I EDC a mini-Rittergrip which, of course, has a S30V blade. I bought my 10 year old daughter a Kabar Dozier Spearpoint with an AUS 8A blade. Both with 15 degree blade angle. Since my daughter doesn't carry the Kabar around with her, we keep it in a drawer next to my family room chair, where it has seen quite a bit of use.

Both knives are used a lot. The Rittergrip probably gets more abuse since it is in my pocket all the time. They're both used for opening boxes, breaking down boxes, cutting open that nasty plastic packaging, etc. In addition, the Rittegrip gets lots of outdoor use cutting wood (not battoning - just slicing branches, whittling, and such) while camping.

OK, so I KNOW that both knives were sharpened at the same time using a Spyderco Sharpmaker. Now, months later, while cutting tags off some luggage my wife bought, I couldn't help but notice that the Kabar was getting dangerously dull. I pulled out the Rittergrip to finish the job and was pleased that the Rittergrip is still quite sharp - though not quite as sharp as it was right after sharpening.

S30V seems to have gotten a bad reputation in the knife/blade forums.

Some have had chipping problems, but I've not seen that on any of my three S30V Ritter knives (mini Mk1, regular Mk1, & Mk3).

Some have said that S30V is hard to sharpen, but it is a piece of cake with the Sharpmaker. I hightly recommend a Sharpmaker if you don't already have one.

Some say the edge durability of S30V isn't all that much different than other steels, but now I KNOW that the durability of S30V is substantially better than the AUS 8A.

Some have voice frustration at the high cost of the Ritter knives, but much of that price is due to use of the higher end S30V steel. Now I know it is all well worth the price.