Why not a VG10 G10 knife?

[Zeppelin]

I know most people are crazy about S30v these days, but I prefer VG10, at least from experience. Right now, the only higher-end VG10 knives Spyderco makes is the Stretch and the Persian, which are both excelent, but the Military, Paramilitary, Chinook, and Manix are all S30v. I'm wondering if there's any chance of Spyderco making something along those lines in VG10 or another nonS30v steel in the future? A large heavy-duty G10 handled VG10 knife would really be something I'd like. Personally, I'd really like a VG10 Paramilitary. Anybody have any thoughts on this?

[The Deacon]

The G10 models you name are all made in Golden. Not sure if it would be cost-effective to import Japanese steel. Not to mention that, on the basis of what I've read on the forum these past two years, there are probably a good deal more people who would consider that a step backwards than would consider it desirable.

[Carlos]

The way that Spyderco engineers its tacticals, I think they prefer to make them in the US where continual fine adjustments to the manufacturing and design are easier to implement. S30V is pretty much the best locally made stainless. It would probably be easier to get a knife made in BG-42 than VG-10, for continual production. Importing VG-10 for a limited edition is probably feasable. I think they may have imported some VG-10 stock in the past.

From a manufacturing point of view, I think they use different grinding wheels and other tooling to work with S30V vs. VG-10, et al., and it is probably more cost efficient in terms of capital investment to use only S30V for USA-made clipits.

[spyderknut]

Impala comes to mind. :rolleyes:

[Zeppelin]

Sorry ya'll. Turns out there's a lot of stuff I don't know. I've got a Persian I like a lot, but I wanted something with a different blade shape that's a little less attractive and more utilitarian, but w/o the S30v, so looks like it's a Stretch for me next time I get enough money to buy a new knife, though I'll probably end up with a Manix sooner or later. Even though there's so much talk about S30V chipping and being brittle, I've seen what Cliff did to it, so that's a testimony I take seriously. But in the long run, I think I'd use a Stretch a lot more than a Manix.

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: Ya can't go wrong with the stretch. I love mine to no end. Just a great slim knife. :spyder:

[Zerileous]

i think the s30v stuff is just all of the bad experiences coming out of the woodwork, and is exagerated. Also, I doubt the japanese factories have the mills for G10, while the US factories probably only have a few frn molds (native I is the only one I can think of). Also FRN requires less QC, as long as the mold is clean and such its just squirt and go, much easier to mass produce. Thus i would agree with the statement that the more hand assembled, and milled G10 requires finer QC thus is based in golden.

[Chris_H]

I second Spyderknut's suggestion of an Impala. A good pic of the model with & without the guthook can be seen on JFJ's website, or on the usual forumites' websites.

[dialex]

They also made a few VG-10 Chinooks (first generation), but pretty hard to find one :(

[Razor]

I like VG10, but I sure can find nothing wrong with S30V. I think it is the best. Don't knock it till you try it.

[gordonk]

I'm the same as Razor. Can't find anything wrong with S30V. I haven't used my Paramilitary near as much as my Delica - just enough that I've had to touch up the para the odd time. I haven't encountered any chipping, etc. It does take a bit more to get back to factory edge sharpness, but no more than most of my other blades in my collection. VG-10, though, definitely sharpens fast :D I don't use my blades all that hard, but I do use them a lot, especially that last few weeks with all the PC's that have shown up for staging in our test lab. Been opening/knocking down a lot of boxes, cutting cable ties, etc :D Also, some smaller things at home, a bit of leather trimming, parcel opening, etc. When I got my para, I got it "because" and really wasn't sure how much use it would get, but between it and my Endura (another one that doesn't see that much use), they pretty well paid for themselves at work. Now, if I could only expense them........ :rolleyes:

- gord