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

They were sprint runs. You can still find one every once and a while on an auction site or here in the For Sale threads.
 
I have no prblem with ZDP, it wouldn't stop me from purchasing and it probably wouldn't be the selling point on a knife for me. I really haven't dulled my one ZDP-bladed knife significantly yet, so I don't know how much of a pain it would be to resharpen it. I continue to touch it up so I wouldn't have to deal with a big sharpeing job.
 
dalefuller said:
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.
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I agree:thumbup:
I like my Fallknivens in ZDP, however I prefer something a bit easier to work with. I use my knives and tend to dull them sometimes. I prefer something I could sharpen in a reasonable amount of time. ATS-34, 154-CM, The carbon tool steels, and VG-10 have all worked well.
 
To my knowledge the following offer knives in ZDP:

William Henry Knives
Kershaw
Spyderco
Yuna (Thailand)

Anyone know of others? Davemgt posts above "I like my Falknivens in ZDP" but to my knowledge, Fallkniven has not offered ZDP. Can anyone else shed light?


By the way, the Kershaw ZDPs were, as noted above a 'sprint run,' But I recall reading a post from Thomas W of Kershaw that they intend to do a zdp knife using the 'composite' method (like on the Tyrade folder). Don't know when that will come about, but presumably in the not-too-distant future.

I bought one mini-cyclone, which I've used a fair amount, and I will no doubt snap up several of the zdp composites if & when they appear.
 
I can not understand all this "hard to sharpen" talks!

Only problem I know - it is more complicated to by from Hitachi from Japan and it is harder to grind. This is why not to many producing it as a limited editions and as regular models, but most pretends that D2 and CPM S30V is better for customers IMHO...

I have no problem sharpening it at all, it sharpens as good as any other steel, little bit better then D2 and better then CPM S30V.

This is best steel for today, too bad that it is not American but Japanese. This is not reason for me to ignore it. I hope Crucible will came up with something better and most important American knife manufacturers will not ignore this new steel as they ignore best American steel CPM S90V and CPM S125.

I have no problem sharpening my Yuna (my EDC) and use it for drywalls and everything else without any mercy. I know that I can sharpen it in no time, so I do not afraid to use it and try it in any media - like I learn that drywall not good thing to cut even for ZDP189.

As well as I have no problem sharpening all other ZDP knives I have. Also now I prefer ZDP189 knives to all other. Except American made CPM S90V and I hope for CPM S125V knives.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
D2 is a wonderful steel IMHO, but I've only used it a couple of times, and I don't care for the amount of time it takes to sharpen properly, even with a good honkin'-big benchstone. If ZDP is even harder, I'm thinking that whatever edge qualities it has are just not worth it. AUS8 and VG10 might loose their edge quickly, but putting the edge back on is no hassle at all.
I like steel that wants me to like it. A steel that makes me its bitch for sake of sheer performance is something I'm wary of.
 
wutitiz said:
To my knowledge the following offer knives in ZDP:

William Henry Knives
Kershaw
Spyderco
Yuna (Thailand)

Anyone know of others? Davemgt posts above "I like my Falknivens in ZDP" but to my knowledge, Fallkniven has not offered ZDP. Can anyone else shed light?


By the way, the Kershaw ZDPs were, as noted above a 'sprint run,' But I recall reading a post from Thomas W of Kershaw that they intend to do a zdp knife using the 'composite' method (like on the Tyrade folder). Don't know when that will come about, but presumably in the not-too-distant future.

I bought one mini-cyclone, which I've used a fair amount, and I will no doubt snap up several of the zdp composites if & when they appear.
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Yes my Fallknivens (U1, TK3) use their "3G" a laminate powder steel, not ZDP. I dont know why I thought they used ZDP. How different is ZDP from "3G"?
 
As far as I know, Hitachi has never officially released any info on the composition of ZDP. It's secret steel!
 
To what I know it is 3% Carbon and 20% Chromium - like chromium iron cast. Same was Cowry X before.

http://playground.sun.com/~vasya/YSS.gif

See some composition data here - I got this few years ago, before anyone in US were making knives out of it.

I like someone to make knife out of YXR7...

SGPS as I understand similar to CPM S30V by composition but Japanese manage to harden it over 63HRC.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
offsetlover said:
try to find the Ti/ZDP-189 Leek and Mini Cyclone from Kershaw. both are excellent knives....
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Mini Cyclone Ti looks like a good general carry gun of a knife, try one I should.
 
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Twirling motion blade names are having some effect, have idea of miniCycloneTi teamed with SpydercoSpin
now,by some chance, does anyone make a knife called a Twister? :D
 
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I find ZDP189 fairly easy to sharpen using silicon carbide sandpaper + diamond paste. Takes and holds a very nice edge. I like it.

In my experience the rumors about not holding up in salt water are true if you carry it to an extreme. I left one in salt water about 24 hours and it was pretty much ruined. Most stainless knives I have had this happen to usually just get a little light rusting that can be cleaned with Scotchbrite and Barkeepers Friend, but the ZDP pitted deeply. A bird of the air has whispered in my ear that this pitting may be due to a lack of molybdenum in ZDP. (Under more normal conditions with minimal maintenance I find it remains nice and shiny.)
 
3% of Carbon takes away quite a bit of Chromium to form Carbides which turns into superior edge-holding. But from other hand it take Chromium away from protecting steel from rust.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
So what would be the practical difference between ZDP and Fallkniven's "3G"? I am now extremely curious, I have always assumed they were different names for the same laminated steel.
 
nozh2002 said:
I like someone to make knife out of YXR7...


Thanks, Vassili.
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Rockstead makes a couple of different models with it...

2561297560_36a3fc6f30_o.jpg



JIN（仁） 　
Blade length: 130mm
Overall length: 250mm
Thickness: 5.8mm
Weight: 302g
Hardness: around HRc65
Material: YXR 7
Handle: Iron Wood
Hard Coating: DLC coating
 
My ZDP spyderco streach is so sharp, if you shave hair with it , it wont grow back.
 
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