Microtech Socom Elite S35VN Rope Cutting/Edge Retention Test

[Sharpbevel]

Excellent job!

[ibesteadymobbin92]

How would you rank the s35vn socom elite all time testing? The zt 0550? Seems that there's a wide variety of results with s35vn.

[jobytoss]

How much more phone book paper do you have? :)

[Dan39991]

You should put a toothy edge on the Sebenza and re-test it.

[traderjoes]

Maybe the Chris Reeve knife was a bad batch of S35VN? Is that possible?

[knivesandstuff]

@traderjoes absolutely possible

[johnwoodz1220]

Can anyone tell me why S35VN is stronger with a physcally weaker toothy edge?I don't understand it.

[knivesandstuff]

@johnwoodz1220 A Toothy edge cannot be stronger. its physically impossible.. However.. toothy edges cut rope better than polished edges because they can tear better in the fibre. There is the simple possiblity that while the toothy edge is weaker, its requiring far less force (especially downward force) to slice the rope. the force of trying to make the polished edge go through the sisal rope could be doing more damage than the toothy edge with far less resistance. just a theory.

[johnwoodz1220]

@knivesandstuff Yeah that's a good theory. Thanks Kyley

[staticx2552]

the high profile back bevel with a toothy micro bevel is probably why it cuts so good (the steel too probably ) but the combo makes sense keep testing it

[jambiyaSlaughter]

All people in the south are religious still. It wierds me out.

[mongomondomongo]

Man I hope they make more of the mini socoms. That looks like a great performer. Looks like s35v is going to work out.

[johnwoodz1220]

I've been going on about toothy edges for ages everyone. They are cool.

[ibesteadymobbin92]

So would you say this is one of the best performing knives you've tested so far? I'm curious to see this compared to an old s30v microtech, however I don't think they ever made the socom elites in s30v, just 154cm and d2.

[ibesteadymobbin92]

@wolf5391 The socom elite has normal screws, as long as you get one with grip tape and not carbon fiber

[asilaydying1984]

nice! glad it performed

[nasaman007]

I too would love to see a retest of the Sebenza with a toothy edge. Thanks for the videos.

[Nebulax123]

Microtech has always been top drawer.

[bobmellon]

you should retest a sebenza with a toothy edge

[bobmellon]

i am really surprised apparently microtech really knows what they are doing with steels

[zujostix]

I wonder if there would be any difference with regards to performance in other knives that have S35VN if you also went down with the edge finish (the final grit). Seems to have worked here and on the ZT

[jdavis882]

@zujostix The ZT had a high polished edge, not toothy at all. Also a toothy edge won't prevent the huge deformations in the edge that the Sebenza and Native suffered.

[zujostix]

@jdavis882 Didn't you say something about the ZT preforming better once the polish was gone and the edge became more toothy?

[knivesandstuff]

@jdavis882 I agree.. if anything the toothy edge should have rolled over and then the deformation that the sebenza suffered.. it seems more and more likely that you got a few S35VN lemons from a bad heat treat.. this is good proof that its not the steels problem. backs up my own s35 experiences.

[TheBeardBlade]

So is a micro bevel with the spyderco rods a good plan with my sabensa? Or is the performance  you see here more from (I assume) the hardness of the microtech vs the hardness of other S35VN blades?

[jdavis882]

@TheBeardBlade A micro bevel is a good idea most of the time, for most knives. Especially when durability and ease of maintenance are desirable.

[MPSecare]

"If i sound surprised...I am"

nice

[MPSecare]

microtech makes a great blade.

[MrICSK]

Did you use the corners or flats of the brown ceramic rod when you added that micro bevel?

[jdavis882]

@MrICSK The flat part of the Profile rod. :)

[maddie2359]

you've got to get your hands on a les george vecp!

[jdavis882]

@maddie2359 I want one of those super bad. Buy me one? Haha

[PMCMANIS]

I'd like to share a quick story with you because I think it's relevant.

If you go to Japan you will sometimes see cutlery stores that have traditional looking Japanese knives (i.e. hamons, wood handles, etc) on display outside and, typically, an older gentleman selling them. A popular demonstration they do is to press the knife VERY hard into their hand, and demonstrate that there is no cut. But then, they will slice a tomato in two as if it were made of nothing more than air.

[PMCMANIS]

@PMCMANIS JDavis since you sharpen I will assume you know this but this is just to have this out there.

Anyway, the point of this story is that an edge on a knife is actually a microscopic saw. The finer your polish is, the smaller the teeth are. However, for some steels, because of the way the carbides form, it's better to stick with bigger teeth.

If I may speculate, I suspect that the steel just isnt as strong as S30V so when you take it down the too-small teeth get bent.

[4estfloor]

@PMCMANIS  darn Chi tricks! ;)

[newcoyote]

Yeah. Remember I was waiting for my Socom and was a little concerned? No worries.After having it a while now, I concur it's a pretty fine knife.

[jdavis882]

@newcoyote Yes it really is!

[alexandrews35]

That was sick bro. I knew it was harder than the other S35's that you tested and I knew it would perform well...but not like that!haha Ahh...now the suspense of the 20CV!

[jdavis882]

@alexandrews35 Can't wait!

[wolf5391]

i would go out and get one of these but A) i heard there warranty is the worst in the buisness and B) the stupid screws they have need a tool thats alot money to get. Its too bad because ive always loved this knife.

[ThePhilapplication]

ive been followin your channel since you got the tilt minus all the rope testing. I now regret not watching them. Great vid. Ima have to go through and watch the series.

[chavezchavez556]

I love the steel too ! 

[pennfootball71]

Just posted a vid of my new S35Vn custom ... have some insights David Mosier told me about the steel

[DrWrongPaul]

My BK-2 does the same ... with convex edge.

[gundude73]

who woulda guessed.

[defenseandsafety]

dang - i really want one of these knives but i wish they made a left handed version. great test john - i agree - this was a real eye opener. thanks!

[1snowreaper]

I was thinking about picking up the carbon fiber with satin socom. I saw cajunblazes unboxing and it looks like a real sweet knife. I would like if it had both auto/manual feature but those older socoms command a huge price tag.

[xCaffieneJunkyx]

Nice video man. Do you think the 0550 would have done better with a lower grit finish? I still sharpen with the sharpmaker haha.

[SezMan716]

that blade is number 1 on my shopping list. the one with the carbon fiber inlays and the stone washed blade is sooooo sexy

[reneql8]

sick

[knifeaddiction2011]

Thanks for doing the test dickhead. I think I will go and buy one and then send it to you.

[socomelite1]

Damn I'll have to pick up one of these new ones too

[smellslikepurple233]

I'll bet you're probably sick of cutting with a sebenza by now, but how do you think it'd hold up with a wide toothy edge like the ones you put on this microtech and the zt?

[TheThor153]

that edge looks awesome!!!!

[TheThor153]

man i want one so bad now!!!

[thestefanngo]

damm... now i really want this knife

[alexandrews35]

@thestefanngo get it!