I agree in general there's no "best steel" for everything. This isn't a bad list of "leading steel options" though.
Of course, I'd want to throw in some of the nice carbon steels: 1095, 5160, SR101. Hard to beat for toughness.
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Best knife steel in use today
- Thread starter BePrepared
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I agree in general there's no "best steel" for everything. This isn't a bad list of "leading steel options" though.
Of course, I'd want to throw in some of the nice carbon steels: 1095, 5160, SR101. Hard to beat for toughness.
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Whatever they used for this.
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Whatever they used for this.
My pop once told me the best knives were made from old files. they use some good steel in them old'uns. You can even redue the Heat treat by sticking the blade in some freshly baked cornbread
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I'm a steel freak and the top steels I consider:
ZDP-189
Dozier D2
SR-101
CTS-XHP
S90V
3V
It's not all about the raw steel but the way it's heat treated.
ZDP-189
Dozier D2
SR-101
CTS-XHP
S90V
3V
It's not all about the raw steel but the way it's heat treated.
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My personal favourites based on my experience:
Bohler M390 or CPM-S90V in a folder. CPM-M4 is also superb but it must be coated (preferably with DLC) to prevent rust.
INFI in a fixed blade (purely because it displays the properties of tool steel but with better rust resistance). 52100 is also fantastic but rusts very easily.
Bohler M390 or CPM-S90V in a folder. CPM-M4 is also superb but it must be coated (preferably with DLC) to prevent rust.
INFI in a fixed blade (purely because it displays the properties of tool steel but with better rust resistance). 52100 is also fantastic but rusts very easily.
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I don't care if knives stain, it gives them character.
vanadis 4E and cpm4v have a nice combination of high toughness and wear resistance.
Toughness is very much under-appreciated these days while micro chipping is a major factor in dulling, more so than abrasive or adhesive wear.
http://alphaknifesupply.com/zdata-bladesteelC-Vanadis4E.htm
vanadis 4E and cpm4v have a nice combination of high toughness and wear resistance.
Toughness is very much under-appreciated these days while micro chipping is a major factor in dulling, more so than abrasive or adhesive wear.
http://alphaknifesupply.com/zdata-bladesteelC-Vanadis4E.htm
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Looks like that s125v stuff could scratch diamonds and break if you drop it. :O
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Everyone knows Rosta-Frei is #1! 
If talking about a solid GENERAL steel that has the broadest range of appropriate application I'm gonna' go out on a limb and say that 420HC is a pretty good choice off the top of my head. Good corrosion resistance, decent edge retention, and depending on the heat treatment is can be used in every thing from small and medium knives (see Buck) to large high-impact choppers (see Condor). Doesn't have the highest performance in any one category, but it sure isn't a slouch and can be used in just about anything, it seems.
If talking about a solid GENERAL steel that has the broadest range of appropriate application I'm gonna' go out on a limb and say that 420HC is a pretty good choice off the top of my head. Good corrosion resistance, decent edge retention, and depending on the heat treatment is can be used in every thing from small and medium knives (see Buck) to large high-impact choppers (see Condor). Doesn't have the highest performance in any one category, but it sure isn't a slouch and can be used in just about anything, it seems.
Ankerson
Knife and Computer Geek
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Depends on how it's tempered, those steels really aren't as brittle as one would think.