Cold Steel Espada: G10 or Polished?

[TTv2]

Birthday coming up, Midways offers a discount on a select number of products, Espada is one. At $332 for the polished XL model and $256 for the all G10 handle, which is better for the money?

In case there's any confusion:

polished- $332


All G10- $256


Not saying I'm going to buy, but I might.

 

[JohnKSa]

The polished one has an S35VN blade, the G10 you're looking at has a CTS-XHP blade.

The S35VN is probably considered to be a better steel than the CTS-XHP so that's a consideration. Is it enough better to warrant the cost difference? I don't know--my gut feel is that most folks would not be able to tell any difference in performance.

That said, I think that the handle makes a bigger difference than the blade steel in this case.

G10 provides a really grippy surface. That's really nice in a working knife. Unfortunately, it is also very hard on clothing and will wear holes in denim pretty quickly.

If you're going to actually carry it then the polished version won't tear up your clothes as badly.

 

[TTv2]

I figure given the size of the knife that I'd be carrying it in some sort of nylon holster, so tearing in clothes wouldn't be a concern. The reason I'm interested in the polished one isn't the blade steel, it's the handle. It just looks more classic.

 

[LoonWulf]

I'd go with the polished, that grip shape doesn't lend itself to the flat g10 panels imo. Besides that knife is about style, and the polished has it in spades.

 

[Kookla]

This is one of those things where if you are going to go for it, go all the way. I say get the polished handled one.

 

[JShirley]

The XHP should be a better steel in every aspect except rust resistance, and maybe a slightly greater tendency to chip.

 

[TTv2]

This is one of those things where if you are going to go for it, go all the way. I say get the polished handled one.

That's what I was thinking, but just had the thought if I wanted a polished one, maybe the 5 inch would be better and the 7 inch would be better as a G10. Wouldn't care as much if during use it gets worn or beat up like I would the polished.

 

[hso]

CTS-XHP

This is a mind blowing steel if properly heat treated. I watched Walter Brend hack 150 times on a deer antler and then shave hair with a CTS-XHP blade.

 

[JohnKSa]

I really like the CTS-XHP knife I have. I think it's a little easier to sharpen than S35VN knives I have which makes me think that the S35VN might beat it out slightly in edge-holding. But I don't have a lot of knives in either of those two steels and I haven't really done any seriously stressing testing on any of them so it's impossible for me to be dogmatic about the relative properties based on my own experience.

 

[TTv2]

I don't have a preference for the blade steel, they're both better than AUS8

 

[bikerdoc]

Get both.