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Showing 1 of 21 conversations about:
Chowderhead72
42
Jun 15, 2015
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Why is this one so expensive? I have joined most of the other spyderco drops but this seems overpriced. Enlighten me please. Is the ZDP steel that expensive? More so than Elmax?
guvnor
735
Jun 15, 2015
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Chowderhead72Something I learned a while ago regarding the costs of making knives is that it's not as simple as just buying the steel and grinding a blade out of it.
The harder and more wear resistant a steel is, the more grinding time is required. Knife makers say they can end up spending more on the grinding belts than on the steel itself.
I remember hearing S30V was in part because how fast S90V was wearing out belts. Funny that the industry has pushed towards harder steels anyway because that's what people seem to want.
My personal experience with ZDP-189 is that it'll keep a sharp edge for an extremely long time, but it's not really suitable for hard work because any edge damage will take longer to fix.
The harder and more wear resistant a steel is, the more grinding time is required. Knife makers say they can end up spending more on the grinding belts than on the steel itself.
I remember hearing S30V was in part because how fast S90V was wearing out belts. Funny that the industry has pushed towards harder steels anyway because that's what people seem to want.
My personal experience with ZDP-189 is that it'll keep a sharp edge for an extremely long time, but it's not really suitable for hard work because any edge damage will take longer to fix.
Risk
37
Jun 15, 2015
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Chowderhead72I have never heard of this steel type either, so I did some digging around.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/366716-Any-downsides-to-ZDP-189
Very good read on ZDP-189. Hitachi made it, apparently better than VG-10, but brittle... at least what some say. Someone did a drop test from 3 feet and the blade cracked.
Now all the information on those forums was from 2005, so maybe things have changed in the last 10 years?
Either way, this blade is beautiful. Too bad I can't afford it right now.
Very good read on ZDP-189. Hitachi made it, apparently better than VG-10, but brittle... at least what some say. Someone did a drop test from 3 feet and the blade cracked.
Now all the information on those forums was from 2005, so maybe things have changed in the last 10 years?
Either way, this blade is beautiful. Too bad I can't afford it right now.
Risk
37
Jun 15, 2015
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rggbI have 2 Spyderco in my collection (Delica 4 and Native 5) and love them both.
This would be a welcome addition to that, but for the price I would rather buy my dream knife.
http://www.benchmade.com/products/940
http://www.benchmade.com/products/940
dalethorn
193
Jun 15, 2015
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Chowderhead72I don't get it. I have a lot of Spydercos and Benchmades, and my Spyderco Gayle Bradley in carbon fiber cost $175. This looks awfully plain for that money.
guvnor
735
Jun 16, 2015
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dalethornThe Bradley folder is made in Taiwan while the Stretch is made in Japan. I know the quality between the two origins are comparable, but things will simply cost a bit more coming from Japan(especially knives from Seki). Can think of it as prestige tax if you want.
Also the handle scales on the Bradley is a single layer of carbon fiber laminated onto G-10, which aids keeping the cost down.
Also the handle scales on the Bradley is a single layer of carbon fiber laminated onto G-10, which aids keeping the cost down.
dalethorn
193
Jun 18, 2015
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guvnorI have the Spyderco UK Penknife, which looks a lot like this, and I'm going to give it away. Not a nice knife.
cgdibble
29
Jun 19, 2015
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dalethornWhat don't you like about it? I have one and while it isn't my favorite, it is still a great knife.
I'm just curious what flaws you see in it.
I'm just curious what flaws you see in it.
dalethorn
193
Jun 25, 2015
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cgdibbleThe handle feels bad - like a smoothed version of coarse sandpaper. There are many nice handle textures in knives that I have, but this one looks and feels like - well, most any $10-$20 Gerber from Walmart is much better.
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