Kizer Knife Steels

Hardness should be 58-60hrc. I don't own a Kizer, but have not been able to stop looking at them for the last few days.

I'm guessing that being relatively new and having to import their steel it may be a while before we see other steels? If that's the case, s35vn, well heat treated, was a good upgrade from aus8 and clad vg10.

Good thread. Looking forward to hearing from owners.
 
From what I read from Steel Wizards' and folks that do comparison cutting test comments they are saying the hardness should be at MINIMUM 60hrc to prevent edge rolling. Apparently this edge retention is not as much of a problem with S30v as it is with s35vn. I've only see a few knife manufacturers using s35vn, but some very good ones, Spyderco, CRK, etc.
 
Well, s35vn wouldn't be MY first choice in steel (I'll take my kizer in cpm m4 please), but I think it's a very solid choice if you can only use one steel for a while. My experience with s35vn is limited to CRK and Spyderco, both of which I found to be decent. Stain resistance is great and the steel is easy to sharpen.

Is it the ultimate in retention, toughness, edge stability, etc? Nope, but I believe it's a good compromise if you're looking at the overall package. Not just that, but the prices are outstanding. I've not seen value like this in some time.

Come on owners, how's the steel doing?
 
Omega Leather Works said:
Well, s35vn wouldn't be MY first choice in steel (I'll take my kizer in cpm m4 please), but I think it's a very solid choice if you can only use one steel for a while. My experience with s35vn is limited to CRK and Spyderco, both of which I found to be decent. Stain resistance is great and the steel is easy to sharpen.

Is it the ultimate in retention, toughness, edge stability, etc? Nope, but I believe it's a good compromise if you're looking at the overall package. Not just that, but the prices are outstanding. I've not seen value like this in some time.

Come on owners, how's the steel doing?
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I'm currently toting a Spyderco Gayle Bradley with M4 steel in the blade and very happy with it. However, I'm interested in some of the Kizer models but really have no experience with that s35vn steel knife blade. That's why I'm curious to know how it is doing for folks that are using it with Kizer knives. I'd like to see some of the Kizer models with s90v, ZDP-189, Cruwear, etc.. That would attract some attention amongst the steel aficionados I can tell you!
 
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GatorFlash1 said:
I'm currently toting a Spyderco Gayle Bradley with M4 steel in the blade and very happy with it. However, I'm interested in some of the Kizer models but really have no experience with that s35vn steel knife blade. That's why I'm curious to know how it is doing for folks that are using it with Kizer knives. I'd like to see some of the Kizer models with s90v, ZDP-189, Cruwear, etc.. That would attract some attention amongst the steel aficionados I can tell you!
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I couldn't agree more. However...

Kizer is clearly doing everything they can to appeal to the Western market. From teaming up with custom makers to importing steel so that we are more familiar with the name. I think everyone would agree that a bevy of steel choices would be awesome, but we aren't privy to the logistics or costs involved in doing that. My guess is that it would increase prices to the point that they would be positioning themselves into a much more competitive market. Suppose they offered several steels, teamed up with well known makers for collabs and cost as much as ZT, Benchmade and Spyderco. I think that would be a huge mistake.

I think these guys are very smart and I hope they keep doing what they're doing. ;)
 
My large size Kizer GTi in s35v has seen a lot of use, on cardboard boxes and some green silver maple saplings that needed cut out of an old flower bed, and it's held up just fine.
 
Four of my Kizers are Crucible S35VN. One is VG-10.

I haven't had any problems with the edge-holding on them, but, truth be told they haven't been put to any extreme use either.

As far as I am concerned. They have outstanding fit and finish, very high-quality.
 
I have four; soon to be six kizer knives and love them all. I will put one of them to the test this weekend and get back to the forum.
 
S35v holding up great. The blade profiles and grinds have made mine a wonderful slicer. I'm in want of trying one out handled in g10 vs titanium. I've had more issues with the scales being slippery vs issues with the blade.
 
cchu518 said:
S35v holding up great. The blade profiles and grinds have made mine a wonderful slicer. I'm in want of trying one out handled in g10 vs titanium. I've had more issues with the scales being slippery vs issues with the blade.
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Here is the one I have been looking at buying, it is a big knife, over 4", and has the G10 with an aggressive dimpled pattern on one side and is dimpled rainbow anodized on the clip side, a pretty wild combination of scales don't you think? Reminds me of Titlist golf ball surface.

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Kizer-Folding-Knife-Black-G--26140

$254 MSRP for $134, a lot of knife for the money!
 
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The 403 is what I'm looking at too. In green g10 it's under a buck these days! I really like the flame pattern on the Ti side!
 
cchu518 said:
The 403 is what I'm looking at too. In green g10 it's under a buck these days! I really like the flame pattern on the Ti side!
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I'm not sure if it matters to you, but the original 403's were tip down carry only. If you're a tip-up guy, you might want to verify with the seller that they have newer stock.
 
Hackenslash said:
I'm not sure if it matters to you, but the original 403's were tip down carry only. If you're a tip-up guy, you might want to verify with the seller that they have newer stock.
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I'm definitely tip up primarily, but its mostly a safety issue for me why I carry it like that and after I just started to prefer it. I'm pretty certain the detent is very strong on the 403, like Sebenza stiff so I'm not too worried. I'll try to find the newer version maybe that's why i've seen some with blow out prices on some of the sponsored BF vendor sites? They might be selling the old version.
 
I would suggest that anyone that wears a belt should try a folder sheath, either in leather or kydex. I'm not trying to sell anything (I'm not even taking orders at this time), but I'm amazed at how nice it is to wear a folder on my hip. If you're a southpaw, like carrying in a way that the clip doesn't allow, or find that the clip creates hotspots a sheath is an excellent way to go.

Only thing I'm not yet sure about is if the leather (I don't work with kydex) would polish off the anodizing on some of the full ti frame-locks like kizer makes.
 
My cutting test

I put my Kizer to the test this week. The only thing I had to test was a small bunch of old carpet; so we cut it up. The knife cut up 5 x 12 foot piece of carpet into 1 foot sections. I then cut those sections in half. Before the test the knife could cut new print with ease. After the test the knife would not cut this at all. While it was sharp enough to continue cutting carpet it lost the fine edge we all love.
Restoring the edge was very easy with my Sharpmaker. A couple of passes with each stone and a little stropping the edge would once again cut news print. I am not an expert on steels but this most practical test seems to state that Kizer steel is what they say it is and as a person who does not own safe queens live by the following: " A weapon that is not used is a useless weapon". Yeah Kizer!
 
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Sounds like a very reasonable test, and the steel sounds very good. There are steels that contain more vanadium that will hold the edge longer, but I don't enjoy sharpening them at all.

After thinking about this thread I've noticed that more than half of the knives I've been looking at (mostly customs) are done in s35vn. I guess Chris Reeve and Crucible knew what they were doing. :)
 
This weekend I will do another test of the same knife. I have a much of old card board boxes that need to cut up. I will do a similar test and report my findings.
 
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