZDP and 100' of 5/8" rope this time at Phil Wilson's recommendation. :thumbup:


Jim
 
The models I think would be great in M390 would be a Manix2, Para2, and of course the Military. Those platforms are perfectly suited for these kinds of steel (just my humble opinion of course). I am anxious to get a Mule in the M390 as well, that would be terrific. :thumbup:

Nobody said:
Actually, even a flat ground Native in ZDP189 would be great!
Click to expand...

That would be one hell of a sprint run, especially in some British Racing Green. I'd be down for around 2-3. :thumbup:
 
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IIRC, there was a thread on the Spyderco.com forum (maybe here, as well) wherein it was revealed M390 and S90V sprint runs were in the Paramilitary 2's future. One will have a peel-ply carbon fiber handle (not sure about colour) and the other a grey G10... also not sure which handle will go with which steel, but I think the CF will be matched with S90V and the grey G10 with M390. One is planned for release at the end of this year, and the other, some time in 2011.

Or did I just dream this all?
 
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