Recommendation? ZDP-189 question

Zdp189 is more likely to rust, and has higher edge retention than s30v. I believe it is also more susceptible to breakage.

S30V will be less wear resistant but more corrosion resistant and less prone to breaking.

That's the short and sweet from my experience and understanding.

Note, neither steel breaks by looking at it, and both have above average edge retention when compared to older steels like 420hc and the like.
 
Let’s put it this way, from all of the research I have done, the only two advantages you will have when comparing the two steels is superior edge retention and wear resistance. Personally, I don’t recommend ZDP-189 unless you have money to blow and enjoy experimenting. When compared to S30V, it is more prone to rust, harder to sharpen, more prone to chip, but you gain in edge retention and wear resistance.
However, S30V is also high in wear resistance as well, so you probably won’t gain much of anything from ZDP-189 even though it’s higher.
 
This was my first knife in Zdp189, it's about 6 or 7 years old. I lost it in my pig pen (literally) for a year :D.

I've had other knives in zdp, and countless knives in s30v. Used and sharpened almost all of them.
 
ZDP-189 will hold a super sharp edge (I mean hair whittling) for a long time. You will not have to sharpen the knife very often unless you are cutting carpet or cardboard. That is the good news. The bad news is that level of edge retention comes at the cost of being very difficult to sharpen for most people. It is easier to strop it every now and then to touch up the edge rather than to have to sharpen it when it gets dull.

S30V is a lot easier to sharpen and once you sharpen past the factory edge, it is not chippy.
 
Rdmtrip said:
Anyone have any insight on how zdp-189 compares to steels like s30v?
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and
there is that indisputable scientrifict fact that "ZDP-189" is just cooler and more fun to say and type that "S30V".
It's got that "Z" in there and the "89" !

(all kidding aside I really enjoy ZDP-189 knives. My preference is for very hard steel that works well with a polished edge and THAT is what this steel has)
I'm just not a big fan of toothy S30V (where S30V shines). Probably more of a personal failing than the steel and I do more push cutting than running the edge back and forth.
Two really enjoyable knives for me in the ZDP-189 are the Endura 4 and the Dragonfly. They make a prefect EDC pare to carry at the same time. Don't try to cut wire ties they can chip. (now I use wire cutters for wire ties never a knife partly because I cut a whole bunch of wire ties every day and have the wire cutters on me).
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zdp is usually run much harder than s30v.
zdp has a stronger edge but more prone to chip when edge is stressed. s30v more prone to roll when the edge is stressed.
If making straight on cuts, zdp holds up very well against hard materiels like other steels, but over stressing the edge like reaming steel tubing or opening a can of beans, more prone to damage than s30v.
Not sure about overall edge retention cutting stuff that doesn't roll or chip these two steels, but zdp will keep a fine edge longer.
No rust on either, but have seen some very slight discoloration on zdp.
s30v to me is a more finicky to sharpen.

For light use, I'd use zdp, for rougher use, s30v.
 
Honestly I haven’t tried reprofiling zdp but it wasn’t that hard to touch up. Also because it lacks vanadium carbides it seems to be happy taking a razor razor edge.

I think people often say zdp is way harder to sharpen than people say it is. Even though it can be run up to hardnesses like 67rc the vanadium cabides in s30v etc are even harder.
 
Wowbagger said:
That's true; you don't want to sharpen one of these while sitting down, if you were to drop the knife you could easily cut your leg off and probably not notice until you try to stand up and discover your leg is off.
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I'll give this a 4.:D:p
 
The only knife that came to me with a hair whittling edge out of the box was a ZDP-189 Spyderco Delica. Even with a serrated edge it could literally cut shards out of a hair.
 
My DF2 zdp-189 and Delica 4 zdp-189 are used most than other folding knives. Based on my experience, they do not necessarily keep a SUPER sharp edge any longer than, say, 204p, m390, or even s30v. But they do keep a sharp enough edge longer than s30v and the likes of AUS8. Here "super sharp" means hair popping, while "sharp enough" means slicing phonebook paper.

ZDP-189 takes more time to sharpen than s30v (spyderco) or M390 (Benchmade). Rust does not seem to be an issue for me but I do wipe the blade right after each use.
 
ZDP is an odd and unique steel, sort of unlike anything else out there. It is extremely wear resistant and performs well against paper and cardboard. It takes a screaming sharp edge from simple ceramic stones. It doesn't like to be abused.

S30V is more forgiving in use but less forgiving on the sharpening bench. Without practice or the right equipment it can be really difficult to attain high sharpness... And that high sharpness doesn't stick around forever. But it'll hang on to a working edge a long time, and it can take a little abuse if necessary.
 
I don't care much for s30v. It's hard to polish, doesn't hold an edge well relative to the effort needed to create one and tends to be chippy out of the box. It is tougher than ZDP-189 though.

I don't pry, hammer or twist with my folding knives, so toughness isn't a concern for me. I'll take the screaming sharp edge that lasts forever. If they made all knives from ZDP-189 from now on I wouldn't be upset about it.
 
Depends on your edge preference.

ZDP189 holds and takes a superior polished edge.

But that's not the end all be all.

Some guys NEED or prefer toothier edges
And s30v is more cost effective and lives in that habitat.
 
Dr Heelhook said:
The only knife that came to me with a hair whittling edge out of the box was a ZDP-189 Spyderco Delica. Even with a serrated edge it could literally cut shards out of a hair.
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My stretch was so sharp I used it to shave my entire body; I just couldn’t help it, only one slight “gotcha!”
 
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