Will S30V ever be an "outdated" steel to you?

I still really like S30V, it's just as hard for me to sharpen as S35VN, but holds an edge noticeably longer. In the end it doesn't matter when a steel was made, it matters how it performs. Just because it's not the latest hotness, doesn't mean it's not great. Look at 154CM, that's older than I am, but it's still one of my favorite (and arguably the most balanced steel out there).
 
I thought s30 / s35 was the new Aus8... Seen some models that used to be aus8 are now s35. Figured it was just making the cycle. All the recipes are out so more companies can make them easier.

I have some old S30's that are full of chips but who doesn't need a few serrated knives. They still work great.
 
Nope I love s30, 35, Elmax (same as s45 more or less). Those are actually my favorite steels at the moment. I like some extra toughness, and more importantly, the ease of sharpening of S35VN and the others compared to 20CV/M390.
 
Centermass said:
S30v has always worked just fine for me, and I don’t ever foresee myself being so discerning that I’d feel “disappointed” in it. Having gotten started getting into knives in the 80’s, I had plenty of cool looking knives with crap steel, so anything is better than those in actual performance.

Heck, I’ve never been upset at my knives in VG10 or 154cm, either, although they’ve fallen out of favor. I’ve got others in some newer steels, but I’m sure I don’t really use each of my knives hard enough, or to their fullest potential, to fully appreciate such differences.
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I will say I've been pretty disappointed with 154CM. I have probably 10 premium knives (Benchmade, Pro-Tech, etc) and the edge holding is noticably poor. It sharpens nice though!
Having said that, I still love VG-10, I'll take it over 154CM any day!
 
I really like s30v, sharpens nice and holds the edge well. I don't chase it, but I won't scoff at it either.
Zdp189 has been better ime than many of the newer steels.

Love the lightsaber comments lol ! Been dreaming of that since I could walk !
 
Me, a 1095 enjoyer: “S30V is what?”

Lame joke aside though, from what I’ve seen from my old man’s Spydie Chinook, it’s still a perfectly serviceable steel. Hot stuff like M390 and Magnacut probably outperform it, but I don’t think I’ll ever go, “Dang, I hate that this knife came in S30V.”
 
My first S30V knives were in 2014, had chipping/microchipping with many. I later heard there had just been a bad batch of it.

Pretty much swore it off.

CPM-S35VN i have had very inconsistent results with as far as edge retention.

In the "price" range of those steels, I much prefer CTS-XHP.

While I don't necessarily feel that S30V is "past its prime" so to speak, I think that a lot of knives that come with it are overpriced. I think the max price point for a production folder with that steel is $150. There are a lot of knives I like around $200 but that is too much for even S35VN imo.
 
IMO the steel hype is a marketing tool
It is easier for the la manufacturers to offer steel variants than to design a new knife
All the industry benefits from this, but at the end most users 1) can’t tell the difference 2) will not use the steel to its full capabilities or even for its intended use

To be honest someone who knows how to sharpen its knives don’t need super fancy steels

S30v is a great steel
Better steels exists, worst steels exist too ;)

IMOthe best steel is the one with the best balance between the steel qualities, your sharpening skills, the intended use of the knife and the price
 
S30V is less expensive nowadays, it is still a big leap over ingot steels. We basically maxed out in ingot steel technology, people are even going back to older formula, looking for toughness with stainless over wear resistance.

S30V has its place as a solid entry point for PM steel, along with maybe CPM154 (because it as both ingot and PM, knives in this steel is way more expensive for what you get however).
 
440c is mediocre at best now, but used to be premium and my baseline steel. S30V will always be premium, no question in my mind. One of my favorites.
 
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