ZDP-189 blade steel, whats turned U on/off about it?

I want one the only thing stopping me is that i want to buy USA made and i think zdp is japanese. I have no problems with japanese steel or knives i will just put American knives ahead of them.
 
My ZDP-189 Endura and ZDP-189 Delica (both fully serrated) are *astoundingly* sharp.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another blade in that steel.
 
try to find the Ti/ZDP-189 Leek and Mini Cyclone from Kershaw. both are excellent knives.

the only down side i have heard of is that the stuff (ZDP) is not friendly around water, but dont quote me
 
I have several ZDP modells (Spyder, Kershaw), but only for as collectibles.

For EDC purpose, I'm maximally pleased with VG10 and S30V blades. :thumbup:

(But yes, I would buy another ZDP modell variations. :D)
 
No. I have two now that are just work knives. We'll use them up and then replace them. I had two others (CF/ZDP189 Caly 3s) that I traded away. ZDP189 is too difficult for me to work with. The longer edge holding ability is not worth the trade off of being that much more difficult for me to sharpen.

I stress that the sharpening difficulties are entirely my own. There are people on the boards that are ZDP189 magicians. I know that. I believe you and I respect you for that. I just can't do it :o and I'd rather have a steel like VG10 or S30V that has to be touched up a bit more but is far easier to work with.
 
I have no problems sharpening ZDP, my trick? I never let it get too dull that it would become a PITA. I am always making sure it'll pop hair with light touch ups or stropping. I like the steel but its not my favorite.
 
rifon2 said:
My ZDP-189 Endura and ZDP-189 Delica (both fully serrated) are *astoundingly* sharp.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another blade in that steel.
Click to expand...

I agree....I just got got a NIB ZPD Calypso PE and it was insanely sharp.
 
I have a Endura ZDP-189 that T. Krien did a flat grind on. I set the edge to 15 degrees with the sharpemaker and it will get back shaving sharp in ten minutes. The edge has never felt what you would call dull.

But, I never even saw the knife before the flat grind. I've heard it is a pain to sharpen without the grind on a sharpmaker.
 
I love my zdp delica, but just wish that the blade grind was thinner to maximize the extreme level of sharpness it can attain. I'm hoping to pick up a cf caly 3 this year though.
 
ZDP gets sharp and stays sharp a long time.

Lots of people have noticed it's not as "stainless" as other commonly used stainless steels. I'd rank it at or below D2 for corrosion resistance. I have had it take on a patina, which polishes off, but I've never had it rust. I don't find it difficult to sharpen.

Overall I like it, but I can't say it's my all-time favorite. Every knife nut should at least try it out.

Here's what my stropped ZDP Calypso, Jr. did to a free hanging hair last Saturday:

IMG_0611.jpg
 
Funny I just noticed this thread. I just spent about half an hour working on my beater Mini Cyclone TI/ZDP. I like this knife so much, I have 4 of them: 1 beater, 1 carried once or twice, never cut anything, and 2 NIB and in the safe. ZDP is an amazing steel. Like KeithAM said above, once sharp, it will stay sharp for a very long time. I have a polished edge on my beater, and using richard j's cardboard wheels, I can get them to split hair as above. The secret to getting ZDP to it's maximum efficiency is to really thin out the edge.
 
I have a custom knife that is ZDP-189, and it is the sharpest knife that I have!!
 
Pro-Can get & hold a very sharp edge a long time.

Con-It's like trying to sharpen a diamond.
 
I have several zdp knives. I'm neither a hunter nor special ops operator, but I am one of these guys who is an inveterate collector of news clippings. When I see an article in a newspaper or mag that I want to keep, I clip it--I have done this all my life.

I read once that paper is actually tough on knives because it is made with clay binders. The zdp is the only steel I have found that will cut a reasonable amount of paper without tearing it. It's frustrating as hell to try to cut out an article, only to have it start tearing on you. It doesn't take much before you've got to go touch up your knife. I've had most of the other popular blade steels, including S30V. I won't use anything besides zdp to clip an article now. I've never tried s90V.

I am not a steel expert or sharpening expert, but just a user. I don't have problems sharpening it.
 
It is quite possibly my favorite steel for a small, light duty folder. I have a carbon fiber Calypso III with ZDP blade and it's excellent. Nice thin edge and holds it a very long time. It does have a tendency to patina a little, but I think that gives it character and I don't see it as a flaw. Use the right abrasives and don't let the blade get too dull and sharpening is easy since the steel doesn't form a difficult to remove burr.
 
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