Originally designed for use in razor blades, this is true cutlery steel through and through. S90V. Touching up certain steels with your sharpening stone is an easy, pain-free process whereas harder steels can make for an all-day affair to bring them back to sharp. S90V and 20CP have similar chemistries, but are made by different foundries. Don’t know 20CV from M4? Edge retention and toughness are very good. The Spyderco Military was introduced in the early 1990’s by Sal Glesser as a knife designed to be carried by military personnel. Abuse it. CPM 20CV is a martensitic steel, which refers to its hard crystalline structure with lens-shaped or lenticular grains. Bohler M390. A2 has long been known as the classic standby for a fixed blade steel. The difference with H1 is that you can literally leave it in salt water forever and it won’t rust. Blade steels with an insane amount of hardness (pushing towards 70 HRC) tend to lack stability and can suffer from cracks, chipping, and total failure. Certain steels are so good at resisting rust and corrosion that they can be left abused and salty without ill-effect. I'm trying to decide on a steel for an EDC Mini Griptilian and if someone could break down the strengths and weaknesses of these steels in comparison … Pro-tip—if your blade is labeled stainless steel, but no more details than that, you're probably best off keeping that knife decorative only or using it as a beater knife. They are both difficult to sharpen/reprofile, same as S110V. Compared to forged steels, powdered metallurgy based CPM steels have a very fine grain structure and far fewer inclusions. 2.8% of Carbon: It improves hardness and wear/corrosion resistance, but a high amount of it decreases strength. Martensitic is a specific type of stainless steel alloy. Since its introduction it has been extremely popular and quickly rose to flagship status. Tough blade steels are ideal for camping and hard-use. Chris Reeve is famous for developing two steels directly with Crucible Industries, and boy did this partnership result in an awesome product. What it is: CPM 20CV is a "Crucible Particle Metallurgy" stainless steel, widely regarded as a "super steel" for its properties and performance. Is Crucible still just a play by Arthur Miller in your mind? Prioritize Corrosion Resistance if you take your knives to high humidity environments. Note – just because a blade is made from the premium or high-end steels listed above does not automatically mean it’s “better” than the lesser steels. Buck widely uses 420HC in their knives to great success. The great thing about cutlery, is that any knife can get equally sharp regardless of steel. From designer to country of origin, blade length, and beyond, there’s a plethora of different factors to consider when buying that fancy new knife. You may notice that the carbide size is more different between M390 and Vanadis 4 Extra than between 4V and … By using this site, you accept our, All the best knives in many different styles. Generally speaking, the higher the number at the front, the better the steel. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. S30V is, in many eyes, the ultimate EDC steel. 13 thoughts on “CPM-S110V Steel – History and Properties” Mark O'Leary says: November 23, 2020 at 5:19 pm. Joined: Oct 26, 2013 Messages: 15 Likes Received: 38. BD1N is a completely different steel. Powdered steels are more consistent, have better edge retention, and improve toughness due to a lack of inclusions. EchoDeltaCharlie Loaded Pockets. CPM 20CV is one of the best steels for retaining an edge. The Mo content of M390 is lower, however, so it is difficult to predict how things balance out when comparing higher Cr vs … CPM-20CV can be found on my knives today and is made by the USA-based Crucible Industries. 13 thoughts on “CPM-S110V Steel – History and Properties” Mark O'Leary says: November 23, 2020 at 5:19 pm. Bohler M390, CTS-204P, and CPM-20CV are all essentially the same steel and sport a near identical composition. All you have to do is click to be taken to Does Bohler-Uddeholm sound like a stinky cheese to you? The CATRA test, which measures the sharpness and edge life of a blade by comparing it to 440C, rates CPM 20CV 180% better. that section. Current steels in use- CPM- S90V, CPM S110V, CPM REX 76, CPM 20CV, AEB-L, D2, 440C, 1095, 52100 In the custom knife making world it is common for makers to select a few particular … In a hurry? The main changes we expect from S45VN vs S35VN and S30V are an improvement in corrosion resistance due to the increase in Cr of about 1%. Made by @Crucible CPM 20CV is a martensitic stainless steel high in Vanadium, Chromium, and Carbon for excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance, it’s used for plastic injection … The Mo content of M390 is lower, however, so it is difficult to predict how things balance out when comparing higher Cr vs … Re: S30v vs s110v Post by bdblue » Tue Apr 28, 2015 12:44 am wrdwrght wrote: I do worry, I must confess, about chipping my Native5 and Manix2 LW in S110V in some unexpectedly weird EDC … Sharpenability is pretty self-explanatory, but softer steels can be touched up in the field on that big elk hunt. In contrast, a more obtuse angle will be more stable and durable. Very interesting article. Heat Treatment is the process of hardening and tempering the blade steel through heat. 1095 has long been popular among knife makers for its easy workability, high toughness, and good edge holding. All steels can get equally sharp! But what is the best knife steel? The higher … If you frequently use your knife to slice up cardboard, there may not be a better steel than CPM-S110V. The goal of many knife users is to find the best steel to fits their needs. S110V and M390/20CV/204P do have higher Cr in solution than S45VN. LC200N is an amazing steel! With 90% the corrosion resistance of H1, you also get much improved edge retention. S110V and M390/20CV/204P do have higher Cr in solution than S45VN. s90v vs s110v, why do we have both? Certain blade steels are more stable at highly acute angels. This increases the strength of the edge tremendously. Give this article and each knife steel chart a gander, and you’ll be halfway to an Ivy League degree as a metallurgist (no uhh…not really, but we all start somewhere). Do you frequently use your knife to meal prep acidic ingredients like citrus or tomatoes? Re: S110v vs M390 pm2 Post by Chumango » Tue Mar 07, 2017 1:06 pm PayneTrain wrote: So basically you've got one steel which I consider more user friendly for a little more money (M390), or one even more extreme performer for a little less (S110V). CPM-154 is an excellent EDC blade steel with above average edge retention, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening. What's your favorite steel on your pocket knives? The Ultimate Guide to Knife Handle Materials. Good edge retention, toughness, and sharpenability, D2 has been a popular knife tool steel dating back to WWII, and for good reason. Over the years there have been a vast number of variations and sprint runs using various steels and handle materials.Steels have run the gamut from ATS-34 back in the 1990’s to CPM S30V in the early 2000’s and now the cov… M390 exhibits excellent edge retention, corrosion resistance, and high level toughness. Low hardness increases toughness at the cost of edge strength. Martensitic is a specific type of stainless steel alloy. Equally at home as an EDC folder or as a fixed blade, this blade steel is easy to sharpen, corrosion resistant, and mixes very good edge retention with sufficient toughness. The performance of the Spyderco Military was legendary already. Realistically, in normal day to day use you would struggle to pick out any differences in comparison. The 400 Series of steel has been popular for longer than almost any knife guy has been alive. Advantages: Outstanding edge … In a carbon-rich alloy like CPM 20CV, the process of austenitization heats the steel … High hardness (60 HRC+) increases the edge retention of the steel at the cost of brittleness. 20CV. If you’re interested in the perfect fishing knife, look no further. When it comes to getting the job done there are four main factors that determine steel quality. CPM-M4 is a bit of a different animal though, it's harder and tougher than m390, CPM-20CV or CTS-204P, but it's a lot less corrosion resistant than any of those three. CPM 20CV. Where a normal steel would chip, these knives can sustain intense batoning sessions, power through staples, and glide through steel strapping. Carbon steels will pit and rust aggressively in wet environments if not properly cared for. Insanely tough, this steel also manages to boast excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance. As such, the performance of the steel is entirely dependent upon the steels being utilized. Just keep in mind that knives made from AUS-8 are generally very affordable. It really depends on what you're doing with your knife. Heat treat, blade geometry, the job at hand, and the sharpening of the blade all play a massive role in the performance of the steel. Keep your blade oiled as D2 is prone to rusting and corrosion. Toughness is key on hard-use camp knives and fixed blades. Corrosion Resistance: Being a stainless Steel CPM … Crucible Industry's CPM stands for Crucible Particle Metallurgy. N690 is an extremely ubiquitous and popular steel among knifemakers in Europe. CPM-3V is, in many ways, the perfect blade steel for a fixed blade knife. Blade HQ's steel guide shows that 20CV has the same edge retention as S90V but better toughness and corrosion resistance, and is easier to sharpen. In a carbon-rich alloy like CPM 20CV, the process of austenitization heats the … For my uses these steels are all very similar. The effect of heat treat varies based on the composition of the steel. Current steels in use- CPM- S90V, CPM S110V, CPM REX 76, CPM 20CV, AEB-L, D2, 440C, 1095, 52100 In the custom knife making world it is common for makers to select a few particular steels and use them … I get it. A knife with great edge retention will vaporize cardboard even after months of carry. I feel the best way is to compare it to CPM M4 which is a steel we are all familiar with and gets compared often to Hap40/Rex 45 First testing is sharpening to a high … If you find a knife you love in AUS-8, it's okay! The following is a list of popular budget steels. Becker BK2. Blade steel is totally a super important factor to consider when buying a knife, but wait a second—it isn’t the be-all, end-all. CPM-3V vs CPM-20CV. Crucible Industries has a real gem on their hands with CPM-M4… At the cost of some corrosion resistance you get amazing edge holding, toughness, and decent enough sharpenability. If you live in a humid environment or frequently meal prep with your pocket knife, try the SpydieChef from Spyderco in LC200N steel. Such amazing corrosion resistance comes at a cost, as this steel doesn't exhibit stand-out wear resistance, edge holding, or toughness. CPM-S110V exhibits many of the same qualities as S90V. The following are deserving of mention, but there are just not enough knives produced from these steels to give a rating. While H1 steel lives in a specialist category as a fishing or boating knife, LC200N holds its own as an EDC knife steel. A well-done and consistent heat treat goes a long way towards the performance of a knife. Take Spyderco’s most iconic folder and introduce the highest alloy stainless steel, CPM S110V then incorporate the latest design improvements and what you have is the ultimate in high performance. Updated by Blade HQ Staff Trevor Brown and Andrew Hamilton on 3/1/2019. Whether it’s dicing up cardboard boxes, feather sticking some firewood, or hacking up sisal rope, no one likes a dull knife. I have a 940-1 with a cpm-20cv blade and I can't decide if I'd rather have that or the s90v. Being able to field sharpen your knife can be the difference between life and death in the wilderness. In reality, there is no perfect blade steel in the same way that there is no perfect knife. [Help] S30V vs 20CV? I will be purchasing a knife from Survive knives. Essentially, CPM steel (also called powdered steel) is produced from a very fine powder of carbide particles. Advantages: Outstanding edge holding and corrosion … CTS-204P is made by the USA-based Carpenter Technology Corporation and CPM-20CV is manufactured by Crucible Industries. With significant amounts of Chromium, Molybdenum, Vanadium, and Tungsten, these steels are 100% ready for action. Not widely offered by knife makers yet, BD1N would likely land in the Premium or High-End section of our article, and is found in the highly-anticipated Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight. This is one of those most ubiquitous steels in knives. There is another aspect of S110V vs S90V that I would … From what I can tell there doesn't seem to be a big difference in these 2 steels, both super high wear and corrosion resistance premium steels, so does cpm still make … I have some limited experience with 204p, and none with 20CV. AUS-8 steel. I'm not a fan of S90V (or S110V… Inherently, more acute sharpening angles will see better cutting performance than more obtuse angles. When you put your knife to work, what tasks will it need to conquer? This steel has extremely good corrosion resistant properties. So what is the best steel for knives? The charts below aid visualization of the strengths and weaknesses of a particular knife steel.