Why choose Spy27 over Magnacut?

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stillshot2

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Since they are very similar in price on current Spyderco models I'm curious why anyone would prefer Spy27?
 
Ive been wondering this too. Not so much vs magnacut but just in general, what's the big selling point of spy 27? It seems like a mid range wear stainless, but what's it like? Harder and tougher than s30v? I don't know.
 
elevator man said:
Ive been wondering this too. Not so much vs magnacut but just in general, what's the big selling point of spy 27? It seems like a mid range wear stainless, but what's it like? Harder and tougher than s30v? I don't know.
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Spy27 is very similar to S35VN, but it's easier to maintain. Usually a quick stropping session is enough. I think magnacut can be hardened more and will hold an edge longer.
When in doubt I always look at knifesteelnerds.com
 
I wish Spyderco would publish a downloadable chart of all their steel options... comparing them. There's a lot to keep up with ! I'm still trying to figure out the difference between S35VN and S45VN. 🤨
 
bmo419 said:
They do have a list of their steel options actually :)
https://www.spyderco.com/edge-u-cation/steel-chart/
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Oh, wow.... cool! I see they break it down to the components... I'll have to get into that a bit. Was hoping for something a bit more basic, as in comparing edge retention with toughness with corrosion resistance. I see in their steel brochure they say that ZDP-189 is classified as an exotic steel that is not actually a steel by definition. That's fascinating.
 
Buffalohump said:
Oh, wow.... cool! I see they break it down to the components... I'll have to get into that a bit. Was hoping for something a bit more basic, as in comparing edge retention with toughness with corrosion resistance. I see in their steel brochure they say that ZDP-189 is classified as an exotic steel that is not actually a steel by definition. That's fascinating.
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There's always the steel charts on knifesteelnerds' website, which does have simple ratings for edge retention/toughness/corrosion resistance according to the tests they performed. I wouldn't take the ratings as gospel or anything, but they're a good starting point to get an idea of where different steels stand at least.
 
With how close it is to s30v etc, I wouldn't be suprisred to see it be the standard spyderco steel. Replacing s30v, vg10 etc. No idea, just seemed like an idea that makes sense to me, especially since it's made just for spyderco.
 
bmo419 said:
There's always the steel charts on knifesteelnerds' website, which does have simple ratings for edge retention/toughness/corrosion resistance according to the tests they performed. I wouldn't take the ratings as gospel or anything, but they're a good starting point to get an idea of where different steels stand at least.
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I will take a lookie... I've been there before for quick visits. I want it all in a steel, like most people. I really like CPM-M4 but its harder to find. I haven't tried Cru-Wear yet. K390 is awesome but you have to watch it closely. I like what I see in Magnacut and I'm waiting to get a knife in that, probably the new Salt Para-2.

I want that toughness and I want that corrosion resistance. Those two are most important to me. I can always touch a knife up quickly so edge retention is less important. What I don't like is micro-chipping and I've found that can happen quite easily in S30V and M390. I don't even know how it happens!
 
Does anybody have hands-on experience with SPY27?

Charts are cool, but in my experience they don't tell the whole story. VG10 looks so-so on the charts, but it sings as an actual blade steel in an every day carry knife. I find that VG10 takes an extraordinarily fine edge. Noticeably better than 154CM or ATS34, which are fairly similar in composition.

How does SPY27 handle as an actual blade steel?
 
I used a Spy27 Native recently, for a week of gardening, opened nearly 100 sacks of soil and manure, delimbed a lot of bamboo, cut weeds and twine and it held up really well and also the sharpening after all that was a breeze. I think I only stropped it. I have a Fallkniven WM1 in VG10, but I don't use it enough to be able to compare the two.
 
knarfeng said:
Does anybody have hands-on experience with SPY27?

Charts are cool, but in my experience they don't tell the whole story. VG10 looks so-so on the charts, but it sings as an actual blade steel in an every day carry knife. I find that VG10 takes an extraordinarily fine edge. Noticeably better than 154CM or ATS34, which are fairly similar in composition.

How does SPY27 handle as an actual blade steel?
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In use SPY27 is very similar to S35VN, but possibly slightly easier to sharpen on conventional stones. The difference is not large, so might only be in my head. On the other hand I hate VG10, probably the steel I’ve sharpened the most since every friend and their friend has it in kitchen knives, mostly Shuns and whatever these guys did to this steel it makes me hate it with a passion. Personal experiences vary, making steel comparisons unreliable. MagnaCut is a better steel for knives than SPY27 in every regard except sharpening on conventional stones, but since diamond stones are a lot more available these days and are reasonably priced, this should not be the reason not to choose it. On the other hand if I had a knife in SPY27 I wouldn’t dump it just to replace it with one in MagnaCut, but if buying new and picking between them, MagnaCut is the obvious choice.
 
Buffalohump said:
I wish Spyderco would publish a downloadable chart of all their steel options... comparing them. There's a lot to keep up with ! I'm still trying to figure out the difference between S35VN and S45VN. 🤨
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No need for Spyderco to do this.

Larrin's treatise on Testing The Edge Retention of 48 Knife Steels should suffice.

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Larrin's papers on Magnacut vs other steels should also answer any question about its comparison w/SPY27:

Magnacut - The Next Breakthrough In Knife Steel

Edge Retention Testing of Seven More Steels -- XHP, SPY27, Maxamet, Rex 45, 420, T15 & Rex 76

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And, for additional information, take a look at the discussions in the following threads:

Larrin's Magnacut Paper - Discussion Thread

Additional Magnacut Testing - Discussion Thread

Magnacut vs S35VN - Discussion Thread
 
ace said:
In use SPY27 is very similar to S35VN, but possibly slightly easier to sharpen on conventional stones. The difference is not large, so might only be in my head. On the other hand I hate VG10, probably the steel I’ve sharpened the most since every friend and their friend has it in kitchen knives, mostly Shuns and whatever these guys did to this steel it makes me hate it with a passion. Personal experiences vary, making steel comparisons unreliable. MagnaCut is a better steel for knives than SPY27 in every regard except sharpening on conventional stones, but since diamond stones are a lot more available these days and are reasonably priced, this should not be the reason not to choose it. On the other hand if I had a knife in SPY27 I wouldn’t dump it just to replace it with one in MagnaCut, but if buying new and picking between them, MagnaCut is the obvious choice.
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On the other hand, my VG10 experience is entirely with various Spydercos... and I've always been very happy with it. Not hard to get razor sharp and holds that edge a long time in normal use. I guess it's true I've never had a VG10 Spydie that I really abused as a test... but just generic every day use... has always seemed great to me. Would be interesting to see how you would feel about the VG10 knives that Spyderco makes. Might be different.
 
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knarfeng said:
Does anybody have hands-on experience with SPY27?

Charts are cool, but in my experience they don't tell the whole story. VG10 looks so-so on the charts, but it sings as an actual blade steel in an every day carry knife. I find that VG10 takes an extraordinarily fine edge. Noticeably better than 154CM or ATS34, which are fairly similar in composition.

How does SPY27 handle as an actual blade steel?
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I have a Native 5 in Spy27 and the Rockwell range in that steel is 62 to 65. For S30v the Rockwell range is 59 to 61 and I remember it having chipping problems when Reeves introduced it and had to drop it down to the 59 range but correct me if I’m mistaken. I’ve used the Native 5 Spy27 for some useful things like cutting the backbone out of a chicken and hogging out piles of wood curls from hardwood with zero micro chipping or rolling. For me it’s appreciably better than S30v and S30v is surely a fine steel. Spy27 sharpens easier for me and it far easier to get the wire edge off. I find it impressive for a stainless steel. YMMV but that’s my experience and I don’t dislike my S30v blades.
 
SwiftDream said:
I have a Native 5 in Spy27 and the Rockwell range in that steel is 62 to 65. For S30v the Rockwell range is 59 to 61 and I remember it having chipping problems when Reeves introduced it and had to drop it down to the 59 range but correct me if I’m mistaken. I’ve used the Native 5 Spy27 for some useful things like cutting the backbone out of a chicken and hogging out piles of wood curls from hardwood with zero micro chipping or rolling. For me it’s appreciably better than S30v and S30v is surely a fine steel. Spy27 sharpens easier for me and it far easier to get the wire edge off. I find it impressive for a stainless steel. YMMV but that’s my experience and I don’t dislike my S30v blades.
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That's really good feedback. I'd love to see it replace s30v in spydercos lineup. Especially if it's higher hrc/better edge stability without chipping etc. I like the new bodacious that just was released but I'm not buying it in s30v, but would consider it in spy 27.
 
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