s90v steel

[tiguy7]

S-90-V is the steel that cuts other steel and is often used industrially as shearing blades for steel sheet stock. I ordered some S-90-V for a custom knife, and it had to be heated to red hot before it could be sheared. This is a custom S-90-V folder.View attachment 2105909

 

[Mikel_24]

I only have a knife in this steel and works fine for me. Manly Peak. I think you will like it.

Mikel

 

[Dav1]

Sharpens quite easily with diamond stones and my go to knife for cardboard etc... when breaking down large boxes.

 

[tony281sc2]

If I recall Larrin's charts correctly, it has the best potential toughness to edge retention balance of the super high wear resistance stainless steels, so compared to S110V, M398, etc.

Yeah, he rates it at 3.5 out of 10 for toughness, but quite a bit higher edge retention than M390… like all steels I’m sure it comes down to the HT tho

I actually have an Olamic coming tomorrow (my 1st) in s90v, I didn’t buy it for the steel specifically, but I like the choice since I only have 1 other knife in S90 right now

 

[navman]

I find S90V not difficult to sharpen at all. I use a DMT diamond stone, followed by a Spyderco fine bench stone and cardboard strop...done.

 

[Alberta Ed]

S90 compares very closely to S110V from what I read.

 

[gooeytek]

It's my favorite blade steel for folding knives. Takes a nice and extremely long-lasting edge, then I just strop it on diamond paste to touch up.

Since I've used S90V for a while, Magnacut isn't even on my radar other than for a custom kitchen knife I'm having made. I find that since I'm not doing anything that requires chopping or abuse, S90V is pretty much my end-all knife steel.

 

[stan-66]

does anyone know how it compares to 20cv

 

[Synov]

does anyone know how it compares to 20cv

About the same toughness, much higher edge retention, lower corrosion resistance.

 

[gotanyammo]

S90v is a great steel, but your experience with it will depend a lot on the factory edge. Spyderco usually does a very good angle on theirs so sharpening is fairly simple since you don't need to reprofile right off the bat. If you get an obtuse factory angle that needs reprofiling you may not like it so much. My 2 cents

 

[stan-66]

well ordered the 535-3 bugout

 

[Freakdaddy70]

S90V has been a favorite of mine and I've always gotten crazy sharp edges on both my Spydercos and Benchmades over the years. That all changed with a Medford Marauder in S90V. Out of the box it was sharp as glass, but dulled quickly with little use. I went at it with my diamonds and used the same process as all my other's but couldn't scratch that edge! It got so bad, I was going to send in for incorrect heat treat but decided to keep trying after noticing the edge getting better after a complete sharpening cycle. I spent the next couple of weeks resharpening from my 80 grit stones, up to my 1500 grit stones. Each time I felt the edge come to life. Then one day, after a sharpening cycle, the edge started shaving hair. Now after a few dozen more cycles the edge is sharp as glass again and holding it through some hard cutting chores. The edge is also easier and a burrs up very nicely now. Short lesson in all this, Don't let S90V get dull and god help ya if that steel isn't heat treated correctly or sitting with a burnt edge! Other then that, S90V is a spectacular steel and I highly endorse.