ZDP 189 steel

Q

qwerty13

Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Messages
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I'm TDY in the Philippines so the only magazines I can get are months old. I just read about this new ZDP 189 steel in the Novermber 2005 issue of Tactical Knives.
I like what I've read and the pictures of the William Henry knives are beautiful. I've checked their website and they're in the $400 to $550 range.
Does anyone have any further information on this steel?

Thanks
 
Spyderco's releasing a ZDP-189 Delica soon. Great way to try out the new steel
 
As suggested in the first reply I did a search of ZDP 189. My take on the comments I read said the steel was brittle. Based on that I decided not to buy the William Henry knife that was priced between $400 and $550.
 
Most ZDP-189 is sandwiched between other steels; Spyderco ZDP-189 is sandwiched between 440C. It has a higher RC than many other production knife steels (M2, D2, VG-10, S30V, etc).

As far as being brittle, I wouldn't say that my ZDP-189 Calypso Jr is any less brittle than S30V or M2. I wouldn't use it as a pry, but I will go on record and say it is probably the sharpest tool I own! It is literally capable of carrying a near-scalpel edge, with great edge retention!

If you aren't sold on the price of the W&H knives, I'd say wait and try a ZDP Delica when they become available.
 
The general concensus is that ZDP performs extremely well in the Caly Jr. Most people that have tried the Caly Jr. of the ZDP sprint run were and are still raving about it. The 1500 ZDP Calys made have been sold out in weeks if not days and there are always some people still looking for one. The Caly Jr. is currently being voted as best Spyderco product of last year with pretty overwhelming majority. Personally, I don't think the steel will never be a hit in big chopper department (just like VG-10 which is use, sandwiched between two softer steels for larger knives by Fallkniven for example, but isn't used widely for big knives) but in high performance slicers, it seems to have proven itself as a (if not THE) top-end steel.

My own experience with ZDP have been very favorable. I holds an edge VERY well, but even better, it takes an edge like a HC steel, supporting low, low angles and little burr formation. Takes a screaming edge.
 
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