Richard K:
[1095]
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">What would be the edge holding ability be comparable to, 420, AUS-6, Aus-8, Gin-1, ATS-34 or? </font>
Usually 1095 blades are around 59-61 or so, 420 a lot softer as is AUS-6, AUS-8 is a little harder but still softer than the 59-61 RC range, and GIN-1 and ATS-34 are in that range, the same hardness as 1095.
In regards to edge holding it depends on what you are cutting, as compared to all those steels 1095 is *much* tougher and more ductile. So if you are cutting materials that are very gritty or you are doing impact type work (chopping), 1095 might very well outperform them all, as those other steels might fracture.
If you are doing cutting that is fairly low in effort, but puts a lot of wear on the blade (like fiberglass insulation) then the toughness and ductility of 1095 won't really help, and its *very* low wear resistance will make it go blunt much faster than ATS-34 and in decreasing order of probability GIN-1, AUS-8A, AUS-6 and 420 (its not likely that you are actually getting 420, its usually modified). Even though the latter steels (420 and AUS-6) are fairly soft, their wear resistance should still be better than 1095 (assuming the 420 is 420HC or something).
The only other factor is edge blunting due to rolling which is determined by strength, this is generally the case when you are exerting a lot of force across the edge, slicing very hard wood for example. ATS-34 should be easily stronger than 1095, and the rest would behave similar to how they compared in terms of wear resistance, but not as good.
So in general it depends on what you are cutting and how you are doing it. There are different properties that will control edge holding in each case. However one good thing about 1095 is that because of its lack of harder carbides it sharpens easily even on the softest of hones. As well becauase of the high toughness and ductility steeling can work very well.
-Cliff
