LC200N vs Vanax Superclean

tyyreaun

tyyreaun

Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
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Hi all - I looked around both here and on Google, but can't find anything directly on point.

Has anyone here had a chance to test LC200N (aka Z-Finit) head to head vs. Vanax (aka Vanax 37), in terms of both edge retention AND corrosion resistance? I'd love for a @cedric.ada test of the two (or @BladeHQ throwing both in the Great Salt Lake), but it doesn't look like Vanax is that readily available outside of Shiros. Hopefully some of the custom makers here have had a chance to try both.

I have seen some indirect comments comparing LC200N to Vanax 75, which has been discontinued in favor of Vanax 37, and the composition of the two is different enough (I think) that prior tests may not hold true for the new version.
 
Same corrosion resistance, Same HRC, but Vanax cuts longer.

Vanax is stacked to be the toughest PM stainless.

You'll have to wait to see, people are working on stuff.
 
The patent on Vanax covers so many element compositions until a final version is obtainable from Bohler I doubt there will be a final conclusion, but the patent for Vanax covers more vanadium, Nitrogen and Cr in their patent so expect more focus on hardness and wear resistance from it vs LC200N.

LC200N is nothing to look down on btw. Been around far longer than people give it credit for under Cronidur 30.

Think more of LC200N as a stainless carbon steel in terms of edge retention etc and Vanax as S30- upwords in terms of edge retention etc.
 
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marthinus said:
LC200N is nothing to look down on btw. Been around far longer than people give it credit for under Cronidur 30.
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Oh - definitely - I've been wanting to try it for a long time, especially after the Cedric & Ada channel found it outperformed S35VN. I had been waiting on the Spyderco Caribbean (the Spydiechef's blade shape never spoke to me), but I just learned the other day the LC200N mules were still in stock, and mine arrived yesterday. I'd love for Spyderco to do Vanax mules, too, for comparison. If that doesn't happen, given that AKS carries Vanax, it'd be good to find an individual knifemaker to make a small 3" fixed blade with it.
 
tyyreaun said:
Oh - definitely - I've been wanting to try it for a long time, especially after the Cedric & Ada channel found it outperformed S35VN. I had been waiting on the Spyderco Caribbean (the Spydiechef's blade shape never spoke to me), but I just learned the other day the LC200N mules were still in stock, and mine arrived yesterday. I'd love for Spyderco to do Vanax mules, too, for comparison. If that doesn't happen, given that AKS carries Vanax, it'd be good to find an individual knifemaker to make a small 3" fixed blade with it.
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It's incredibly expensive but at least it's available
 
I have two bars of it...waiting for some more testing and real world use to determine best HT protocol at Peters'. Having said that, the chemical composition looks promising, almost like a more corrosion resistant 20CV.
 
off topic a bit but just heard they have a new version of vanax just called Vanax. the guy that was using it says its better than previous versions with his heat treatment profile. was pretty neat to hear about it. said something about better edge retention.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Be_xS0mnnwT/

I'm looking fwd to some of the new models that spyderco is going to release in LC200N but have heard great things about both. nothing conclusive. what knives are available in vanax? I normally see mostly shiros, or customs or Russian knives in general.
 
I'm having Rob Davidson build me a "Brend" out of Z-finit with a 2 finger groove handle (no subhilt). I told him to send it to Peters for 60RC with cryo. This should be epic. Blade profile is identical to this:

fixedfighterbrendironwood.jpg
 
Mo2 said:
off topic a bit but just heard they have a new version of vanax just called Vanax.
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Per zknives and AKS, Vanax 35 and Vanax 75 were the two predecessor steels that have both been discontinued in favor of Vanax, also known as Vanax Superclean and Vanax 37. Zknives has those three (Vanax, 37, and Superclean) as three different names for the same exact steel from Bohler.

As you mentioned, I've only seen it in use on more recent Shiros. I'm very interested in trying it out, but not so interested as to buy a $900 Shiro to abuse :)
 
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So far, Vanax sharpens and grinds great

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Still have to get LC200N heat treated.

I'd say the only drawback to Vanax is cost.
That's it.

It's set up to be the real "Elmax Killer"
But I don't think we'll see alot of production companies using it because of prices.
It costs more then Maxamet.
 
tyyreaun said:
Per zknives and AKS, Vanax 35 and Vanax 75 were the two predecessor steels that have both been discontinued in favor of Vanax, also known as Vanax Superclean and Vanax 37. Zknives has those three (Vanax, 37, and Superclean) as three different names for the same exact steel from Bohler.

As you mentioned, I've only seen it in use on more recent Shiros. I'm very interested in trying it out, but not so interested as to buy a $900 Shiro to abuse :)
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The steel is made by Uddeholm, yes Bohler and Uddeholm form BU Corp. But they are different steel Mills. Uddeholm is swedish
Bohler is Austrian.
VANAX is made in Sweden.
I posted the pictures from the spec sheet that show that this is the NEW VANAX formula.


You can see the date of 5/2017

This is a very new steel.
 
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DeadboxHero said:
But I don't think we'll see alot of production companies using it because of prices.
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Production knives, probably not - other than maybe high end production. But, I would like to see it used in customs, especially folders where you don’t need the extra material for a tang.

Per AKS prices the cost of the raw steel for a 3.5” folder would be $20-$40. Not cheap, sure, but in a $500+ custom it would only constitute a drop in the bucket of the overall budget.

One thing that kinda sorta bothers me is custom makers using budget steels. I’m sure Nitro-V would be fine for my needs, but if you’re selling a folder for $650, can’t you splurge a bit on at least CPM-154 ;)

Incidentally I was able to connect with a few makers on here for more info. I have a hardened Vanax blade on the way for basic testing, and I placed an order for a full Vanax knife for more detailed stuff. Thanks all!
 
tyyreaun said:
Production knives, probably not - other than maybe high end production. But, I would like to see it used in customs, especially folders where you don’t need the extra material for a tang.

Per AKS prices the cost of the raw steel for a 3.5” folder would be $20-$40. Not cheap, sure, but in a $500+ custom it would only constitute a drop in the bucket of the overall budget.

One thing that kinda sorta bothers me is custom makers using budget steels. I’m sure Nitro-V would be fine for my needs, but if you’re selling a folder for $650, can’t you splurge a bit on at least CPM-154 ;)

Incidentally I was able to connect with a few makers on here for more info. I have a hardened Vanax blade on the way for basic testing, and I placed an order for a full Vanax knife for more detailed stuff. Thanks all!
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I feel ya, about guys using lower end steel on high end knives but some of those custom guys REALLY do there homework and you can't compare there steel to how it's used on a production knife since they can really fine tune it and not skip heat treatment steps to save time/cost. They also break alot of blades to test the steel to know exactly what the limits are for the application. So its sometimes boggling for custom makers because people are so obsessed with steel types when in the end it's really all about doing the R&D on the heat treatment and getting a well designed well finished product.
So while anyone can look at steel prices on AKS and wonder why it cost so much for a custom in "steel X". Just understand the steel formula is only one part of the equation for a badass knife.

Just my thoughts and opinion though

Sounds awesome your getting some Vanax.
It's new stuff so it hasn't caught on yet. You'll find makers aren't as excited about fancy new steels since it costs alot to R&D stuff to find out how to make it work best especially at $40+ per foot.
 
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