The Blur S30V: Context
The Kershaw Blur offers a solid 3.4-inch blade, SpeedSafe assisted opening, aluminum handle with Trac-Tec inserts, and a price around $70–$90. The S30V version upgrades from the standard Blur's 14C28N steel to CPM S30V — a premium powder-metallurgy stainless and a genuine performance upgrade.
S30V Steel: What It Promises
CPM S30V has high carbon (1.45%), chromium for corrosion resistance (14%), and vanadium carbides for wear resistance. At 59–61 HRC, S30V offers meaningfully better edge retention than common stainless steels like 8Cr13MoV or 14C28N.
The Cardboard Test Results
We cut 50 linear feet of corrugated cardboard starting from a freshly stropped, hair-whittling-sharp edge:
- 0–10 feet: Edge is razor-sharp; cardboard falls away cleanly
- 10–25 feet: Performance remains strong; slight increase in resistance
- 25–40 feet: Tangible reduction in bite; still cutting cleanly
- 40–50 feet: Noticeably duller; requiring more push
For comparison, 14C28N typically shows tangible degradation by 15–20 feet of cardboard. S30V's improvement is real and meaningful.
The Kershaw Blur S30V is a genuine upgrade from the standard Blur. S30V's edge retention advantage over 14C28N is demonstrable in cardboard testing and translates to longer intervals between sharpening in real EDC use. If you're buying a Blur, the S30V version is worth the extra $10–$20.