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192
Jun 16, 2015
ZDP-189 in comparison to some other popular all-rounder steels used in knifemaking at comparable hardnesses to VG10: wear resistance ++ , toughness ~ , corrosion resistance -- to CPM S30V/S35VN: wear resistance + , toughness ~ , corrosion resistance - to ELMAX: wear resistance ~ , toughness --, corrosion resistance ---
but since ZDP-189 is usually heat-treated to a much higher hardness than is typical: at production hardnesses to VG10: wear resistance +++ , toughness - , corrosion resistance -- to CPM S30V/S35VN: wear resistance ++ , toughness - , corrosion resistance - to ELMAX: wear resistance + , toughness ---, corrosion resistance ---
Note that edge holding is a combination of wear resistance and toughness as a chipped blade won't cut that well. Ease of sharpening should also be considered since, if you can't get a blade sharp in the first place, it won't cut well whatever you do. VG10 and ELMAX are generally considered easier to sharpen than ZDP and S30V/S35VN.
(S30V and S35VN are very similar in terms of characteristics; S35VN is said to be ever so slightly tougher, but the difference is negligible in comparisons to differences to other steels. You might notice slightly less micro-chipping in S35VN than in S30V though.)