VG-10 and 440V Steels

[Ed Gordon]

I have been using a Starmate and Calypso Jr. lightweight as my EDC's for awhile now and really like both knives alot. The Starmate is a great knife with alot of blade and a solid liner lock. The 440V steel has held an edge very well for me and has not tarnished even when soaked with sweat or used to cut meat and fruit etc. I have a couple Calypso Jr.'s with the micarta handles and Aus-8 blades and they are among my favorite knives of any manufacturer. I picked up a VG-10 lightweight just to try this steel. I have carried this knife everyday for the last 3 weeks and used it alot for general cutting chores at home and work. The blade still shaves (with the original factory edge) and cuts like a razor. I would like to hear feedback from others who have used Spyderco knives with these two steels for a longer period of time. I would strongly recommend either of these fine knives to anyone without reservation. I would like to get a Lum Chinese folder with VG-10, does anyone know who has some in stock on-line? I hope Spyderco continues to use these steels in new offerings...Ed.

[tortoise]

VG-10 is my favorite steel. I've been using it daily for about a year on my Mouse. Stays sharp forever.
My Military is my other every day carry. The CPM 440V is also excellent, but doesn't seem to hold an edge like the VG-10. No chipping problems like I'd heard about though.

[ftkinney]

i also love the VG-10 steel i have a plain edged bob lum chinese folder and it is amazing. my brother had it for about 3 weeks before i got it and cut 2 giant refegoratior boxes down and lord knows what else with it and when i got it i could still shave my arm hair. i use the white stones from the 204 on it and can cut though a news paper like sal does on the video, i scared myself when i did that. i have used it for food cuting and light to medium utiltiy tasks pretty regulaly know for a while and would absoulty recomed it. i would try any of the knif places like knifeoutlet.com or discountknives.com or onestopknifeshop.com. i also have a serrated military with 440V and i think it is fine i haven't used that knive as much and onely touched it up with the white stones once it can defantly "saw though" rope. but when i use a larger blade i go for the wegner with ATS-34 wich i guess isn't as "cool" but i love the fit and feel in my hand.

FTK

[mundele]

VG-10 and 440V... IMO, two very great, but very different steels. It seems to me that they're suited to different types of cutting. VG-10 is easy to sharpen and takes an amazingly sharp polished edge. I can get my Military (cpm-440v) pretty sharp, but not the same sort of hair-popping razor sharp as a VG-10 blade. It cuts great though. Someone suggested that the 440V has a "grainier" texture on a microscopic level. Harder parts of the metal's structure prevent you from polishing it down to a uniform "razor" edge, but act as little teeth when you cut (tiny serrations). I had sharpened the Military and didnt think it was quite as sharp as I like it (based on the shaving test) but it would glide through cardboard like nothing else. I use my Calypso Jr. for lighter chores, while my Military gets the heavy work.

Just my .02


--Matt

[The Stare]

CPM440V has an extremely small grain structure. In the 2-4 micron range. According to something I read, that was the smallest grain structure a testing lab had ever seen until they examined some properly forged, heat treated 52100. That had grain structure of 1.0 to 1.5 micron particles.

From what I understand, the CPM steels, because of the manufacturing process, have extremely fine grain sturcture compared to steels that have been molten.

If VG-10 truly holds an edge better than CPM440, then there is something wrong with the heat treat of the CPM steel. At least, I don't believe VG-10 is made in the particulate fashion.

Stare

[Zoro]

I have used both steels and I like VG-10 over the 440v the Vg-10 sharpens up much better and holds an edge I think longer I know this is not what the main stream knife users would agree with but it is my experience! I think the VG-10 is much over looked super steel!