a good steel overall for edc

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dakota1820

Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
96
Whats a good steel to get that is pretty easy to sharpen holds a decent edge and resists chipping? I prefer kershaw knives alot of the time. Any good options?
 
If you already have an affinity to Kershaws, then the Sandvik 14C28N they use in many of their US-made models should fit the bill quite nicely. It's easy to sharpen, holds a decent edge, and is very tough.
 
"Easy to sharpen" being the operative phrase:

1095, AUS 8, I54CM, D-2....

EDIT: Returning and having read through post #22, I'll add:

Buck 420-HC, VG-10, CTS-XHP....

The 14c28n seems to be getting a lot of votes from knowledgeable people too, but I've never worked with it.

Just trying to keep the list simple.
 
Last edited:
Buck's 420HC. Used on most of their domestic made knives; the 30x slipjoint traditionals, and the 100 series fixed blades, and the 110 and 112 lockbacks, to name a few.
No one does a better heat treat on 420HC than Buck.
I EDC a Buck 110, 301 Stockman, and 389 canoe.
 
flarp said:
If you already have an affinity to Kershaws, then the Sandvik 14C28N they use in many of their US-made models should fit the bill quite nicely. It's easy to sharpen, holds a decent edge, and is very tough.
Click to expand...

This.

I EDC a US made Kershaw Zing with 14C28N steel. For a budget steel this stuff is amazing and has become on of my favorite low cost steels. 14C28N offers decent edge holding ability and because of it's fine grain structure, you can get an edge that is down right frightening.

Just buy the knife.
 
Elmax, s-35vn, and cts-xhp would be my pick for a stainless blade matching your criteria...

If you're a Kershaw guy, the knockout in Elmax might be worth checking out :)
 
or try this new awesome supersteel called 440c... :D
seriously, for simple edc tasks you won't go wrong with 14c28n like kershaw uses. pick a knife you like for other factors than steel for something like this. ergonomics, carrying, lock, etc...
 
440c.... 154... and 14c28n. Are probably the best 3 for edge retention to sharpening.. I prefer
The first 2.. but if you get a lansky system.. you can sharpen just about anything fairly easy which "broadens you steel horizon"!! Enjoy
 
I'm a fan of Elmax, 14c28n, 12c27, 154cm / CPM154, and 440c / 9cr18MoV. Those are all easy to strop, maintain a good edge for a while, and have decent corrosion resistance. Kershaw has the lockdown on affordable knives with decent steels.
 
I'm a fan of D2. It holds a good edge and gets scary sharp. I have had other blade steels chip with normal use, but never with D2.
 
*Cracks fingers before typing*

Stainless:
440C
ATS-34
RWL-34
N690
154CM
CMP154
S30V
S35Vn
Elmax
M390
12C27
13C27
14C28
8Cr13Mov
9Cr18Mov
Aus8a
AUS10
Niolox/SB1
VG-10
VG-1


Non stainless:
1070
1080
1084
1095
O1
O2
OW3
O7
A2
White paper
Blue paper
Yellow paper
S7
A8
W1
W2

All of this depends on the thickness of the grind and the heat treatment. And I'm probably forgetting like 50 or so options.

What you're basically looking for is a steel with a decent amount of carbon...so basically any good steel.
And easy to sharpen will depend for the most part on the thinness of the grind. My EDC in M390 is very easy to sharpen because it's so thin behind the edge. However get something with a thick primary grind and that same steel will be a major pain to get and keep sharp.
 
LX_Emergency said:
*Cracks fingers before typing*

Stainless:
440C
ATS-34
RWL-34
N690
154CM
CMP154
S30V
S35Vn
Elmax
M390
12C27
13C27
14C28
8Cr13Mov
9Cr18Mov
Aus8a
AUS10
Niolox/SB1
VG-10
VG-1


Non stainless:
1070
1080
1084
1095
O1
O2
OW3
O7
A2
White paper
Blue paper
Yellow paper
S7
A8
W1
W2

All of this depends on the thickness of the grind and the heat treatment. And I'm probably forgetting like 50 or so options.

What you're basically looking for is a steel with a decent amount of carbon...so basically any good steel.
And easy to sharpen will depend for the most part on the thinness of the grind. My EDC in M390 is very easy to sharpen because it's so thin behind the edge. However get something with a thick primary grind and that same steel will be a major pain to get and keep sharp.
Click to expand...

ksubEOk.jpg
 
dakota1820 said:
Whats a good steel to get that is pretty easy to sharpen holds a decent edge and resists chipping? I prefer kershaw knives alot of the time. Any good options?
Click to expand...

The one steel that answers that question as worded is AUS8. Some of the others mentioned will do one or the other but not both and if they do they are a pain to sharpen which brings you back to AUS8. Keep it within a couple points of 58HRC though. Any much softer and it's a turd for holding an edge.
 
If you don't want chipping then I would steer clear of S30V.

My favorite steels of late are S35VN, CTS-XHP, and CPM-M4
 
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