Worth Buying? Blur S30V

J

John_0917

Joined
Apr 15, 2014
Messages
3,384
I have been looking at the S30V variant of the Blur for awhile, can get one online at a good price, but have some questions before I decide.

1) Is it actually flat ground? Descriptions say so but it is hard to tell and I have never seen one in person.

2) Does the assist snap open as fast as other Blur models do?

3) How hard is S30V to sharpen? I have a Sharpmaker but don't have any knives in S30V so I am curious about that as well as how sharp these usually come from the factory.

4) The black handle/stonewash blade is the only S30V one correct?

5) Is this a better (meaning all around EDC) choice than the tanto BDZ-1 version that recently came out?
 
1) I believe the answer is YES

2) I believe so. The difference is blade material... I think.

3) I can only say it takes time. Not hard, but takes time.

4) I don't know... Sorry

5) This is very subjective. I don't think anybody can answer that... Depends on how are you going to use it. If you just want to open a book. S30V will better than tanto.

(If I am wrong... please correct me.)
 
1) Yes. All the S30V Blurs I've seen feature a high flat grind.
2) Yes.
3) It'll sharpen fine on the Sharpmaker. It will take longer than, say, the Sandvik steels. Same technique, just more repetition. All the Blurs I've gotten have arrived with a great factory edge.
4) Yes.
5) The S30V is a more wear-resistant steel (will retain its edge longer). The BDZ-1 will be easier to resharpen and touch up. The tanto blades shape is also easier to sharpen, although the recurve on the drop point blade does give you a bit more bite for draw cuts.

To answer your question, though, the S30V Blur is definitely worth it.
 
  1. I'll defer to the guys above as I can't get to mine to look at right now (in bedroom, Wife asleep) but BHQ claims it to be a hollow grind. BHQ specs here. From the specs on another non-supporting site: Blade Grind: Hollow Grind (Upper Spine). Certainly not a full flat grind, though.
  2. Yes. Same mechanism.
  3. Matter of opinion. Harder to sharpen than some, easier than others. I personally find S30V to hit the sweet spot between holding an edge and being easy to sharpen. YMMV. Mine came nicely sharp from the factory as did each of the Blurs that I bought new.
  4. Correct.
  5. Again, a matter of opinion. Both are nice knives. I have a small collection of Blurs (12) and the 1670S30V is the one that I use most as an EDC. Nothing at all wrong with the BDZ-1, but I prefer the S30V as it is one of my favorite EDC steels.

Best of luck on your decision. :)
 
Last edited:
Mine is flat grind so I think bhq is wrong.

Usually tanto is easier to sharpen than recurve, but with the sharpmaker it's no problem using the edge of the ceramics. Keep in mind the result edge is not as fine of an edge sharpened using the flat sides of the ceramics.
 
I ordered one, should be here tomorrow (we have local delivery here, Chinese guy on a bike)...I will update with my thoughts after I get it and have a chance to play with it.
 
John_0917 said:
I ordered one, should be here tomorrow (we have local delivery here, Chinese guy on a bike)...I will update with my thoughts after I get it and have a chance to play with it.
Click to expand...

You won't be sorry, brother. Yes it's a flat grind, you can tell just by comparing pics of the standard black blur and the S30V one. I've owned one, and it was killer. Only sold it because I was going through some financial trouble.

The Speedsafe fires hard just like all the other Blurs I've owned, and yes it only comes in the black handle. You can purchase different ones to make a FrankenBlur as many do around here, but that's all personal preference. The parts all do retrofit, in case you're wondering.

It's not too hard to sharpen. Like the guys said before me, it just takes a little longer. Honestly, I have one of the Lansky crock box sharpeners and the rods it comes with do a fine job in my experience.

As for your last question, that's entirely up to you. I also had a tanto BDZ-1 Blur and that thing was great! It did everything my S30V Blur did. Rest assured, you'll be happy with your purchase. Just be sure to post pics when the Chinese guy drops it off.
 
I think the Sandvik and BDZ-1 steels (and the dealer-exclusive 420HC one from a few years back) are the only ones that sport the hollow grind. All the S30V ones and the limited runs in other steels (composite, CPM-154) all have the high flat grind, to the best of my knowledge. Even some of the older Sandvik ones had the flat grind, but those changed years back.
 
flarp said:
I think the Sandvik and BDZ-1 steels (and the dealer-exclusive 420HC one from a few years back) are the only ones that sport the hollow grind. All the S30V ones and the limited runs in other steels (composite, CPM-154) all have the high flat grind, to the best of my knowledge. Even some of the older Sandvik ones had the flat grind, but those changed years back.
Click to expand...

You sir, know your stuff. I believe you're correct on all fronts.
 
I know its a day late and a dollar short, but I would have bought the standard blur. I'm just not an s30v fan.
 
I think you made a good call. The S30V is so much better than the BDZ-1 tanto for general usage that it is hardly even possible to compare, IMO. I think the tanto blades aren't useful at all, are harder to sharpen, and have a reduced service life because they deform so quickly. S30V steel is also hard to beat and from what I have read, the BDZ-1 is an improvement over the base steel, but not quite that of S30V.

With a SharpMaker, you will be fine with S30V. It takes a little longer than many other steels due to its wear resistance, but it's not unusually difficult or anything.

I've only seen the S30V model in black/stonewashed. Im a huge fan of stonewashed over any other finish. One thing you could do is buy a second Blur like a Blem from KershawGuy with a handle you like, and swap the S30V blade onto your handle.

I have a few of the CPM-154CM Blurs and those things are monsters in how well they perform and how tough they are. I like Kershaw CPM-154 and CPM-S30V a lot...the do a great job with their heat treatments.
 
My s60v blem is a high flat grind as were the s30v models IIRC. Only the Sandvik and 420HC models had the hollow grind if memory serves correct
 
There's actually a very limited run brown handle S30V also, but as far as a regular production knife that's actually attainable, that would be the one with the black handle.
 
I should have mentioned before, I already own a standard Blur (Sandvik, tan handles, plain edge). I got an email about 20 mins ago that my package had been delivered to my home. Unfortunately I'm here at the office for the next few hours...
 
John_0917 said:
I should have mentioned before, I already own a standard Blur (Sandvik, tan handles, plain edge). I got an email about 20 mins ago that my package had been delivered to my home. Unfortunately I'm here at the office for the next few hours...
Click to expand...

^^ that kills me too. sometimes i ship to the office, but then i worry abt it getting lost in interoffice mail.
 
Well I just got home and opened it and..................................they shipped me one that obviously was sent to someone else before who appears to have completely stripped both the clip and the pivot screws. I put my T-6 driver into a clip screw and it just spun. It's going back to the seller tomorrow.

This makes me wonder, are S30v Blurs known for the excessive loctite that many foreign made Kershaw knives are? My other Blur didn't have any on it when I bought it but I'm guessing this one does. Also, the assist was SLOW, like didn't even fully open and lock about half of the dozen or so times I opened it. I have to say I am disappointed in both the seller and the product, even the abuse aside. The finish on the blade is not at all impressive looking, my $17 Tremor look just as good.

Don't know if I'll order a replacement, from what I saw I was pretty underwhelmed, for the money I could get another Spyderco, I might do that.
 
Sorry to hear. It sounds like someone used it and may have put Loctite on the screws themselves (and likely used the wrong strength). The dealer should have checked the stock more closely and especially if this was a customer return (which it sounds like it is).

My Carbon Fiber and CPM-154 Blurs had only a tiny amount of low-strength Loctite on them (which is what I generally prefer on folders). The fit and finish of them are all fantastic as well.

You can often find the used CPM-154 & carbon fiber Blurs practically new for a price that isn't that much worse than the S30V models (and I like both the handle and steel a lot more). That could be an option?
 
The Blurs I have didn't come with excessive threadlocker. They had enough to keep the screws from slipping, but they were easy enough to overcome with appropriate sized Torx drivers.

It sounds like whatever seller you bought from sold you a used, damaged, and previously returned Blur. If the screws are stripped and the knife isn't opening right, it's entirely possible the previous owner had disassembled it and didn't properly put it back together (or messed something up before/during re-assembly). I would definitely return it to the seller.

I wouldn't use a customer-returned (and possibly damaged) sample as a basis to judge the knife. Return that one that you received, and have them exchange it for one that is really new from the factory (or purchase from another reputable dealer).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top