Are people influenced too easily when it comes to knife steel?

[Fred1950]

I don't care for anything tougher to sharpen than s35vn. 1095, 154cm, Buck's 420,and D2 have all performed quite well for me. And I use my knives just about every day here on the ranch. Opening bags and boxes, dressing fish, poultry, and game, and cutting produce.

 

[K.O.D.]

Nothing wrong with the older steels, 1095 just needs to be sharpened more frequently. The trade off with the "higher end" steels is an increase in the difficulty in sharpening/resharpening. 1095 is great for outdoor fixed blades because its tough, and in that its softer, is easier to repair damage to. Sharpening a big chip out of CPM-S90V would be a bear I imagine.

My preference for the CPM type steels is that with the increased edge retention, I'll

A: Not have to sharpen as frequently
B: Notice when it starts to get even a little dull, and can use my Sharpmaker's ultra fine stones to maintain the edge, rather than repairing/resharpening it.

As far as paying more for a "better" steel, it depends on how much "more" is. When I was ordering my new Axial Shift OTF, the standard steel is CPM-S35VN, and it was only $10 to upgrade to CPM-20CV. Quite the deal.

 

[JWright214]

I like the basic, tried, and true steels. I don’t really get caught up in the latest and greatest. I do have some “super steels”, but I would rather refer to them as special purpose steels like skyhorse said.

 

[Hal]

AUS 8 and 1095 are great steels.
Just not the latest and greatest.

I'm 70 years old so I'm not the latest and greatest either.

 

[gazz98]

If your knife enthusiast friends keep referencing youtube videos or instacrap, you need new knife enthusiast friends.

Buy what you like. Try different steels. Come to your own conclusions.

Nothing wrong with 1095.

 

[LostCause]

If your knife enthusiast friends keep referencing youtube videos or instacrap, you need new knife enthusiast friends.

Buy what you like. Try different steels. Come to your own conclusions.

Nothing wrong with 1095.

The whole point of it is that they find it mind boggling that I'm so happy with my EDC in 1095 that I don't want to buy another EDC knife since 1095 does it all for me

 

[Danke42]

I think people are too influenced when it comes to YouTube, It's about the last place to look for info; you need to have a foundation of knowledge first.

It's far to easy for someone to build an impressive following on social media with minimal effort but be sharing bad or false information.

 

[Hammer67]

I also still really like A2 when it's done well. A reasonable balance of ease of sharpening and edge retention, good field steel.

The key is just to strop/touch up reglarly and not wait until a knife is dull.

 

[Landshark99]

I must confess even though in reality one only needs a couple of folders in some basic steels, I do not buy and collect knives for the basics, it is a hobby I enjoy, I like the variety that is available, so I like both the standard old standard steels along with the latest and greatest. At last count i have folders in 24 different steels, although some are pretty much the same from different manufacturers. Buy what you like.

 

[JWright214]

AUS 8 and 1095 are great steels.
Just not the latest and greatest.

I'm 70 years old so I'm not the latest and greatest either.

This!

I think people are too influenced when it comes to YouTube, It's about the last place to look for info; you need to have a foundation of knowledge first.

And this… I use YouTube to see what a knife looks like for reference purposes. I don’t listen to anything any of those jokers say. When they say things like, “My edc systems” (looking at you gideons tactical), “drop shutty”, “buttery smooth action”, “bank vault lockup”, “quick deployment”, “tactical”, etc etc etc, I just can’t take their nonsense seriously.

The whole point of it is that they find it mind boggling that I'm so happy with my EDC in 1095 that I don't want to buy another EDC knife since 1095 does it all for me

Way too many people talk about how the older steels are obsolete and suboptimal, yet, people have survived and thrived daily with cheap carbon steel, all while actually using their tools, for years. The new stuff is great, but the old stuff still works fine.

 

[jstn]

I have to have the newest super steel or my knife won’t function. It won’t cut and will likely shatter if used. YMMV

 

[Hammer67]

I have to have the newest super steel or my knife won’t function. It won’t cut and will likely shatter if used. YMMV

And your Insta subscribers will crater.

 

[JWright214]

I must confess even though in reality one only needs a couple of folders in some basic steels, I do not buy and collect knives for the basics, it is a hobby I enjoy, I like the variety that is available, so I like both the standard old standard steels along with the latest and greatest. At last count i have folders in 24 different steels, although some are pretty much the same from different manufacturers. Buy what you like.

Absolutely! There is nothing wrong with that at all, if I could afford it I would do the same. It’s just annoying when people act as if the old stuff no longer works because of the latest and greatest.

 

[catspa]

Annoying or amusing? Irrational people choose to be irrational, it’s no skin off my nose.

Parker

 

[LostCause]

Absolutely! There is nothing wrong with that at all, if I could afford it I would do the same. It’s just annoying when people act as if the old stuff no longer works because of the latest and greatest.

Or that "if I can spend 300€ for a knife, so can you, or at least 150-180€"... all while completely ignoring the fact that I don't need that

 

[Alberta Ed]

Part of the fun is trying out new steels and knife designs. I love the super steels but have come to appreciate tool steels like M4 and 3V lately. But I could live with 12C27, Buck's 420HC or 1095 just fine if it came down to that.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

AUS 8 and 1095 are great steels.
Just not the latest and greatest.

I'm 70 years old so I'm not the latest and greatest either.

But you've stayed sharp for a long time. I call that edge retention. lol

 

[Mannlicher]

99% of folks don't know one steel from another. They are easily influenced by posters on forums and youtube videos. If you give a knife to someone, they would not be able to tell you what it is, or even how to find out.

 

[kvaughn]

99% of folks don't know one steel from another. They are easily influenced by posters on forums and youtube videos. If you give a knife to someone, they would not be able to tell you what it is, or even how to find out.

This is true.
1095, 52100 and 01 are my favorites.
This also from 70 year FOG.

 

[nbp]

I like trying new super steels occasionally, but I am not under any notion that I "need" them. I couldn't tell the difference between S110V, 204P, M390 in practice I don't think. They are all way tougher than anything I usually throw at them. My favorite steels are actually the "old" super steels like S30/35V. They keep a good working edge, are easy enough to sharpen and have good corrosion resistance. That is all I really want! I kind of want to try the S45V just to see if there is any noticeable improvement since the previous generations.