Any else prefer the lower wear/higher toughness stainless steels?

[GatorFlash1]

I edc a GB1 with M4 steel. Not stainless but tough, holds an edge, does everything I need from an edc without having to baby it.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I've been enjoying AEB-L recently. Tough, and very easy to get sharp!!

The little finger/Neck knife by J. TODD, and the hunter by Philip Patton are both AEB-L

I've not used any of the super edge retention steels.

I have ownee or used CPM3V, 52100, 5160 (both mono and differentials heat treated),, 50HF, A2, 1095 , AEBL, VG10, laminated VG1, all the 10xx, AUS8A, D2, cpm154, ats34, 440c, 420hrc, and about 10 or so other common steels both stainless and carbon

I've owned more INFI than most other steels. But don't own any now.

I have a short list of steels I don't like, and it is usually more about hear treat than steel.

8cr13mov? Is one I use, but don't really like how it sharpens as much. (Not that I can't get it sharp, but I don't like they way it sharpens..tactile thing).

Very simple steels like in the Opinel I should not like...because they are run soft, and don't hold and edge as long......but I just can't dislike them. Thin, easy to sharpen, and a joy to use.

I'd really like to try some of the super high wear resistant steels, higher hardness, etc.

 

[kylemiller]

I would probably just go carbon unless it was a very use specific knife.

 

[Chronovore]

N690 is a cobalt steel from Uddeholm, similar to VG-10. Still a mid-grade alloy, in most opinions. I haven't used it personally, but by reputation it's not terribly tough, it's not the most corrosion resistant, and it's not the best edge-holding. But it is a really good combination of these traits. Gets sharper, easier, than many competitive steels, and holds an edge acceptably well. Just about all you could ask of any steel. I'll probably try it in the future.

That seems to be the take-away. It's a good all-rounder. It's at least "decent" in every category. From what I've read, corrosion resistance is actually pretty good. I've only recently been turned on to this steel since Kizer's been using it in the $50-100 range. I look forward to spending more time using it.

 

[Horsewright]

QUOTE="Mikael W, post: 19766001, member: 200262"]If You like AEB-L with a little more of edgeholding, try a knife from Horsewright / Dave Ferry.
His heat-treatment is over the top for this steel!

Regards
Mikael[/QUOTE]

I've had Dave's knives and leather-work.... There is no-one better, IMO. Dave is primarily a rancher, renowned leather-worker and knife-maker first class. He makes knives that cowboys want to use...usually relatively short blades and good steel. Many beautiful options for the grip material...
His knife sheaths and belts are beautifully "engraved" (word?) and are available is horizontal carry and most other modes of carry.
I wear his leather every day.
Check him out... Horsewright Leather and Tack...
Don

Thanks guys for the shout out! Tooled would be the right word Don. Anyhoo. AEB-L needs to be hard to really be a great knife steel. Unfortunately many folks don't run it hard enough. I've seen AEB-L knives at 58RC or so and at these kind of levels the steel is just meh. Mine are done to 63RC and cyro is a must too for this steel. Even at this hardness AEB-L is extremely easy to resharpen. The real secret is to touch it up once in a while when ya feel it dragging. Then it will go and go and go for ya. I make my own leather knives out of this steel and will use them for hours at a time, for days at a time. I probably put em on a stone every 3 or 4 months.

I'll use it from the fancy:

To the kitchen:

To the EDC user:

And it is cowboy or cowboygirl tough as Don mentioned.

 

[jfk1110]

I have to say I'm pretty impressed with the 9cr18mov that is used in this Krudo dao I recently got! Stuff takes a wicked edge and holds it too. Couple passes on the strop and right back to hair poppin!

 

[PirateSeulb]

I am not too interested in the super hard steels like S110V but I have a couple knives in M390 but they are from Viper and LionSteel who do tend to run it closer to 59-60 HRC sometimes up to 61 HRC which is definitely not chippy in my experience. I am otherwise generally happy with what ever. I will say I found that the VG-10 on a Spyderco Delica rolled a little too easy so I have been put off with VG-10 and the likes on thinner blades.

 

[hugofeynman]

.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

No love for AEB-L, @me2?

Isn't that a version of 12c27?

 

[fielder]

QUOTE="Mikael W, post: 19766001, member: 200262"]If You like AEB-L with a little more of edgeholding, try a knife from Horsewright / Dave Ferry.
His heat-treatment is over the top for this steel!

Regards
Mikael

Thanks guys for the shout out! Tooled would be the right word Don. Anyhoo. AEB-L needs to be hard to really be a great knife steel. Unfortunately many folks don't run it hard enough. I've seen AEB-L knives at 58RC or so and at these kind of levels the steel is just meh. Mine are done to 63RC and cyro is a must too for this steel. Even at this hardness AEB-L is extremely easy to resharpen. The real secret is to touch it up once in a while when ya feel it dragging. Then it will go and go and go for ya. I make my own leather knives out of this steel and will use them for hours at a time, for days at a time. I probably put em on a stone every 3 or 4 months.

I'll use it from the fancy:

To the kitchen:

To the EDC user:

And it is cowboy or cowboygirl tough as Don mentioned.

[/QUOTE]
Absolutely beautiful knives, in a great steel.
I could very quickly empty my wallet!

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks!