Best Steel for Cutting Wire ?

[wally@ferguson]

I've used a Spyderco Co pilot with serrated edge for cutting metal security seals ...only damage was rounding off of serration points.

 

[me2]

M2 cuts wire pretty good without nicking. I was cutting bread ties,which are very small wires. I've also cut copper wire with S60V (CPM 440V) from Kershaw without damage. Technique is important. I was able to put the wire on a cutting board of some kind and press the blade down into it. Slicing wire does not work. Geometry is important as well. Knife bevels are generally to thin for every day wire cutting use. Both the above knives had thinned edges with micro-bevels from the Sharpmaker at 20 degrees per side. I figure at least 30 per side would be needed to consistently cut small wire without damage. Not to useful for anything else.

 

[lava_lamp]

Thanks for all the replies. I especially like the one about the best steel being somebody else's, so you don't damage your own knife.

I didn't set out to cut wire with a knife and if I could have anticipated it, would have brought cutters. That said, I was curious if there was a steel out there in a folder that could handle it.