Experience-based comments on San Mai vs 3V

[JWBirch]

I've been using 3V for several decades and I'd like to know about Cold Steel knife users experience with Cold Steel San Mai versus their experiences with Cold Steel CPM-3V.

I'm asking because I may put some San Mai into rotation. I've seen that VG-10 has similar edge holding to 3V, while 420 has similar toughness than 3V. Except for edge stability under extreme use, it appears that these two might behave similarly. But I don't want to assume too much.

Thank you very much.

 

[jbmonkey]

I own both steels in cold steel models and have used both. both vg1 core san mia and the Taiwan vg10 core san mai versions. I'm not super hard on knives though. so I dont have much to contribute, if you're looking for that?

they all handled normal cutting and light chopping type tasks, easy sharpening, and did fine in corrosion resistance here (in wet florida where i am) fine with no issues. I've had no obvious chipping or rolling on any of the steels on hard wood use like live, water, laurel and hybrids of those oaks. also did fine on swamp/red maples, cypress, and scrub pines.

I dont throw knives, do tip tests, bend tests or chop on bricks/ nails or any nonsense like that. don't know about cold temp use as it never gets below about mid 30s f and not for very long and I usually don't go outside when its that cold.

hope that's helpful.....

 

[JWBirch]

Thank you JBM, that is helpful.