Best steel for a working knife???

R

rueffwt

Joined
Feb 20, 2006
Messages
12
Hi All,:confused:

I am really just getting serious about my knife making, and my knowledge of steel is less than expert, to put it mildly. While i like to encorporate artistic beauty into the knives i make, I really want to make knives that aren't affraid to be used. I knife that i can strap on my belt and go on a week long canoe trip and not worry about it breaking or rusting (exessively) and will hold a good edge. Basically I just want to know what is the Most durable, and use-forgiving material for making quality knives. I'd much rather have a good-looking knife that can preform, than a gorgeos work of art that has limited value as a knife.

I look forward to your suggestions, Please help a newbie.

Thanks guys,

Rueff
 
well i was goingto say O1 till you said abut the water and rust so a good strong SS will fit you well and you ll have to send that out for heat treat most likely
so that opens the door to many nice steels to use just depends on how much work you want to put in to grinding /filing SS is goingto be harder to work and shape
someone fix me if im wrong
440c
ats34
cpm154cm
bg42
then cpm s30,s90v there are more but i might not be good for your use
not sure if i got all good ones to use
then maybe also to include semi ss like D2
im not sure if this is a help or not
butch
had to add if you dont mine keeping knives clean /dry rust is realy not a problem
 
I'd just stay with 01. It's so much easier to go through all the steps and get a good result. I've read how 01 is prone to rust, but any steel will rust with no care. My edc is 01 and I cut appples, oranges, etc. and just rinse with water and wipe on my jeans then back in the sheath. It does have a light etch, which protects it,too. Not meaning to discredit the stainless in any way, it's just nice for a new guy to take one start to finish and then use it.
Rick
 
I personally perfer a good carbon steel for the knives I use. W1, W2, 01. I've also been using some 1086M that I like very much. I've never had any trouble with rust, even around saltwater.
 
I've only just started making, but as a user I really like O1 - I even like the fact that it will rust if not properly cared for - I like taking care of knives, and having to do so makes me appreciate them more. After each trip, clean and oil, store outside of the sheath, and it will serve you well. O1 knives will develop a nice "patina" with age, too, if properly cleaned.

As an added bonus, you can heat-treat O1 yourself without expensive equipment (I'm currently making a one-brick forge real cheap), so you will not have to send it out.
 
Thanks alot guys! I really appreciate the advice. A few more questions though.

Butcher: Can you not heat treat SS without sending it off? Is it real expensive to have someone heat treat?

Will O1 keep as good of an edge as SS?

Thanks again guys.

-Rueff
 
Sending ss out for heat treat will probably run you close to $25 and shipping. For someone new to making, the ss will tax your level of grinding and finishing. The 01, with careful heat treat (which can be done by you with minimal equipment) will hold an edge very well with extended use. The other upside is that it is a ton easier to sharpen when it gets duller. Again, I'm not knocking the stainless steels, just thoughts on what might work for you while you learn.
Rick
 
shane
depends on how much of an intellient conversation and attitude you want

i personally use 0-1 i fell in love with it as it was my fist custom knife from that great friend robert dark (roosko)

it holds a great edge and doesnt really take a whole heck of alot of care as your lead to believe by the ss pushers just make sure its dry when you stuff it in the sheath and you should be fine thats all i do heck i even store it in the leather sheath (sorry robert *duck*) and not a single sign of rust
 
just to add i worked with 440c and ats34 i also have a evenheat kiln no cryo yet soon i will
truth be told i realy like the cpm3v high carbon steel and am planing on getting there 9v to test (more edge holding then 3v) not that 3v is lacking btw
and yes SS can be a bugger to grind i know this well as i still use a 1x42 belt grinder :o and a full size chef knife in 440c is goingto take me a hell of a pile of time
a real grinder is next on my short list of to gets i seem to be going about starting knife making all wrong but i do like having a mini mill and kiln to "play" with
i can wait for a nice grinder i hope
 
rueffwt, I posed a similar question a few months ago.
Happy to see I am not the only guy to open a can of worms, you are lucky to have not been seriously flamed yet.:D

Apples vs pears, A10 Warthog vs F16 racehorse.
What I mean is there is no perfectly versatile, all purpose steel. You have to decide what is the most important feature that you want in the knife.
There is always a trade-off.....and that is all that even the greatest knifemakers can agree on regarding the subject.
Find out as much as you can from as many sources as you can and decide what you want. Good luck.
Sorry that I am so non-commital but the lines are very fuzzy. I think it boils down to personal taste and function in the end.

Mike
 
No mater the steel, heat treat is primary. The highest performance magic steel in the world won't do squat if it isn't heat treated rite. That said, you have two choices, carbon or stainless.

My personal preferance is for carbon steel. I can heat treat it myself, and it takes a good edge and holds it and is easy to resharpen. Of course I don't swim with it eigther.

For the carbon steels, 1084, 5160, and O-1 are good choices, all pretty forgiving in the heat treat and relatively simple to heat treat and easy to grind. They all benifit to a greater or lesser degree from forging but it's not neccisary to get a good blade. My personal favorite is 52100, but it's a bit complicated on the heat treat and realy needs to be forged.

For stainless I'd go with 154CM or ATS-34 heat treated by Paul Bos. 440C will be more rust resistant, but won't hold as good an edge or be quite as tough. Still a good steel and if I was making a knife for use in salt water I'd consider it. But ATS-34 is a well rounded stainless, it's corrosion resistant(not very, but better than carbon steel), takes a decent edge and holds it for a goodly amount of time, is fairly easy to sharpen for a stainless. It is also relativly easy to grind and takes a decent finish without killing yourself.
 
Thanks so much guys i really appreciate the input! It's nice to know that so many are willing to share their knowledge, and help a novice out.

-Rueff

P.S. Hey "Shane Justice" sorry for asking a simple question man. I guess you were just born with the knowledge of both how to make a knife and what steel to use. It seems like you and the icon you posted have alot in common, could it be that your attitude leaves you no other recourse? Have a great day!
 
Will52100 said:
No mater the steel, heat treat is primary. The highest performance magic steel in the world won't do squat if it isn't heat treated rite. That said, you have two choices, carbon or stainless.
.
Click to expand...

I believe it was Wayne Goddard that said a properly treated low carbon blade will out perform a poorly treated high carbon blade.
 
rueffwt said:
P.S. Hey "Shane Justice" sorry for asking a simple question man. I guess you were just born with the knowledge of both how to make a knife and what steel to use. It seems like you and the icon you posted have alot in common, could it be that your attitude leaves you no other recourse? Have a great day!
Click to expand...
no problem on the help round here
btw im goingto bet that shane was gettting to a point of there are many ways to make a knife and just as many different steels too
most the time it all about what you want or how you want to use it
once thats out the way the choise is easy:D
 
Rueffwt,

Guess your PS desreves a response...

First...no need to put quotes around my name...on account of I don't hide behind computer screens or Net Personas....Shane Justice is my christian name...given to me when I was born...

I figure that honesty is best...

It took me years of trying to decide what steel made a good knife...but first I had to decide what I thought words like "good" and "best" mean....

Nobody is born with knowledge...it is earned through hard work.

Nothing wrong with asking questions...or needing help...

But honor and respect the folks who offer themelves as teachers...

You can do that by doing your homework...first...

We are all here to see you do well...and celebrate your failures and your success...

What is the best steel for a working knife?

That is a near impossible question.....see what I mean?

So...good luck...try everything you can get your hands on....make lots of knives...good luck....

I will tell you what I was told...start with a good beginner steel...to my knowledge and experience that is 5160. ...is it the best for working blades?....prolly not..but it is good...and will teach you a lot...without brewaking the bank.

As for my avatar...well take your shots...it's ok...I sort of liked her...she has a lot to say about impartial fairness...

Good luck,

Shane
 
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