ZDP-189 real world experience

[DavidR]

I like ivory and ivory micarta, carbon fiber, titanium, and timascus for handle materials. I prefer a hand rub satin blade.

Of course Ti and Cai engraving always rocks!!

BE: Why do you think ZDP-189 is so much better then all the other steels out there like S30V, CPM154CM, BG-42 and, hell, ATS-34? I haven't used the ZDP-189 and am curious. Personally, I don't find a huge difference between any of the above, it really depends more on the heat treat is what I have found.

[Blurry Eyes]

At 67 Rc, it is much harder than anything else, without being brittle as you would expect.
I cut a lot of cardboard at work, and used to sharpen S30V every weekend. The ZDP is going on 2 months and shows zero sign of edge wear.

For comparisons, check out:
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/kn....html#S_ZDP189

[DavidR]

At 67 Rc, it is much harder than anything else, without being brittle as you would expect.
I cut a lot of cardboard at work, and used to sharpen S30V every weekend. The ZDP is going on 2 months and shows zero sign of edge wear.

For comparisons, check out:
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/kn....html#S_ZDP189

I'm familiar with the steel, I'm just very surprised you have noticed this kind of difference since I have seen no other reports like this. What knife where you using in S30V? Maybe it wasn't heat treated correctly or something???

[Blurry Eyes]

Kershaw Leek, polished G-10 in S30V.

[UW Mitch]

Sounds like a pretty good comparison - leek vs. leek, same geometry, just different materials. Interesting real world experience.

~Mitch

[commodorewheeler]

Sounds like a pretty good comparison - leek vs. leek, same geometry, just different materials. Interesting real world experience.

~Mitch

I actually heard that the geometry wasn't exactly the same. Supposedly, the ZDP-189 Leeks are flat ground, while all the other Leeks are hollow ground.

David, ZDP-189 has a much higher wear resistance than almost any other stainless steel out there, in large part because it can be hardened up to absurd levels without becoming overtly brittle. I've definitely noticed a difference with it too, in both kitchen knives and utility knives. It definitely holds an edge much better than S30V. The downside of it is that it is nowhere near as tough as S30V.

[DavidR]

Have others noticed similar atributes with the ZDP? I'm interested to hear what others have to say.


Thanks Mitch for splitting this off.

[DavidR]

Due to the hardness of this steel, is it possible to grind it thinner then S30V? This would make it great for small knives.

[Blurry Eyes]

Sad to report the tip broke off my ZDP leek. I don't know how it happened. I took it out to show it off and the tip was gone.
Me mucho sad about that, it was two days pay.
I guess I'll try to grind it to a tanto style point, as I don't think Kershaw will be willing to part with a new blade.
The blade edge still shows Zero sign of wear.

[commodorewheeler]

Due to the hardness of this steel, is it possible to grind it thinner then S30V? This would make it great for small knives.

I don't know if you can grind it thinner than S30V, I've seen both blade steels ground *really* thin in kitchen knives. But a thin edge doesn't roll at all, from my experience, with ZDP-189, due to its hardness.