Looking for ZDP189

Hi Xxa,

ZDP-189 is manufactured by a Japanese Foundry named Hitachi.

They don't like to sell raw ZDP steel because they have very strict heat treating requirements and only certain heat treaters in Japan are authorized to heat treat ZDP.

I know that some companies like Kershaw have been able to purchase the raw steel, but it's rare, and Kershaw is owned by Kai which is a very large Japanese coumpany.

While we have purchaed Hitachi steel and shipped it to us in Colorado, they have different rules for their ZDP. Spyderco has all of it's ZDP models made and heat treated in Japan for that reason.

sal
 
I'm sure I've seen ZDP-189 bar stock recently, and I remember thinking, OK, what are you gonna cut it with? Of course in bar stock form it's not heat treated yet, but still...

For comparison, you can find CPM154 (a similar powdered steel) on p29 of the Jantz catalog.


When I say "similar" here, I'm already in over my head. IANAM (I am not a metallurgist).

I started researching knifemaking recently while exploring the idea of finishing a Spyderco Mule Team blade. It's a fascinating world, and only increases my appreciation for companies making great production knives.
 
@All!

Thanks for your information :jerkit:

I thought it is not so difficult to get it :D
 
@ nozh2002!

Thanks for the Link, i can not read unfortunately :grumpy:

Greets xxa
 
According to the catalog posted above, Jantz Supply has Cowry-X, which is essentially the same thing, both are PM grades with 3% C and 20% Cr. It's very expensive, however.
 
The Stretch Carbon Fiber C90CF from Spyderco IMHO is a phenomenal knife!

The flat ground ZDP189 comes razor sharp from the factory. It's a very slim profile with a blade shape that make it a great cutter and slicer.

Spyderco makes a bunch of fantastic knives and this model with the ZDP189 blade steel, some consider and I'm one of them, to be one of the best if not the finest knife Spyderco has produced.
 
Looks a little spendy for me $41.65 ( for 3mm x 25mm x 300mm or .118"x1"x11 7/8". Less than 1/8" is a little thin for me. That is without shipping. The 4mm about 5/32 is about $75
 
ZDP is not very corrosion resistant. One day out in humid and sweaty weather (clipped to pants) and it starts to have spots....
 
spyken said:
ZDP is not very corrosion resistant. One day out in humid and sweaty weather (clipped to pants) and it starts to have spots....
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I've had the same thing happen with many other steels. It's easier for it to happen to ZDP189 but not to the point where I worry about it or even feel inclined to oil the blade. Just more careful about keeping it wiped free of sweat and food juices and I never see any corrosion. Great blade steel overall. The ZDP189 Calypso Jr. in my pocket right now has a back bevel of about 3 or 4 degrees per side. Cuts beautifully.
 
I currently own one ZDP-189 knife (Russell One-hand) and am very pleased with it. However, I also own several Japanese blades either laminated or plain. Frankly, I prefer the VG-10 other than cost. Beware, if you are successful in buying barstock ZDP-189 be prepared to get about 1/2 tool life in grinding it, and the frustration of finishing, it's a tough bugger to work with. You'll be lucky if you find any at all that is not heat treated, (of course the only way to begin) Japan is stickly about selling it unfinished.
 
ZDP-189/Cowry-X are both stainless steels with relatively low corrosion resistance and toughness, with high hardness and wear resistance. If you want high hardness and wear resistance, you might look into S110V (I don't know what availability is like right now though). However there are more balanced stainless steels like CPM-154 or S30V that you could look into for high wear resistance stainless steels, both are easier to purchase, heat treat, are tougher, etc. If you want greater toughness, edge stability, and ease of sharpening than those two, then you can move to 19C27 or 13C26. There are lots of good steels and it takes a lot of learning to figure out the proper application and heat treatment for different knives.
 
Larrin said:
ZDP-189/Cowry-X are both stainless steels with relatively low corrosion resistance and toughness, with high hardness and wear resistance. If you want high hardness and wear resistance, you might look into S110V (I don't know what availability is like right now though). However there are more balanced stainless steels like CPM-154 or S30V that you could look into for high wear resistance stainless steels, both are easier to purchase, heat treat, are tougher, etc. If you want greater toughness, edge stability, and ease of sharpening than those two, then you can move to 19C27 or 13C26. There are lots of good steels and it takes a lot of learning to figure out the proper application and heat treatment for different knives.
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ZDP189 beat hands free all those "balanced" steel. He may be less tough then INFI or A2 but it is tougher then CPM 154 and CPM S30V and much better in edge holding. Unles you need machete or big chopper - ZDP 189 is pretty tough. I am using it on full tasks from whittling aluminum to cutting computer paper and it is second after Dozier's D2 performer so far. I see no weakness in terms of toughness, but of course it is less tough then INFI, but INFI does not stay sharp for long and I do not do too much chopping to put it over edge holding.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
oldscrimmer said:
I currently own one ZDP-189 knife (Russell One-hand) and am very pleased with it. However, I also own several Japanese blades either laminated or plain. Frankly, I prefer the VG-10 other than cost. Beware, if you are successful in buying barstock ZDP-189 be prepared to get about 1/2 tool life in grinding it, and the frustration of finishing, it's a tough bugger to work with. You'll be lucky if you find any at all that is not heat treated, (of course the only way to begin) Japan is stickly about selling it unfinished.
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"Japan is stickly about selling it" - this is common myth. You need proper channel to deal with them, if you contact wrong people you may have all sorts of trouble of course (and it is same here if you asl let sat Spyderco to sell you bare stock of some steel), but I get it without any problem. I also tried to by from that site directly - and have nice response suggesting me to learn Japanese first, but other then this I see no problem. My be I need to get help from one of my coworker.

I did not found it too hard to grind - CPM is way more difficult. Again before hardening it is soft enough to deal with, while CPMs has all this vanadium carbides which are very hard to work with.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
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