what blade is the best?

[merlin2111]

i need a blade that will hold its edge under heavy use. i would like it to be a straight edge.



thanks for all the help!



merlin

[Tightwad]

HI....As far as blade steel I've had very good results with the vg-10 used in the calypso line. Next
would be ats 55 offered in the goddard line & others. for my own reasons i avoid ats 34 like the
plague. It's just not as good as some claim from my use. Blade shape is another story ....For urban
utility look at the calypso jr.lwt or the lum chinese models spyderco sells. Blade shape of both is
IMO ideal for everyday use plus you get vg10 steel in both along with great ergonomics of shape.
Blade shape is also all to often determined by the "eye appeal" that the buyer likes. The problem
with that approch is that form may not match the intended function. Learn what "job" a blade shape
was designed for & how to use each shape before making a selection will save many dollars. A knife
is a knife .....it's the "support system" behind the cutting edge that makes the difference.

[The Stare]

Haven't used my knife with it much yet, but CPM440V is regarded as one of the super steels. It is loaded with vanadium, which forms very hard carbides, and resists wear extremely well. Unfortunately, it isn't a very tough steel, so much be tempered to a relatively soft 55-57 Rc.

An amazing # of people are very fond of VG-10. I have a knife with it, but it's edge remains virginal so far. The popularity isn't limited to Spyderco. Fallkniven knives are made from that steel, and raved about largely.

I would recommend ATS34 over ATS55. Can't remember exactly, but I think a goodly portion of molybdenum that is in the 34 type has been removed from the 55 type. People have good things to say about Gin1 also. Some folks swear by AUS8, tho it isn't considered a premium steel.

The Native, Military, Chinook, and Starmate all have the CPM440V, I believe. The Calypso Jr, Ltwt, and a few other higher end Spydercos have VG10 -- sorry, mind went blank, and I need to get off of here. The Wegner has ATS34. Not sure what all other models have that steel if any.

Knife Center has an excellent selection of Spydercos. They're arranged pretty well. You can move from model to model, with little difficulty. Most of the sections have the particulars re steel, handle materials, lock type, etc.

Good luck!

Stare

[John F Jensen]

I've been carrying and using hard a C55GP, Starmate plain blade (cpm440v) since they came out in 1998. It has been excellent!

The only other Spyderco I can compare the same usage was a Police model, serrated (Gin-1) that I carried from 1987 thru 1998 and it too was excellent.

Unless you have unique requirments I do not believe you will find an unsatisfactory Spyderco steel.

John Jensen, www.johnfjensen.com

[sam the man..]

plain edged for HEAVY use? Ummm... Ever considered the Spyderco Chinook? It's built like a tank! <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies will travel