Who does the best job on their S30V steel: Kershaw, Spyderco or Benchmade?

;) Cold Steel in S35VN . Better steel/HT , strongest lock , best value . You're welcome ! :rolleyes:



Mostly I'm kidding . Your question is too broad and unfocused to have a good answer , IMO .
 
Well, let me put it another way. I know that Kershaw makes the Kershaw Blur in S30V, Spyderco makes the Paramilitary 2 in S30V, and Benchmade makes the Bugout in S30V. I was just curious if one company does a better job with the heat treatment on the S30V steel. Perhaps that will help shed some light on what I'm after...
 
DocJD said:
;) Cold Steel in S35VN . Better steel/HT , strongest lock , best value . You're welcome ! :rolleyes:



Mostly I'm kidding . Your question is too broad and unfocused to have a good answer , IMO .
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Nice knives by the way. I have the Cold Steel Recon 1 in S35vn already.
 
I like s30v
I have very good experience with it with Benchmade and ZT

I really like how Benchmade makes it (Bugout and 943)
My second pick will be ZT (0350)
I have not been impressed by Spyderco with this steel but it may have been just a bad one (PM2)
 
Both BM and Spyderco are good in my books.Didn't like the S35Vn in my ZT - found it a bit tooo soft
 
All good brands and a good steel choice. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Of the choices, I only own a Spyderco, a PM2. I like it a lot. Of the not asked for brands, I agree BUCK S30V with BOS heat treatment is really great.
 
Cut tests have generally put Benchmade as the best performing S30V. Usually by only like 10% higher edge retention, but there doesn't seem to be much loss of toughness.
 
knarfeng said:
None of the above.
Buck has the best heat treat for S30V
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That's what I've heard. Otherwise, I hate S30V. That said, most of my (bad) experiences came during a time when there were "issues" with batches of the steel from Crucible. Mostly Spyderco and Benchmade. Especially Benchmade.

I've had only 2 knives in S30V that have been good. A Spyderco Yojimbo 2 and a Strider SnG.

I've heard that Crucible fixed what ever issue it was, but I'm still wary.

There are better steels out there for the money. PM2 and Manix 2 in CPM-S110V are a steal IMO.
 
Why do you care about the S30V steel? Isn't the form and function much more important in the production of a good EDC?

I think it is.


 
Crusader forge. Sorry, off topic.:p Probably Spyderco. If it’s so well done as their cpm M4 in their Gayle Bradley model, it’s perfect!
 
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The only brands I have S30V knives from are Spyderco, ZT (a division of Kershaw) and CRK (the CRK is from 2002).

As to the question, between ZT and Spyderco, I couldn’t say whose HT is better, because the designs, the blade shapes and edge geometries are very different. The ZTs are an 0350 and an 0400ST. The Spydercos are two S30V Militaries, a PM2 a Para3, and a G10 Native 5. My personal preference is for the Spydercos, but as to whose HT is ‘better’, I don’t know, only that I haven’t had any problems with my knives. Although asmittedly, I’ve used my Spydercos more than my ZTs.

Jim
 
Hard to say. They all do a great job IMHO, although there are some subtle differences. My Buck Custom Shop 112 has great geometry and holds a fantastic edge; takes some effort to remove the burr, but that's true of my Spyderco PM2, too.; my BM Mini-Rukus takes a fine edge, and is easier to sharpen for whatever reason.
 
Doesn't most makers follow the recommendations of the steel producer anyways? I own Spyderco, BM, and ZT. My preference is Spyderco, but it's probably due to the blade geo seems to suit my everyday needs better. For example I feel like the tip on the ZT would be very hard to break where as on my Spyderco I don't chance it. But I find the flat grind on my Spyderco extremely slicey.
My Spydercos and ZT both get sharpened regularly, and I find the spyderco maybe slightly tougher but barely noticeable. My BM doesn't get used or sharpened so I can't really comment on it.
 
An assumption that they just dont follow Crucible's recommendations, and have some secret squirrel heat treat recipe?
 
I love Benchmade’s S30v. It holds a working edge for a long time while not being as prone to chipping as Buck’s or Spyderco’s S30v in my experience. I don’t recall being impressed by ZT’s S30v, but I think that had more to do with the blade geometry of the 350.
 
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