Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades S30V is just a fad....

OK, that was a new one to me too.

I was at the Greenville SC gunshow last sunday and there were several knife makers out there displaying their wares. (several knives I wanted...)

I ask what kind of steel they used? All of them said 440. I asked one "what about s30v any good?" He proceeded to go on about how it is difficult to sharpen, won't hold an edge, it's a fad, it won't last, a rare metal to get etc... I smiled and left.

Somehow, I don't think that old geezer will be making knives for much longer....

There's an old guy at work that taunts the network administrator by occasionally casually remarking that CPU's are a fad and won't last. He'll advise the computer geek to seek training for another career when this one folds because computers are on their way out.

Knife makers resist change. Phil Wilson thinks that it's easy to work with. But, he's an engineer that really knows metallurgy as well as being a knife maker. I like D2, 154CM, and ATS-34. I have two S30V blades. They do retain an edge extremely well, didn't think they were difficult to touch up either.

http://www.seamountknifeworks.com/article6.htm

I believe that Wayne Hendrix and George Herron prefer ATS-34.

There are plenty of knifemakers as there are plenty of gunsmiths. There are few smiths that I would trust to do a decent job of barreling an action just as there are few knifemakers that are able to take a state of the art steel, grind a good pattern, properly heat treat the steel, and finish it with a wicked sharp edge.

Plenty of folks know not the difference between top drawer and bargain bin, so the mediocre smiths and knifemakers stay employed and clueless.

S30V is not a passing fad. I have made knives using it, and it is very good at edge holding, certainly FAR better that 440C.
The reason the knifemaker tried to skate you off the S30V puck is because he isn't able to deal with it as a maker. It is much harder to work than 440C. I only use 440C for art knives as it buffs up well, but don't make working knives from it.
I prefer ATS34, D-2, and S30V for working knives, cause they have good wear resistance characteristics, edge holding.

Don

I bet when the old 30-06 came out as a sporting rifle that many didn't think that would last either...

LOL, akmthhntr- you're probably right.

so next time someone says that I suppose I could be a SA and say "so you don't know how to work S30V to well eh?"

Sometimes the truth hurts, but just for a little while...

S30V is here to stay. So is 440! They both have their place. A lot of makers will stay away from it because it is different to work. Putting a polished finish on it will drive a lot of makers up a wall. Like rifle calibers, there isn't one that will do everything.

I have several freinds that keep telling me that Smokeless powder is a passing fad...............DJ

No, that's true......



Regards, sse

What about S60V anyone have anything with it? I found this guy at a sport show www.dunnknives.com . He uses S60V on all his. I'm trying to find a full set of knives in a good steel like s30 or d2 . I lookied at KOA and like some of there designs but they use different steel for different knives. A deep bellied skinner , a bonning , and one to cape with . Ingram uses the right steel can't find a blade design that suits me for a caper and his skinners are not deep enough for my likes.

I haven't used 60V, however, I have used S90V. 90V was/is the hardest damn steel I have ever sharpened! I'm no sharpening dummy and have no troubles with knife steels, even some of the reputed hard to sharpen steels like high RC D2 and BG-42. I can sharpen them easy enough. But that 90V was a chore for me and if 60V is going in that direction away from the lower 30V, then I'd want nothing to do with it.

The Dunn knives aren't in the same class as Ingram or my favorite maker, Bob Dozier. Granted they aren't as pricey.

I am new to the custom knife thing so if you wouldn't mind entertaining me for a while what makes them "not in the same league" . Please be as specific as you can. Thanks

IMHO, design, fit and finish, sheaths, and perhaps heat treatment. I've looked various Dunn knives over at several gunshows and was never impressed. There isn't much information regarding the heat treatment of his knives on the website. I could have missed it, but it would be nice to know who does the HT and to what RC level.

wildone,

Just a suggestion: Phil Wilson ---- Seamount Knives

He uses S30V, S90V, 154CM, and CPM 10V, among others. Might be worth your time to give him a call, if you like his style.