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S35VN steel vs N690 Co Stainless Steel
- Thread starter 01026029D
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It has been said that N690 Co is the best you can have before getting into the powder metal types. I could agree to that.
S35VN however IS a powder steel and a good step above N690.
I have folders in both steels . S35VN is my favorite of the powder steels .
S35VN however IS a powder steel and a good step above N690.
I have folders in both steels . S35VN is my favorite of the powder steels .
I have a small sebenza and a spyderco in N690Co. I honestly can not tell a difference between the two when cutting various things with both. Edge life is so close I don't notice a difference. Both hold a heck of an edge a long time for me. Only real difference is one will give you internet bragging rights to having a supposed "super" steel. Cutting stuff you won't notice a difference. Depends on what you are buying it for. If it's collecting go for the S35VN, if it's going to be a user get whatever one costs less or has the better economics. They're both great steels, you won't go wrong with either one.
Just out of curiosity, how is S35VN more collectible than N690Co?
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Boris, what blades in the s35n steel have you compared them to? And were they all in the same use category? IE: houshold duties like mail, cardboard and random trimming vs outdoor activities like light carving, tip digging (more of a geometry issue, I know...), fshing duties like cutting bait up on dirty log cutting boards and cutting superline.. You know, pocket knife style work. Nothin extreme. I remember you mentioned the sebenza being a drawer/work knife, so I just wonder what that entails. If it holds an edge well for you while you're scraping gasket goo and cutting dirty rope and whatnot.. Those are big checks on the positive side for me.
Btw, this isnt whine and cheese, so take my interest as genuine.
ETA.. I see the sebenza is your s35n reference. Sorry. I am assuming most sebenzas are s35n unless they're special? I'm not a crk guru. Forgive.
BluegrassBrian
Gold Member
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As with other things that stem from the brain of Chris Reeve, s35vn has become a staple especially in america.
N690Co is used more in Europe and you'll see it a lot on Italian knives. I've had wonderful experience with it on productions and customs.
From a metallurgical standpoint, I'd guess the s35vn would get the nod, slight or no.
N690Co is used more in Europe and you'll see it a lot on Italian knives. I've had wonderful experience with it on productions and customs.
From a metallurgical standpoint, I'd guess the s35vn would get the nod, slight or no.
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- Feb 3, 2004
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Agreed. I'd say alloys like N690Co, 12C27, ATS-34, 154-CM, VG-10 and others are considered mid-range by today's standards. But they're still very good alloys for making cutlery. Depending upon intended use, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a knife constructed of any of them.
You pretty much nailed it on use. I cut lots of dirty balers twine and thick heavy dirty plastic. Whatever belt or hose on various pieces of equipment. Scrape rust. Just normal stuff. The sebenza is at the work bench. It was a gift and they got me a plain Ti slab one and it's a bit slippery for edc for me, but it gets work done. Very robust tough design. The N690Co feels like a more fine edge, lasts as long and is holding up great for how thin the grind is.
In a blind test I don't think I'd be able to notice a difference working both over doing daily stuff.
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What he said ^^^ Then it goes to the given heat treatment and the planned usage of the knife.
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This thread brings up something (as do lots of the 'steel vs steel' threads)... Spyderco is one of the few brands I can think of where you can get the same exact shape of knife in several different steels. Excellent for taking the grind out of the equation, and allowing for easily accumulating multiple knives because of price point.. A valuable tool for steel testers I think. Also good representation of what might be considered high tech steels in a mass production operation vs smaller or custom makers.
CapitalizedLiving
Gold Member
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S35VN vs N690... The battle of alloy variances ranges on.
If the knife you like is from a reputable maker, or if you don't even care about reputation and just want the knife, then buy it. Most of the time it will do everything you want and outlive you by a good 40 years. If it's some crazy tough steel then you may have to upgrade your sandpaper. That's about it.
If the knife you like is from a reputable maker, or if you don't even care about reputation and just want the knife, then buy it. Most of the time it will do everything you want and outlive you by a good 40 years. If it's some crazy tough steel then you may have to upgrade your sandpaper. That's about it.
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- Nov 27, 2005
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Meh. I have knives in both and honestly think of them as interchangeable. Heat treat and geometry are more important to me than nitpicking between the two.
I'm still curious about the idea of ranking/comparing steels by "collectibility." I'm far from a steel expert/junkie, and its a concept I may have missed along the way, and would like to know more about. Learn something new everyday around here! :thumbup:
Could any of the steel experts/junkies expand? How is it done? Is it based on rarity? Do certain steels go up in value?
Thanks!!!
NJBillK
Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
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- Mar 27, 2014
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Taken from another of his posts...
More reading, less posting... If there is something about a particular knife, steel, design, feature, ask away. I am sure that would have been covered before. But just blindly asking one question in hopes of gaining a Broad insight in a shoet amount of time isn't going to work that well.
Sit down and write out a few questions you want answered, then search for them and see what pops up. I would be willing to bet that if it hasn't been covered directly, it has at least been touched on in a myriad of threads.
the following was copied from 0102s profile, see a running theme?
More reading, less posting... If there is something about a particular knife, steel, design, feature, ask away. I am sure that would have been covered before. But just blindly asking one question in hopes of gaining a Broad insight in a shoet amount of time isn't going to work that well.
Sit down and write out a few questions you want answered, then search for them and see what pops up. I would be willing to bet that if it hasn't been covered directly, it has at least been touched on in a myriad of threads.
the following was copied from 0102s profile, see a running theme?
I included his other posts in the quote from this thread for sake of continuity.