1095 or a SS (S30V) for a fixed camping knife

A

agoutihead

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May 5, 2007
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Looking at picking up a really high quality fixed blade for camping.

I am really leaning towards an ESEE 4 which is obviously 1095.

But I was wondering if a SS, say S30V would be a better choice for a camping knife over 1095?
 
If you go custom in S30V at around 62 RC then yeah I would say go for it. :)
 
Depends on the skill of the heat treater. Of comparable skill I would go 30V, but 1095 ain't nothing to sniff at!
 
Splat said:
Depends on the skill of the heat treater. Of comparable skill I would go 30V, but 1095 ain't nothing to sniff at!
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For Stainless though I would personally go with CPM-154 at 62 RC, now that would be the stuff. :thumbup:
 
Nathan Ihrke said:
For the price it is hard to beat the quality and warranty of esee products
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That's the thing, for roughly $100 I can pick up a new ESEE 4.

I'm not sure anything custom is in the budget for this knife.

What would be comparable to an ESEE 4 in s30v?
 
I don't own an ESEE, but I own knives with 1095 and it is a great steel.

Save yourself some coin and go with the ESEE 4, it's a solid knife with good people standing behind it.
 
agoutihead said:
That's the thing, for roughly $100 I can pick up a new ESEE 4.

I'm not sure anything custom is in the budget for this knife.

What would be comparable to an ESEE 4 in s30v?
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Nothing compares really at the top of my mind and by the way SS is for pansies...:D only kidding, but if you look at the ESEE 4 and if it is a user you really do not have to worry about rust. It will do you good. It is a old steel, but a good user steel that has proven itself through the years. They have a good warranty and camping, survival and bushcraft was what the knives were designed for.

At the top of my head the only fixed blade (in the same category) that I can think of with S30V at around $100 is the old Doug Ritter Fixed Griptilian (Think it is discontinued though).
 
Looks like an ESEE for me.

I just wish they offered the GB in the 4 model. 5 is bigger and heavier than I want to go and 3 is smaller and thinner than I want.
 
agoutihead said:
That's the thing, for roughly $100 I can pick up a new ESEE 4.

I'm not sure anything custom is in the budget for this knife.

What would be comparable to an ESEE 4 in s30v?
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A lot depends on how hard the S30V is.
 
Ankerson said:
A lot depends on how hard the S30V is.
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I would want a hard heat treatment, so I wouldn't skimp just to get s30v.

But it doesn't look like there's much on the market for s30v that can compare to quality and price of an ESEE 4.

I'll probably end up getting one of those.

I just have to learn good knife maintenence.
 
agoutihead said:
I would want a hard heat treatment, so I wouldn't skimp just to get s30v.

But it doesn't look like there's much on the market for s30v that can compare to quality and price of an ESEE 4.

I'll probably end up getting one of those.

I just have to learn good knife maintenence.
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S30V costs a heck of a lot more than 1095 does so that is something to think about.
 
agoutihead said:
I would want a hard heat treatment, so I wouldn't skimp just to get s30v.

But it doesn't look like there's much on the market for s30v that can compare to quality and price of an ESEE 4.

I'll probably end up getting one of those.

I just have to learn good knife maintenence.
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Maintenance is easy on a ESEE......Use it hard, dont put it a way wet and a spray of wd40 and spread the wd40 with a cloth and your good to go if you are worried about a humid environment.

ps. Its the process in the manner it is made. Crucible steel makes it and it is a powdered steel. Search for blade steel FAQ and read a bit on it on a few websites or go to their site.
 
agoutihead said:
Why does it cost so much more? Is it the process, or because it contains certain metals (I don't actually know what metals make up S30V)
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It's a lot more complex steel and the HT process costs more also.
 
agoutihead said:
But I was wondering if a SS, say S30V would be a better choice for a camping knife over 1095?
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I can't really think why it would be - I love my 1095 & 1095 CroVan steels. Just keep 'em clean and maybe wipe with mineral oil now & then - the ESEE 4 should last you for over a couple of decades if you look after it.
 
Get the ESEE. Very high quality knives with a great company behind them. 1095 is a great blade steel.
 
RC62 is asinine for a camping blade. I vote high carbon, for sure. I wouldn't even consider a high RC stainless steel for a larger camping blade. The three stainless steels I think that make sense for a camper are BG42, AUS8 and ATS-34, and usually for particular situations-the rest of the time, 52100, 5160, 1095, 15N20 or L6 would be my preference. After spending 6 hours correcting some 154CM after a 3 day rafting trip I realized just how completely impractical that stuff, and anything as hard, is for general purpose outside use-ESPECIALLY for a rough use blade. Designated skinners, PFD knives, stuff like that, I could see using stainless steels.
BTW, if you're considering the ESEE4, handle it before you drop 120 dollars on the blade. I find the handle to be insufficient and I have average sized hands. Take a look at the Swamp Rat Howling Rat-only a couple bucks more and it offers the most comfortable factory produced handle I own.
 
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