Blade Material

[fraggle09027]

Hi all,
I'm new to the sight and a new knive owner. I ordered two spyderco knives, a byrd Cara Cara and a Endura. The question I have is VG-10 v.s. the 440c. Comparing both metals in the steel chart they are almost the same exept for the addition of cobalt and some other minor differences. Is the VG-10 that much better of a blade?

[JD Spydo]

I'll take the VG-10 anyday. VG-10 Spyders are great. You can't go wrong with VG-10, ZDP-189 or any of the CPM steels.

440C isn't bad steel either. However I think VG-10 will outperform it in the long run.

[bluemist]

I'm pretty new myself but I have blades in vg-10, zdp-189, and s30v and my favorite is vg-10.

[smcfalls13]

Cobalt is like Red Bull for steel. It makes all the other elements work overtime, and enhances their properties.

The difference of Cobalt between VG-10 and 440C makes a huge difference in my experience. VG-10 does everything 440C does, only a lot better.

Mmmm....Cobalt

[Th232]

Well, the question's been answered, but just to let you know, the steel in the Byrds isn't 440c, it's a different composition, but performs similar to 440c.

[fraggle09027]

Well, guess I can see shortly when they arrive

[JD Spydo]

Cobalt is like Red Bull for steel. It makes all the other elements work overtime, and enhances their properties.

The difference of Cobalt between VG-10 and 440C makes a huge difference in my experience. VG-10 does everything 440C does, only a lot better.

Mmmm....Cobalt

That's interesting because there is some cobalt in ATS-55 as well. For everyday, hard abuse, Hard working steel your VG-10 is hard to beat. Although for a steel that you can attain a "Straight Razor" type edge that will hold up for a significant time you just can't beat ZDP-189. Anytime I need to do a precise cut I use my ZDP-189 Calypso Jr.

The only 2 steels that Spyderco used that I really didn't like were AUS-6 and 440A. However it has been a while since either steel has been used.

I am still hoping that Spyderco will soon do a blade with CPM's "M-4". I would like to see how it's going to stack up against the steels they are currently using.

[Pete1977]

I used a Byrd Raven for hard use for several months. The steel, while it doesn't have the corrosion resistance properties I've found in VG-10 and 440C does take a very toothy edge. Just looking at it, sharpening it, and feeling it's edge gives the impression that it is a very tough, very work oriented steel. I sharpened mine on the sharpmaker and only used the corners of the grey rods, I never took it down to a polished edge, and the way I kept it was like using a knife with microscopic serrations, it ate through the toughest rope with no problem, even for a blade shorter than my preference for such jobs. You'll have no problem with either knife you bought. Both are workhorses and IMO more knife than you paid for .

[fraggle09027]

Well I got the Endura in the mail today and it is plenty sharp. If the Cara Cara is close I'll be very happy. Now all I need is a digital camera for pics

[gunmike1]

The Byrd's steel actually takes a very impressive polished edge. It's composition is similar to AUS-8 (which is known for taking a really keen edge), but I have found it to perform better than my AUS-8 knives (CRKT's), which burr a lot during sharpening. My G-10 Cara Cara's haven't had burring issues like that, and seem to hold an edge better than AUS-8, too. Pretty impressive for a "beater" steel.

Mike