Folders with S30V

[Flying Dutchman]

Do any of you carry a nice folder with an S30V blade? I Realize they can get quite expensive. I was looking at the Benchmade Emissary. Pricey at $170, but looks very nice, sleek, and simple.

Any other suggestions on a straight edge, sinple folder with S30V steel? Is it worth the extra cost on a folder over say 154CM? Let me know what you think! Thanks!

[jekostas]

The specific trick that S30V has is very, very high wear resistance.  That means it can be hardened lower than other steels like 154CM and VG10 and still have very good edge retention.  The practical upshot is that for similar edge holding characteristics, S30V can be a much tougher steel, less likely to chip or break.

Downsides?  Yeah, more expensive is one.  The second is that S30V is much, much tougher to sharpen than 154CM or VG10, especially VG10.

As for folders, the following I can think of off the top of my head that are cheaper than the Emissary:

Buck Vantage Pro
Buck Vantage Force Pro
Buck Paradigm Pro
Spyderco Native
Spyderco Sage 1/2/3
Spyderco Manix 2
Spyderco Paramilitary 2
Spyderco Chaparral

If you're looking for "sleek" like the Emissary the Chaparral and Paradigm Pro might be right up your alley.  If you want to try S30V in something cheap, you can get the Buck Hartsook in S30V for $25.  It's really small, but it'll give you a good idea how S30V handles.

[Flying Dutchman]

Thanks! I actually have a Buck Vantage 345BKS en route from warrantly replacement (obviously with 420/440 steel) so I will see if I like the feel of that model, etc. its big brother, so-to-speak, might be the way to go.

[David]

I`ve carried a Spyderco Military in S30V alot. It`s a good knife in S30V. It is a bigger knife than many want to edc or can legally where they live. But it suits me very well. S30V may not keep a hair popping sharp edge that long but it keeps cutting for a good while.   

[PyroJames]

I carry a Spyderco Native that I find perfect for EDC.  It's got a good weight and size for EDC plus it's not expensive at all.

[Flying Dutchman]

Thanks fellas! I like the look of that Spyderco Native, especially that the clip is on the butt-end like the Benchmade. Benchmade still has the "deep carry" aspect going for it IMO. Thats why I own the SOG Flash I & II, assisted opening, light weight, deep carry, and sharp!

[Styerman]

I own several S30v pieces , no issues . To be candid , 154CM suits me as well or better , and is no handicap . It's often more about edge geometery , and who did the heat treat . Both Benchmade and Spyder do a good job on both counts .

I fail as a steel snob , many preparations make me happy . D2 is great , as is A2 , 440C in the right hands is also a good performer . Buck can squeeze good performance out of 420 series steels , as a result of good heat treat .

Chris

[Flying Dutchman]

I am not a steel snob either, more trying to learn the pros and cons of each one. I have a few Leatherman's with 154CM, and they have both been very good to me and held an excellent edge. By starting this thread I was hoping to learn the opinions of S30V, if you swear by it or just like it for what it is, and guage the value of this particular knife that has my attention right now. Ya'll have been very helpful!

[cerbera147]

Maybe not what you're after but the Spyderco UKPK serves me well on a daily basis 

[jekostas]

I am not a steel snob either, more trying to learn the pros and cons of each one. I have a few Leatherman's with 154CM, and they have both been very good to me and held an excellent edge. By starting this thread I was hoping to learn the opinions of S30V, if you swear by it or just like it for what it is, and guage the value of this particular knife that has my attention right now. Ya'll have been very helpful!

You're going to give up absolute sharpness for toughness in this case.  S30V does not take as good an edge as 154CM but it's less likely to chip or break, though this should be taken with a grain of salt as 154CM is a very tough steel to begin with.

As for steel snobbery... no worries.  If you can afford it there's no reason not to try many different things.  My favourite knives are in 8Cr13MoV (my SanRenMu 763) and 440c (my Hartsook Talon Custom), but I have knives in 154CM, S30V, H1, 420HC, AUS-8, 8Cr14MoV, plus SAKs in DIN 1.4116 and MTs in 420HC.  Why not, right?

[Flying Dutchman]

I am not a steel snob either, more trying to learn the pros and cons of each one. I have a few Leatherman's with 154CM, and they have both been very good to me and held an excellent edge. By starting this thread I was hoping to learn the opinions of S30V, if you swear by it or just like it for what it is, and guage the value of this particular knife that has my attention right now. Ya'll have been very helpful!

You're going to give up absolute sharpness for toughness in this case.  S30V does not take as good an edge as 154CM but it's less likely to chip or break, though this should be taken with a grain of salt as 154CM is a very tough steel to begin with.

As for steel snobbery... no worries.  If you can afford it there's no reason not to try many different things.  My favourite knives are in 8Cr13MoV (my SanRenMu 763) and 440c (my Hartsook Talon Custom), but I have knives in 154CM, S30V, H1, 420HC, AUS-8, 8Cr14MoV, plus SAKs in DIN 1.4116 and MTs in 420HC.  Why not, right?

HAHA, thats my motto as well. Always a use for them, maybe not all at once, but a use nonetheless. I love my 154CM, but the 420HC has always been good to me too. I dont need an S30V for what I do, but I'll need one in the collection someday.

[asupernothing]

I have more than a few blades with s30v and I have to say that I really like it. Of course the knives with s30v also have other characteristics which make them really nice. I've also been eying that 470 since I saw the first pics of it. For me its just the assisted opening that is a turn-off.

You may also want to consider the Benchmade 940. It is similar in styling to the 470.

Sorry all I am too tired to finish this right now. More to come a bit later.

[jekostas]

Oh, also forgot that Kershaw has a couple of cool models in S30V as well:  Blur, Random Leek, and Leek Special

[MeadMaker]

The knife that tops my want list is the Kershaw 1670S30V Blur.  Great knife at a reasonable price.  The stonewash finish on the blade is very sexy.

I read somewhere that the real advantage of S30V is that the superior chip and wear resistance allows you to sharpen it at a lower included angle without it resulting in a weak edge.   This greatly improves the slicing performance.

[jekostas]

I read somewhere that the real advantage of S30V is that the superior chip and wear resistance allows you to sharpen it at a lower included angle without it resulting in a weak edge.   This greatly improves the slicing performance.

While that would be nice, it doesn't really jive with the known general properties of steel.  S30V tends to be hardened lower on the HRC scale than steels like 154CM and VG-10. 
Softer steels needs slightly thicker edges or the edge will constantly be rolling on you as you try and cut, turning your pocket knife in to a butter knife and right quick.
Good example is Japanese vs. German pattern chef's knives.  Japanese knives tend to be of a much harder steel, and generally have a much finer edge.

[Smitty44]

One of the first to us S30V was by Cris Reeve's Sebbie.

[MeadMaker]

That information came from a custom knife maker.  I wish I could remember his name.

[ATF628]

The Benchmade 940 is a great knife.