Best Box Steel?

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Billbo66

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Nov 19, 2008
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I need advise on blade material for a friend gift. This knife would probably cut more boxes and tape than anything else. Will S30V or 154CM stand up to cardboard longer than O1 or a carbon? I was hoping to get him something that will not be too hard to maintain the edge on. My personal experience is that S30V holds up pretty well to boxes, but is a bit harder to sharpen. I would hate to get him a knife that he cant keep sharp. I figure someone here cuts boxes all day long and can clue me in.
 
From my experiences cutting cardboard VG-1 (Cold Steel) is the best cardboard steel that I have tested and used sofar, much better and easier to sharpen than S30V.

That or VG-10 would be great choices, although I will be testing M4 and 20V here soon.
 
m4 in spyderco mule outcut anything i've ever used but i have'nt tried the cpm 60--90 or cpm110. i believe the average warehouse guy might go 2 weeks before a touch up on the m4 is required.
 
I made about 50 cuts, maybe more maybe less, in cardboard a few days ago with my Spyderco Gayle Bradley(M4 steel) just for the heck of it. I was cutting up the type of cardboard in shipping boxes. After all the cuts, the edge would still cleanly slice binder paper.
 
A good steel that is more likley to fold or give rather than one that is apt to chip is another thing to consider. Just in case you run into a staple here and there.
 
Always liked carbon steels like 1095 for card board / packaging. If its not overly hardened its pretty hard to get it to chip rather than bend and takes very little to keep it sharp, but holds an edge well. Just keep a pocket sized gatco ceramic ($7ish) and touch it up as soon as it starts to drag. I really like my rc3 for boxes, anything fairly thin and well Heat Treated is good.

vg10 is great if you want stainless, I just find the carbon easier to touch up while working.
 
In my experience, S30V, if properly heat treated, will easily outlast 154CM in cardboard.

Another important point to consider is blade geometry. In a stiff medium like cardboard, blade geometry plays a very large role in determining ease of cutting. You want something thin, with a thin edge. A lot of knives these days come with very thick edge bevels, and that doesn't work as well in cardboard.
 
I've cut many, many boxes and miles of tape. I carry most days my CRK large Sebenza and I would recommend an OLFA utility knife in a good sheath, ability to hold a pen a plus. And of course, pick him up a nice blade. Boxes and tape just goo up and dull a good knife if he's going to cut alot of it, better to use the right tool for the job.
 
A knife that I was shocked at with steel was the CRKT Edgie. It's a "nothing special" steel, but the diamond sharpener in it makes it easy to re sharpen, and get a toothy edge that SHREDS through cardboard. It's not that expensive, and is a GREAT work knife if you're cutting cardboard left and right (not just tape, but the actual cardboard)

But... in normal knives, I like the Spyderco Gayle Bradley. Great hallow grind, CPM-M4 steel, and easy to operate.
 
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