I have been using my Spyderco Manix 2 with CPM S30V for a year or so to perform light hunting tasks and general EDC tasks. It didn’t trouble me at all as it has good edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance. However, I was keen to try my dad’s new Spyderco Para Military 2 featuring the new CPM S110V because I was hearing a lot of good things about this steel from many friends.
I asked my dad if I could borrow it for some time and he graciously accepted my request. It became my go-to knife for a few months for various tasks and I realized what my friends were talking about. Even today, both steel are relevant and I’ll share which one of them you should pick if you are planning to get one.
A Look At CPM S30V
It is a hardened, powdered and premium steel used which was created by Crucible Particle Metallurgy, co-designed by the popular knife maker, Chris Reeves in the United States specifically for high-end cutlery. It was released in the early 2000s and has set a good standard for its excellent edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening.
The alloy (recipe) of an S30V:
- Chromium (14%)
- Carbon (1.45%)
- Vanadium (4%)
- Molybdenum (2%)
The Vanadium creates a hard vanadium carbide which plays a crucial part in the steel’s toughness and edge retention. It is a well-balanced steel suitable for more than 90% tasks. It is my go-to choice for various tasks at home and at work.
How do I use it?
1. EDC
I do a lot of everyday tasks like cutting countless cardboard, cutting and slicing fruits, vegetables or meat, carving, opening a bottle etc. This steel doesn’t even stress while doing tasks because of its toughness.
2. Firefighting
I’ve used it to cut seatbelt and other rescue tasks that need a steel with great toughness and this one did a perfectly good thing on numerous occasions.
3. Hunting
The toughness of this steel has made it easier to do tasks like game processing and field dressing. Though it isn’t my preferred choice for these tasks, I love to experiment with it occasionally and it does well.
How do I sharpen it?
Whenever my S30V steel gets dull and loses its cutting ability after using it for a couple of months, I spend about 10-15 minutes sharpening it with my ceramic knife sharpener and it creates a new edge. It is one of my favorite aspects of this steel.
How does the CPM S30V compare to S110V?
The CPM S110V is a premium stainless steel developed by Crucible Industries with the CPM process. It has similar properties as S30V however, they have added Niobium to improve the edge retention.
The recipe of of an S110V:
- Carbon (2.8%)
- Chromium (14%)
- Molybdenum (2%)
- Vanadium (4%)
- Niobium (3.5%)
- Cobalt (2%)
The Niobium creates harder carbides than Vanadium which results in superior edge retention and high-wear resistance. The purpose of 2% Cobalt is, letting the steel reach full hardness (up to 61 HRC) for its maximum potential.
Even though it has better edge retention compared to CPM S30V, it is too brittle when using hard materials and may lead to micro-cracking and chipping. The corrosion resistance is almost the same on both knives and I’ve not found much difference in real world usage. Some of my friends have mentioned that the CPM S110V holds up better in harsh environments.
So, how do I use it?
I use this steel less frequently mainly for EDC tasks like cutting abrasive materials like sandpaper, cardboard, paper etc.
Once I used it while holding an open can, I could immediately hear the micro-chipping sound from it. Since then, I’ve been very careful while using this steel for such tasks.
How hard is it to sharpen?
Sharpening this steel is a time consuming task process because the harder carbides created by Noibium makes it difficult to do it. You need specifically a diamond abrasive stone and a good 30-40 minutes to sharpen it.
It is one of the main reasons why I would not recommend this steel to a general knife user because not everyone owns a diamond stone and has expertise to sharpen it. For ease of sharpening, CPM S30V is miles ahead compared to the CPM S110V.
Which One You Should Pick?
If you want a premium and all-rounder steel with these qualities:
- Good edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance.
- Easy sharpening.
- Affordable pricing.
- Act as a perfect every day companion.
You must definitely go with the CPM S30V because more than 90% general users will be satisfied with it. Just regularly sharpening it with a ceramic stone will help it last longer without any chipping or cracking.
If you need a steel mainly for:
- Cutting abrasive materials like cardboard, paper, rope etc.
- Prioritize edge retention over everything else.
- Knows how to sharpen a blade with a diamond stone.
You can go with the CPM S110V for sure. However, you’ll need to spend about 20-30% extra for this steel. I have mentioned it as one of the best steel in my earlier post as well.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between Spyderco S30V and S110V?
Spyderco S30V will have good edge retention along with excellent corrosion resistance and toughness. It is easy to sharpen as well.
The S110V with the added Niobium creates hard carbides and will have better edge retention. However, it gives up toughness and is brittle if it is used for hard tasks. Sharpening this steel is only possible with the diamond abrasive stone.
2. What is the hardness of S110V steel?
The maximum hardness of this still is around 58-61 HRC.
3. Is S110V better than MagnaCut?
No, both of them are good and you need to pick the one based on your priorities.
The S110V will retain its edge for a long time and is brittle for hard materials and takes extra time to sharpen it. Magnacut will have superior toughness, less prone to chopping with decent edge retention and is very easy to sharpen.
4. Is the CPM S110V stainless?
Yes, it is powdered metallurgy stainless tool steel.
5. What is S110V good for?
It is an excellent choice for cutting abrasive materials as it holds its edge for a long period of time and requires less sharpening than many other steels.
