Spyderco Endela K390 - review and sharpening
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- This video is a review of the Spyderco Endela in K390 steel. The video has discussion on the design and build quality of the knife, and documents use and sharpening the knife.
Here is the link to the qualitative edge retention testing mentioned in the video.
• Front end sharpness ed...
Where have you been brother ? Hope all is well with you
Hope all is well Michael Christy. We miss your videos
Yoda Speaks
Does that make you mace windu ? Or Darth Sideous?
@@6nosis I can see him spinning 4 rex-121 blades like General Grievous swings lightsabers, sharpening them at a 12°/side against Blade show's security's CBN shields 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
...and people listen!
@@ashmerch2558 He's obviously Chewy, or maybe an ewok
Come on Shawn Yoda for real. He’s marginal at best of sharpening. You know this and every other sharpener out their knows This.Really I think he’s talking out his ass most of the time.
I just wanted to send you a message and personally thank you for your channel, your knowledge, wisdom of sharpening, and showing me what a truly sharp knife looks like. You inspired me to be better at knife sharpening and today I achieved my goal of getting my knife as sharp as I wanted to get it. I have short hair but I can pull a piece of hair out of my head and just slowly move my blade across it like you do in some of your videos and it just cuts right through the hair. I’ve been able to get an edge to whittle hair but never just blow through it by touching it like yours so thank you for the inspiration, education, and instruction to help me reach this goal!! I really appreciate everything you’ve shared! God bless you sir!
Been a minute ! This model hasn't left my hands/pocket for over a week
a hundred thirty bucks for 3.4" - 3.75" of K390 is a good deal to me
Having had k390 on a few models for a while now (including this one), I think it’s slowly becoming my favorite steel. That’s a really tough thing to say because it’d take a lot to actually dethrone Cruwear for me. Cruwear’s sharpenability is just too nice. But k390 is up there, too. It’s not particularly difficult to sharpen, the edges are aggressive, they maintain that aggression then they slowly settle into a long term working edge. That’s about as good as it gets for me. I don’t care about stainlessness. I almost prefer steels that are less stainless…so there’s that, too. K390 is really top of the heap, man.
Ji Michal
Veneev diamond or gritomatic silicone carbide what would be your preferred choice
Yo Michael
I hope you’re doing well. I miss hearing from you. I think the whole knife community misses your insight. Not influenced by any one. I recently realized where you live. Rock Creek and little lakes valley is my favorite place on earth. Gotten way more crowded from when I discovered it 25 years ago. But if you go as far as ruby lake and beyond im sure it’s still pretty wild. Just bought an endela in k390. Your review makes me happy i did so. I am a beginning sharpener and your videos are what i hope to be able to accomplish some day.
Need more of your content please!
Embrace the convexity :)
I need to visit some k390 now.
Hoping one day to get a Michael Christy video on Magnacut 😂
Are you still around? I have been trying to figure out how to message you about something you might be very interested in.
I think convexity is the natural result of free-handing with time to establish bevel contributing. For example the coarse Venevs cut slowly so the sharpener has to make more passes and this contributes to more convexity. The DMT plates cut more quickly so the bevel gets done with fewer passes and thus the possibility of minimal convexity. The fine Venevs are working on an established bevel so they can maintain a flat bevel, at least that’s my take on it.
Mike, any thoughts about zdp-189, especially as it compares to k390?
Michael. Are you done with you tube videos? I miss your discussions. Rex 76 is a new steel m398 needs discussion and others. Just not the same on IG.
Good to see you again. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Michael.
Haven’t forgotten about your channel, Mike
FINALLY! Glad to have you back!
Hey Michael. Where did you go? Love your videos!
Hello Michael
What aobut your videos?
I miss your sharpening videos.
Hope you are OK.
I am glad you like the Endela. I hear people saying that it is redundant... just to fill the gap between the Endura and the Delica. Sal Glesser proved himself once more as a genius designer. I like the Endela way more than the Endura. The ergos, that belly, the drop point ... awesome folder.
Hi Mike. Wade here! Still like the karambit, still serving me well. Have a great 2021!
Same to you, my friend. Glad to hear from you.
Am I the only one who doesn’t even mind vg10? I have a fixed angle sharpener and I just throw the honing stone on it every few days and it ALWAYS sharper n’shit
Thanks for the video and your thoughts. I'm curious, because you didn't seem to really discuss it in the video, if you have any preference between the Endela and Endura now that you have them both in K390?
I have several DULO knives in K390. I hand sharpen with Diamond DLT and finish with strops with 1 and .5 microns. I have a DULO laminated Pukko in K390. Completely butchered a hog 250 lbs hitting bone and blazing through ligaments. Still hair poppin sharp post event. The K390 is very good steel. I have knives in many other steels but, always gravitate towards the K390. I have several in Magnacut and am still testing that. Great video Sir.
Thanks again M.
I'm loving all three; K390, REX 45 and MAXAMET.
I'm really impressed all around with the Taichung maxamet Sage 1.
Agreed on using plates before Venev bonded 8 and 12. Makes getting a flatter bevel easier. Venev has excellent feedback imo but I think that's partly conducive to convex bevels. Especially with my skills. Less density makes it easier for my wrist to roll without noticing. I can feel the tip of the apex better but not the side of the edge...
Yeah...
Always useful and helpful is your stuff so thanx again.
I also have not put this model down since getting it. It just hits that sweet spot. Excellent steel choice as well. I did measure mine and it was right around 15° at .021".
Mister Christy, when will you return?
Just revisited both you and the bears channels today and behold a new post from each of you! My ability to accomplish an edge and understand small steps and how it affects the end results has come a long way. Thanks for your knowledge. I definitely prefer to hold my stones and swapping hands has grown far less difficult, always enjoy your stuff. K390 has definitely become a favorite of mine, was going to grab the police light weight but after seeing the blade of the endella, I may take it instead. Thanks.
I've never like the look of those scales, I'm sure they're fine as Spyderco is top notch but they look 'plasticky' if there is such a word.
Where have you been, Michael? Haven't seen anything new from you lately. You okay?
I have a Manbug in K390 that I am testing. Very Impressive. No love for VG-10? I love the stuff with ceramics. My new carry is a Leafjumper in VG-10. It's what I wanted the Endela to be.
Where you at Michael? Hope you’re doing well brother
He posts on IG pretty much every day lol
@@JeanClaudeVanDabs whats his IG?
The MASTER! Miss these vids......Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You and Yours Sir. Greetings from Toronto......
Thank you for more content! Ive learned so much from your vids and maid many purchases based on info from you. Just got my pm2 k390.
Thanks again!
I have liked the Endela since it was introduced. It wound up in my pocket as much as my PM2s, even with VG10. I now have an Endura and Endela in K390, and the Endela will be my carry knife 90% of the time.
The K390 is great. I don’t know what else to say about it. For me, it is everything I need in a knife steel and the edges are almost magic. I’m also using diamonds, then an extra fine ceramic stone, stropping at 4 micron then .5 micron CBN emulsions.
I've received many negative comments from colleagues regarding my need to document, prove a theory, experiment, and deviate from an accepted norm. It never bothers me as I'm only gaining more knowledge of what's possible and besides that I enjoy this process. I very much appreciate your approach to not only knife sharpening but what also appears to be not getting trapped into a standard method and to be willing to try new things as you gain more experience be it technique or using a different tool for the same task. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with the rest of us.
Fine I'll buy 1!! Haha had $40 off at dlt, so I grabbed it for $88. For that price I'm good. I have the dragonfly and may or may not cancel my pre order of the police 4 version. I like your assessment of the endela debut with vg10 then evolving with the better steel....thanks for the vids, keep it up and cheers!! Tonight is Jefferson bourbon
Please make new TH-cam videos!
Where you at bro ? Hope you're well 🙌🇨🇵
Definitely want to get either the flat spine stretch or the endela in k390 at some point. From pictures I prefer the design of the byrd equivalent (harrier 2) over the endela. Value wise I think it's off the charts to get k390 in the configurations we have available to us, esp the seki stuff. In my uses my k390 pm2 ALWAYS got the job done without any issues. 10V is operating the pm2 slot for this block of my carry testing anyways. I often wonder how these chipping issues I read about occur. Excessive lateral motions during cutting, or no self awareness of surrounding materials like staples, concrete or ceramic tile. To me new models I never held before test the basic ergos with the factory edge thru use. I've never held an endela but I have chosen to prioritize the cbn benchstone from spyderco first. Glad to see someone enjoying this model from both design and steel points of view.
The same people, that complain about lower hrc, the same people will complain, when their edges will chip and the tips will brake with that higher hrc on these steels. Spyderco uses the highest edge retention steels, no reason to make them more brittle, since they already hold that much and also, are very thin stock blades... People don't understand knives...
The dragonfly in k390 took a few sharpenings to come around but it's great now. Now that I know I like the steel I'm going to grab the endela. Been waiting for a review from someone that actually uses and sharpens the knives they review. Thanks for the vid!
Glad to see you back and sure I can resurface it if you like, I can dm you on IG my address. I get that leather directly from a tannery outside the U.S. and with everything going on it's been tough to get, hoping to get some more in the next couple weeks. As always killer edge man!
Thank you, brother. Sorry to hear about Covid challenging your supply.
Nice knife. Great video. New subscriber here. I have an Endura, & Delica in ZDP189, and I like that steel. Never had an Endela but it looks like a perfect size between the Endura being kind of too big, & the Delica, sometimes too small. I took my Delica edge down to 17° and boy does it slice. Hasn't nicked or chipped, but I don't abuse it. I'm not a steel snob, but I do appreciate new steels, if they offer an advantage for the price.
Shipping has been crazy lately. Add at least a week to your normal times, if not more.
I like to sharpen my knives, just for the connection to the knife feeling, relaxation, and it's nice to know how to sharpen a knife if you use, or collect knives. I'm still working on hand sharpening. I use a Lansky Turnbox, and an old Lansky guided system. Does a good job, but I noticed no matter how well you set up the rods, when you change stones, the edges sometimes get another secondary bevel forming.
Try stopping and re angling your hand a LOT more... like every second pass, (yes it’s a lot but it makes much better MM) Mark the bevel after each set of passes with sharpie.
happy new year 2021 everybody.. Especially TripleB , Michael , RomanKase Knives
I’ve missed your voice.
Its nice being able to see how often your progression changes.
I think a discussion of HRC is always useful, except when it becomes just about the HRC, as if that was enough to specify performance. It would be like choosing a basketball player only by height. It is obvious height matters, but silly to conclude that if you know the height alone
you can predict performance.
HRC focus and discussion can be fine, especially when something is wrong. However, when it’s negativity and arguing in an attempt to be controversial in the face great performance, it’s misleading and annoying.
There are some that made their own convex jig with perfect angled convexing edges. Chipping in a lot of times comes down to how fine it was finished in terms of the size of carbides versus final grit of sharpening medium. The sharpening medium has to be smaller than the carbides by a considerable margin.
Nice talk on the steel though.
My stretch is roughly 1mm behind the edge. probably similar on endela
It sounds like what you’re saying is that if you finish with something like a 400 grit stone, you’ll get chipping... am I reading that correctly?
@@michaelchristy4982 Not specifically 400 but yes something like that, in my experience with zdp in particular if the finish isn't very fine it will chip out more easily and I have long since past the factory edge.
There may be another reason for it but I am just sharing my experiences.
Wow i was surprised how easily you went through that piece of wood!! That K390 really is a beast! I just picked up the stretch 2 in that steel and i already have the Endela and Dragonfly 4, haven't really started to use the Stretch or endela yet as i was worried about rust. But ive seen more than a few vids now of people using in in coastal areas without much issue, gonna start really using these guys for work n see what happens for myself. Thanks for the video, keep on loving them knives :)
Great video Michael, excellent information for the Endela K390... How do you think K390 stacks up against ZDP-189?
K390 is above ZDP-189.
@@michaelchristy4982 I edc Spyderco Stretch ZDP-189 but just ordered the Endela K390... can't wait to try it. Thanks!
@@michaelchristy4982 in the video you mention front end sharpness. How much do you think the .1um is improving the edge in terms of front end sharpness over .25um? Ive used K390 with .25um and didnt find the front end sharpness longevity impressive. I aimed for 30 included off 1200 Atoma and then progressed through 6u, 3u, 1u, .25u.
I’ve been holding off on the Endela, but it seems I no longer have any excuse now. Very good close-ups and color quality for this video. Are you using a new camera or new lighting?
All of videos have always been done on a phone. Before this video, I bought a $1200 phone with three different lenses so the video would be good. I also do ALL THE EDITING in 4K at 60FPS, which more then doubles the work, so I really appreciate you comment.
@@michaelchristy4982 Thank you for the quick response, Michael. The vid quality difference is apparent from the opening shot. Sound seems better too.
Is there a reason to have a PM2 or Para 3 in K390 vs the Seki models? (Forgetting any hardness differences) - the Seki models are thinner, and therefore potentially better cutters, right?
I believe thinner, yes. Also different ergo’s. Different locks. Just a different option in many ways. I’ve seen a lot of people wondering if this is justified as a purchase... I don’t know about all you guys, but I’m still a knife nut who wants them all.
@@michaelchristy4982 thanks for the insight. I'd like them all too, but don't cut enough things to justify having so many! (There's only so much recycling I can process) So I try to get the most "ideal" model for each steel. Appreciate the actual user insight vs. all the instagram shiny collections
@@michaelchristy4982 Have you gotten any behind the edge thickness measurements on the Endela, and if so I’m curious what they were? Wondering if they are around the typical 0.020” of a lot of the Spyderco models or perhaps hopefully thinner in geometry. Thank you.
I personally hate the Spyderco Endela and prefer instead the Spyderco Stretch 2 Lightweight with it forward finger choil. That forward finger choil gives the Stretch 2 Lightweight significantly better ergonomics than the Endela👍
Hes back ladies and gentlemen! Glad to see it.
Interesting comment on some steels fatiguing from use possibly more than others. My theory would be steels with higher malleability would perhaps fatigue faster? In a similar way that wire edges cause fatigued metal from bending back and forth so much, perhaps at the very apex, steels with more malleability flex more than those do steels that have a higher strength/rigidity. Think CPM-3V vs 4V? Would make for some interesting testing.
I received my Endela K390 today. This is the sharpest factory edge I have ever tested out of the box. It scored 140 BESS and after stropping it hit a score of 100. For comparison my Benchmade 945 was 240. No idea how it will hold up but everything I have read it will last a long time. This is not a fidget knife, as it is pure manual opening (a little stiff at first) and the lock back lends to careful closing of the knife. But that is what I bought, a knife, not an ADHD fidget toy. It looks like it is all business and fits the hand well. I will be moving the pocket clip to the front option as I don't like the feel of the clip in my hand in the rear position. Overall it looks and feels great. Can't wait to use it for the next few years.
Are you still around man?
The algorithm blessed me years ago by finding BBB and this channel.
Consider yourself part of the chosen ones.
Didn’t find your channel until recently, have learned a ton about sharpening, knives and steels. Hope you continue to make videos. The knife world needs more!
Comparison thoughts on Pm2 vs stretch 2 vs Gayle bradley in regards to how it feels in the hand
I bought a couple Enduras in this steel. I love the K390 but the ZDP version still has my top spot for the Endura. Always enjoy watching and learning. Aloha!
Okay Mr Mike... time for BBB 15v yet?
Hope you're well. Yup.
What do you think of spyderco ceramic stones for high vanadium steels? Are they hard enough to provide that long lasting front end sharpness you’re talking about or will they contribute to carbide tear out? I love the edge from the medium- uf - strop progression to get a toothy but refined edge. But I wonder if I’d have better longevity with diamond.
The "screw" phenomenon with spyderco seems to be hitting all new k390 my lock bar screw fell out on my delica in k390
That’s pretty bad. I think for the time being, we’ll just have to get used to checking the screws when we receive the knife. It’s a simple thing that should be taken care of at the factory, but I’m not buying these models for perfect fit and finish, so I’m ok with a few screws needing to be tightened.
Mine did on my endura after a few flicks but a easy fix
How does the front end sharpness of Rex 45 compare to K390? Front end sharpness is king btw 🤘👍
I’ve seen Rex 45 hang around for a long time, but I would think that K390 is ahead.
I hope all is well. We miss the videos but hope you are well.
Random questions:
1. At what point is a steel considered one that has high Vanadium content?
2. Is it OK to sharpen with Silicon Carbide (ex. auto sandpaper) on a knife with high Vanadium content?
Thank you for your help!
I agree! Awesome video! What steels have you found to have good front end sharpness? I like AEB-L at angles closer to zero.
I like steels that are high in carbide, like K390, S90V, M390, etc.
@@michaelchristy4982 About what angle are you sharpening at?
@@JDStone20 30ish.
@@michaelchristy4982 Nice. I just realized why I like polished edges for the cutting I do. Since my cutting is very light, I tend to favor a edge grit that will float through the material for the longest time. Coarser edges don't behave like that for that long.
What exactly is "front end sharpness?" Is that referring to the very high level you get right after sharpening?
Yes. The hair whittling edge.
Nice comprehensive review. Sold my K390 PM2 3 says ago intending to grab an Endela instead. Nice to see my thinking validated.
I love my endela, even in vg10(since I know I can take my belt and strop it back no matter where I am). I did want the k390 performance though, so I caved and stepped up to an endura.
From what I can tell from your videos, it appears you always switch the hand holding the blade when you switch the side of the bevel you’re sharpening. Is that the case or just how the video comes out? Do you get better results when you sharpen towards yourself?
Not that this will answer your question to the Boss, but I use the same hand and flip the blade. It seems ok for my purposes.
@@AlohaBlade me too
Yes he's switching hands, so he can look directly at the edge.
In this (and most) video, I’m switching hands se I can see the bevel connecting with the stone, but I can also flip the blade and sharpen away from myself using the right or left hand. I’m pretty sure there’s been one or two videos where I’ve really mixed it up using the different options just to see if people would notice.
@@michaelchristy4982 thanks for answering!
1st of December? Hell, I placed my order in March and just got it.
I don't think anything other than high heat will fatigue the edge. Maybe a grinder wheel or belt(Ken onion) sharpening will cause fatigue. Freehand, there shouldnt be any fatigue at all. I would assume
The apex of a knife can get fatigued from use or improper sharpening... case in point, look at what a sharpening steel does to an edge.
@@michaelchristy4982 can stropping with green or white compound cause fatigue?
K Billy's Super Sounds of the Seventies
What is the angle.. 15/18 or 20° thx
I never really looked at the endela. I just saw it as a small endura and a big delica. It actually took me until seeing it in video to notice the difference in blade shape. I can't wait till the police 4 lightweight in k390 is released love that blade.
Thanks for the vid ! Very interesting stuff as always ! Take care !
Yes! He’s alive! Alive!
I got a Spyderco Delica with K390 steel, love it.
You should have never stopped...
I keep looking forward to more of your input
New to sharpening, but what are the benefits of going from 3000 DMT back down to 800 Venev? Why stop at 2000 Venev and not go to a higher grit like 12000 before stropping at 1 micron?
Because grit ratings are not consistent. An 800 Venev is a 7/5 micron stone. Additionally, plates don’t cut the same as diamond waterstones, which cut different then ceramic stones, which cut different then natural stones, etc.
@@michaelchristy4982 Ah, got it- thanks!
Finally 🙌
Just curious but do you have a knife sharpening business still. I'm really interested in seeing if you can fix a knife I recently bought and was hoping you could do some how should I put this "SUBSTANTIAL' repairs or in this case "ADJUSTMENTS".the knife itself is nice I like theft but the blade wasn't even finished I spent like 60 bucks on it and am kinda concerned I might have ruined the blade because they didn't sell me a finished product
Hi my friend! Your videos are some of the best on internet! Congrats! I'm from Brazil and enjoy it very much. Why did you stop doing it? You and BBB should be the top 5 in this area. Hope you are doing great!
i guess that desirable (tiny) amount of convexity comes from the stone rocking slightly in your hand; consistently through the strokes in your well-practiced technique. very nice, albeit potentially hazardous for a newcomer to try to emulate (if they try smaller/thinner abrasive surfaces at least).
edit: ech, at the same time, when you get into sharpening you're gonna get some finger injuries - and there's nothing functionally significant to injure right at the fingertips.
Michael Christy video dropped!
Thank you, Michael. Always stoked when you drop a new video.
I think that we, as knife lovers are getting over critical of steels, we are always wanting more, there are some really great knives out there that are doing what they were made to do, perfectly, old knives made from steels like o1, 1095, 1075, 12c27, 440c and many others.
we are becoming obsessive about steel.
It is like HI-FI; at what point do you stop listening to the music and start listening to the equipment? but it's your money, you earned it spend as you will.
Regards from the UK
Hey Michael, did you ever consider setting up a Patreon with instructional videos for people wanting to learn to free-hand sharpen? I bet you'd have a lot of interest. Nice to see you back!
I’d like to avoid monetizing any of this, short of the occasional sharpening job.
I respect that- it's awesome you're willing to share your vast knowledge with the community gratis. I know I've learned a ton from you over the years
yes, different steels fatigue at different rates. Is the difference one that will matter with hand held knives? Yes, but does it matter a lot? Consider the burr. The burr is happening due to fatigue, and when that burr breaks off, you've exceeded the fatigue limit. Fatigue is closely related to brittleness.
GLAD TO SEE U BACK!
Glad to see you back! Curious to hear - are there any retailers you’d recommend for stones?
Sharpening supplies.com
Amazon
Ken Schwartz
How about Gritomatic for venev.
@@michaelchristy4982 thanks!
Is that your sharpening technique? Holding the stone in hand?
Happy to see ya back and good video as always 😁
Hi Michael, did you get one of the BBB 15V PM2 sprints? If so, any plans for a video, man?
In these Spyderco Seki-City K390 with back lock there is a noticeable blade play up and down?
I like all the seki city blade shapes