Are you over Super Steels?

Nope, I'm a steel junky. I have my favorites, but always willing to try a new blade steel.
 
i love all steels but the longevity of the edge you get from super steels saves me time on the work bench
 
Tachead01 said:
I have to assume that you are using the words "carbon steel" to refer to the non-stainless varieties of steel. Frankly, the only advantage that a "stainless" steel has over a "non-stainless" is the level of care/maintenance.

Over the last decade or so, the choice that knife buyers make has leaned heavily towards the "flavor of the month", that meaning that more individuals purchase a knife based on the "cool factor" of the steel used, rather then how well it fuctions as a knife. I am reminded of the period of time when a material called Talonite was all the rage because it was different and the "mall ninja" crowd thought it was so cool. After that it was CPMS30V.....I actually produced a number of knives from that particular steel, and found it to be some of the most troublesome steel that I have ever used. It was very difficult to work, and to this day, many of those S30V blades come back to me on a regular basis, simply because the owners can't sharpen them.

Knifemaking, and knives in general is all about trade offs.... there is no "ideal" steel for a knife, that covers all the "wants" of everyone. Each individual must decide for themselves those characteristics they value most, and seek a steel that most closely provides those characteristics.

Time and experience has taught me that the major factors most knowledgable buyers/users value in a knife are edge retention, toughness, and EASE OF SHARPENING. In all of those catagories, the favor falls to "carbon steel". Speaking personally, there are only two reasons that I can see why a person would choose a stainless blade.... 1. Their primary concern is minimal maintenance. 2. Bragging rights about having a blade made of the "latest and greatest" steel.

Right, wrong, or indifferent, what I spoke about earlier.... The Cool Factor, is currently the biggest selling point for most knife buyers, particularly in the tactical arena. An example is... most of us have seen the "multi-grinds" that are all the rage these days (a single blade that is partially hollow ground, partially flat ground, etc.) From a using standpoint, these blade are next to useless, but they sell very well because they look "cool".

What I foresee is that the current trend towards more and more stainless steel will continue for a while....but as the masses of a new generation discover its short comings for a blade, the focus will shift towards carbon steels again. I've been at this long enough to have seen this cycle take place before.....the only thing that changes are the names of the stainless steels.

I agree with this post from another thread and thought it fits nicely in this thread.

Post written by Ed Caffery
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Edge retention is not a carbon advantage... I did not find S30V that hard to re-sharpen with extra coarse diamond hones, at least not compared to 440C... 440C is still my first choice based on edge holding combined with extreme abuse in use, and not just the stain resistance. S30V would be equivalent or second, but is not as stain resistant, so really a second-rate steel, if it was not that it seeems like it has a much easier to restore satin finish quality when you sand it paralell the grind grain, a big plus compared to the seemingly harder to fix 440C satin finish... Aus-6/8 has the same quality of being easy to sand out the scratches from, if you sand paralell to the grind...

Aus-8 is a close equivalent to 440C, but Aus-6 seems to scratch much easier from chopping, even if it holds an edge very well: Scratches are a big disadvantage to me. Also 440C edge-holding seems to vary a lot from maker to maker. Randall's 440B really holds an edge.

Gaston
 
I have a love for each steel in what it was designed for coupled with what I need it for. Knives are TOOLS.

I like my CRK Nyala in S35VN as my primary hunting knife. Skins lots of animals without the need for constant sharpening in the field. Time for that in camp over a hot meal, cold beer, and warm fire after a long day in the field.

In camp or in the woods, for wood and shelter, it's the Esee Junglas in good old 1095 for chopping and batoning firewood, and clearing trails, etc. Add a Vic Farmer and it's perfect. Hot summer days in the woods working on shooting lanes or repairing stands and cleaning trails, I often carry a Spyderco Atlantic in H1 since it only takes 15 minutes of working in the 100*+ heat and 80%+ humidity to be drenched in sweat. ZERO maintenance required.

EDC pocket knives and neckers finds a variety, but mainly my Benchmade 761 in M390, ZT0350 in S30V, or Spyderco Manix 2 in S30Vm coupled with one of many neckers in Elmax, M390, 1095, CPM-20CV, etc.

In the shop, a 1095 GEC Beer Scout Knife (cap lifter - Hell Yeah!) or 440C beater work knife from a local knife supply store.

I like my Survive!Knives GSO 3.5 in CPM-20CV as my primary knife when fishing. Cuts bait, guts fish, brains the big ones in salt water, and works for other cutting tasks such as lines and rope. When done, just rinse, wipe, and go.

There's a place for the old steels. The supersteels, for me, give me less time sharpening and maintaining, and more time to enjoy the outdoors.
 
I like super-steels. I end up mostly with S30V in my folders, but I prefer steels with better edge-holding capabilities.
 
I could care less about the sales gimmicks. My favorite EDC's blades are VG-10, S90v(insanely sharp, and holds its scary sharpness very well), S110v, 20cv(great!!), S30V, Stellite 6K(love it!!, not steel, but a super blade metal!!), CPM3v, 440C, K390, 1095, and Damascus(Super Sharp!!). My definition of a "Super steel" would not be edge holding, but being able to sharpen easy and hold an edge. But a Good Heat treating is where it is at though!! I'd rather pay a little extra for a good heat treat of an average steel, rather than a great steel with a poor heat treat.
 
Nope. I only use S-OVER9000V.

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bobnery said:
Are you still pumped when your favorite knife has a Super Steel variant come out, or a new steel hits the market? Or do you find yourself slipping back to the old standbys of 154, VG10, A2, 1095, or possibly even Aus8 and 440?
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It depends on what I am cutting.
►If I am cutting a LOT of something like cardboard, I like the abrasion resistance of M390 or similar and will choose my daily carry accordingly.

►If I am doing miscellaneous chores which might require an occasional knife use, all sorts of alloys work just dandy. Since this is my normal mode, most of the time I'm not overly fussy about alloy.
 
I am....

The way I use knives, I prefer easy sharpening over edge holding. My life does not require the breakdown of many yards of cardboard. And when I do, even AUS-8 has done the job.
 
I am not always into the latest and greatest, but I don't want any junk.
Anywhere around CPM S30V is good for me.
 
HwangJino said:
I could almost careless what steel my folders or fixed blades have.

For my work knives, as a chef, my steel has to be carbon.
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What about laminated carbon steel? I have a santoku w/ a super blue core, and a stainless exterior.
 
Not "over" them, also not really interested in the "uber-super" variety either, but s30v and ELMAX have been great in my experiences, cts-xhp and vg10 have been solid (n690 is high on my list as well as s35v), and all are "balanced" varieties. As for the super duper edge holding carbide loaded, etc steels, for my purposes and needs, I don't have the slightest desire to pay premium prices to even try them for what they are. Not knocking anyone who does, just not the best suited to my "knifeing" lifestyle, so I'll pass.

Like Gaston, I'm still very partial to 440c as well... Great all around steel for the price comparatively.
 
I wouldn't say I'm "over" supersteels, but I think they're overused. Some knives I just don't need the great Steel driving up the price. For example, Cold Steel used cts xhp and its a great knife. But I don't see where I'm gunna need the edge retention on something designed to cut people. Are people going through that many people that they are having trouble throughout the day keeping an edge on their civilians, talons, etc?
 
The word "super steel" is depend on the purpose of your cutting tool.


5160 might easily be considered as super steel if what you're looking is 36" blade katana.

H1 will absolutely considered as super for anyone who live nearby sea.

If your have to cutting cardboard all day long, then extremely high wear resistance steel like K390 or S90V would be your best bet...

But if you want chopper bowie with good impact absorption, great edge holding, take super sharp edge and ease of sharpening, steel like W2 or 52100 with differential tempering will sure be the king...
 
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Gaston444 said:
Edge retention is not a carbon advantage... I did not find S30V that hard to re-sharpen with extra coarse diamond hones, at least not compared to 440C... 440C is still my first choice based on edge holding combined with extreme abuse in use, and not just the stain resistance. S30V would be equivalent or second, but is not as stain resistant, so really a second-rate steel, if it was not that it seeems like it has a much easier to restore satin finish quality when you sand it paralell the grind grain, a big plus compared to the seemingly harder to fix 440C satin finish... Aus-6/8 has the same quality of being easy to sand out the scratches from, if you sand paralell to the grind...

Aus-8 is a close equivalent to 440C, but Aus-6 seems to scratch much easier from chopping, even if it holds an edge very well: Scratches are a big disadvantage to me. Also 440C edge-holding seems to vary a lot from maker to maker. Randall's 440B really holds an edge.

Gaston
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I don't know where this myth of AUS8 and 440C being similar comes from.

AUS8a is actually closer to 440B

AUS-10 is close to 440C, except that 440C has more Chromium in it so it'll be more corrosion resistant.

Here's a quick comparison chart between AUS-10 (left) 440C (middle) and AUS8Screenshot_2015-08-04-12-38-50.jpg
 
I've refined my taste over 2 years of collecting now, and have developed a preference for steels that have consistently worked well for me. As such, i don't feel like im missing out on too much when i don't jump on the next super steel that comes out.

My consistent performers are CPM S30V and CPM S35VN. I also love ZDP189 and AUS8; i don't hate on non high-end steels at all. While i do notice a difference in wear resistance, with super steels having greater traits on average, i still do not feel like i'm missing out. I'm good at sharpening so i can get any of my knives to perform well, so long as they have quality steel.

A quality steel is important, but some super steels pose diminishing returns for my uses. I love buying super steels when they're no longer so "hot" on the market (and i can avoid paying "hype" prices). Like i said, CPM S30V or similar is good enough for me.
 
Alexander- I wish Phill Hartsfield was with us today so he could test the newer steels as the SS have really evolved and some are fantastic! But, you have to admit, those tools steels are incredible. Jerry Busse was using A2 until INFI came along.
rolf
 
Gaston444 said:
Edge retention is not a carbon advantage... I did not find S30V that hard to re-sharpen with extra coarse diamond hones, at least not compared to 440C... 440C is still my first choice based on edge holding combined with extreme abuse in use, and not just the stain resistance. S30V would be equivalent or second, but is not as stain resistant, so really a second-rate steel, if it was not that it seeems like it has a much easier to restore satin finish quality when you sand it paralell the grind grain, a big plus compared to the seemingly harder to fix 440C satin finish... Aus-6/8 has the same quality of being easy to sand out the scratches from, if you sand paralell to the grind...

Aus-8 is a close equivalent to 440C, but Aus-6 seems to scratch much easier from chopping, even if it holds an edge very well: Scratches are a big disadvantage to me. Also 440C edge-holding seems to vary a lot from maker to maker. Randall's 440B really holds an edge.

Gaston
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I think properly done 440C is one of my favorite stainless steels and I have had much better luck with it than S30V. But I also prefer BG42, ATS34, 154CM, AUS10, and VG10 to S30V.

As for super steel. Well, there is no true definition of a super steel. Super at what? Corrosion resistance? Lateral strength? Toughness? Wear resistance. L6 and S7 are super steels when it comes to toughness. I have never been into defining a steel as super, to many factors.
 
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