A Single Lifetime Steel. Whats Yours?

[sabre cat]

14C28N

This. My favorite extreme budget steel. Reasonably priced, super easy to sharpen,

Sandvik's 14C28n is a very nice budget steel that can get an amazingly fine edge. I have also heard that you can push its heat treatment up to about 61 without any real problems.

 

[mugwump867]

Folder: M390 hands down. It's a steel I know the ins and outs of, fits my needs, and I can touch it up easily (re-profiling is a different story)
Fixed: My heavy users tend to be in tool steels like O1 or D2 as I'm familiar with them. But I know there are better options out there and I'm still looking.

 

[Wowbagger]

If you could have only one steel option for folders and one for fixed what would they be? I am just wanting feedback options on this to find out what are the favorites of all the steel snobs (sorry) steel specialist

Steel snob here. I don't used fixed enough to comment on knives over a few inches; for my ~3inch to 4 inch I like 3V. For folders in order I like : M4, CTS-XHP and M390. The last two are so close I could revers the order. For what I do M4 is significantly preferable; holds it's very sharp edge longer and as someone here said "It wants to be sharp" when sharpening it.

 

[jbarsquat]

Folders M4
Fixed Infi
Kitchen Aogami Super

 

[archieblue]

I would be happy with S35VN for either. But since I’m given a choice for both I would choose S35VN for the folder and CPM-3V for the fixed blade.

 

[jbarsquat]

14C28N

What a snob!

 

[JParanee]

Elmax is a strong choice for folder

Good old w2 works well

 

[ATJ999]

Elmax and 3V.

This exactly! Cpm 3V for fixed blades and Elmax for folders. would be tempted by CPM 20CV/M390 for folders, but I have really been impressed by Elmax lately!! I bet Vanax would be up there for a folder, but have not used it yet.

 

[ScooterG]

A single choice; Cruwear.

 

[jpm2]

M2

 

[Carllewis12]

M390 and 3V. But I also love CPM 154

 

[tiguy7]

View attachment 880244 View attachment 880245 Until CPM S-150-V comes to market, I would choose CPM S-125-V for the folder. For a fixed blade, I like Mission’s version of. Beta-Titanium.

 

[oldtymer]

Life is complicated enough without trying to remember all those fancy letter & number combinations
I'll take VG-10 for folders & 1095 for fixed blades, easy to maintain & tough enough for my uses.

 

[wheelgunrambo]

What a snob!

Serious snob. I can see the pinky raised while he typed that.

 

[wheelgunrambo]

A single choice; Cruwear.

I think as time goes on we are going to see a lot more Cru-Wear

 

[Carllewis12]

I think as time goes on we are going to see a lot more Cru-Wear

I hope so. I have heard great things.

 

[Mr.SATism]

CTS-XHP. I love this steel man. Probably my favorite. I have all different types of knives in all different steel configurations. I like it because it is relatively hard to rust up, holds an edge, and is super easy to sharpen. I like to think of it as supercharged VG10. IMO hands down best for hunting/cleaning wild game.

+1 for XHP, loving my recon 1s in it, they hold their edge AND can withstand tough abuse. I took my full size recon 1 through branches, soil bags, and killed off some roots like it was a sharp shovel. After a summer full of garden work with my mom, it still cuts like new. Don't get me wrong, I can still tell where I abused it, but the fact that it is still a slicer stands to its longevity in my life. When it comes out in a Para 3, I will probably have a long and thought out internal debate on whether or not I truly hate the color orange

 

[skyhorse]

154cm with Bos heat treat, best of all worlds.

 

[Case C.]

Handmade custom Damascus of course!!!

 

[trevitrace]

That's the one I was looking for.