Another carbon steel question

I

idahoguy

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Feb 8, 2013
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I'm getting just a tiny bit interested in carbon steel blades. :) I was going to save this question for later when I'm in the market, but of modern traditional production knives, who makes the best blade that takes and holds an edge? I know there are many, but just name one. Not concerned about ease of sharpening.
 
I have used and sharpened Case cv, GEC 1095 and O1, and Boker 1095 & c75. Out of those, I think that a slight edge (ha ha) goes to o1 for time between sharpening.
If you include d2 in the world of carbon steel, then I can add the Queen and Canal Street versions of that steel to my experience. Out of those two, Queen does a more outstanding job with the steel and it takes and holds a nice edge for a VERY long time. D2 outperforms the above carbon steels by a wide margin, but of course might be considered a stainless or semi stainless steel.
If you want to venture into the world of custom makers, the options grow...
My favorite all time carbon steel blade is 52100 steel, but I don't think any production makers use it.
 
I was thinking of more traditional, 1095 type carbon steels. D2, while not technically a stainless, is much closer to that than to 1095. Keep 'em coming.
 
Cory knows that. He was just funnin with ya so you'd get a knife with D2 steel and then come back and ask everyone how to sharpen it.:rolleyes:

Case's CV and other steels such as mentioned above (01) are good steels.
 
Answer depends on your definition of "carbon steel".
If you are talking true carbon steel, i.e. the 1000 series, then GEC 1095 holds an edge better than 1075. I've not tested Queen 1095.

If you want to open it up a bit to "alloy steel", such as CV, then GEC 1095 still holds an edge better.

If you want to include tool steel such as O1, GEC O1 will hold an edge better than GEC 1095
 
I may be an outlier on this. Since the introduction by Queen of their D2 bladed traditional knives in 2002, I have EDC'd at least 20 examples, in various patterns and handle materials. I like the quality, handle materials, and patterns offered. However I never could get to like the D2. We all have noted how hard it is to reprofile. I have found that once it is profiled, in my experience it is also hard to resharpen. And for all that, at least for me, it does not hold its edge any longer than other steels (Case SS, Case CV, 1095).

I recently started EDC'ing Moore Maker knives (made by Queen) in 1095 and I can put a finer edge on the 1095 blades more easily and they hold the edges longer. As I said, I am probably an outlier on this.
 
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