best steel for strength?

rustyrazor

rustyrazor

Joined
Oct 13, 2011
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hey guys, I thought I'd ask the experts. Lets say I was looking for a blade in which strength (impact strength, and resistance to breakage) were my main priority, followed by toughness, then edge holding, as I'm trying to make a 7" bush knife, and in my opinion, most of the steels out there will hold a pretty good working edge once they are properly heat treated. I've read that L6 was used in the older Gerbers and I have one of the boot knives from that era and it's phenominal. S7 is also one I hear a lot about and 5160... anyone have any opinions on these or any other steels for such a use.
 
I like L6, A2, M4...I just like high carbon steels for working knives.
 
Anything 1/4" thick, cpm3v, 5160, l6, A2, 52100, cpm m4, s35vn, Elmax, cru-forgeV, 1084, w2

I don't think s7 will make a very good knife. Just not enough edge holding potential. It's super tough but so is mild steel.

Personally I think cpm3v is the best steel for a big knife for its combination of extreme toughness and decent edge holding. Plus, it's almost stainless. It is however, quite a bit more expensive and more difficult to work than the simpler carbon steels and requires precise heat treating so a lot of guys don't use it. If cost and ease of heat treating are a concern then 5160 takes the cake.

Strength (resistance to bending forces) has a lot more to do with geometry, thickness, and hardness than on what blade steel you use. Toughness (resistance to impact forces) depends on steel and heat treat.
 
thanks guys. is it true as well that L6 is also tougher than 5160 as well? that's what I've come to understand over the latest readings I've done. lately, I have also had my eye on and become Notional fan of 3V (just because I haven't tried it out myself yet) I don't do my own heat treating yet and Price doesn't matter much to me as I'm only a part time maker and am only in my "expirimenting" stage... for a few more years at least. so I'm going to order that next and start expirimenting with "ELMAX" for my hard use stainless... upgrading from my old favorite 440c.
 
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