Best steel so far for specific application?

[Uncle Bill]

Joe recently wrote:

I keep coming back to the same conclusion: it will never suffice to try to understand steels as a simple ordering of best-to-worst; rather, the only way to do it is to understand each steel's relative advantages and disadvantages versus the others.

I support what you're saying, Joe, but then I want to go on from there and ask: OK, so here's the specific application. Now, what's the best for that?

What's the best for a small penknife used for letter opening, nail trimming, and string cutting?

What's the best steel for hardwood whittling?

What's the best for a machete?

What's the best for deer gutting?

I think, given a pretty specific application, the knife industry should be able to come to pretty specific conclusions about best steels for each.

BTW, one tool I really wish I had was a very small traditional penknife that would stay razor sharp as long as possible doing string cutting, letter opening, and other non-impact office stuff. What's the best for this, folks?



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I don't want my children fed or clothed by the state, but I would prefer THAT to their being educated by the state.

 

[Samurai6]

Penknife: CPM420V. Holds an edge way long, and has a modicum of toughness for thin blade applications.

Hardwood whittling: Boye Dendritic Steel (cast 440C). I have a totally unscientific notion that large carbide steels bite better on hardwood where fine edged tool steels seem to sort of skim or skip.

Machete: CPM3V. Way tough, way abrasion resistant. Need something a little more stain resistant? 5160.

Feild Dressing Game: Any premium tool steel. If you want stainless, 440C, ATS-34, CPM420V, all make good hunters. If you like to baby your knives, medium alloy tool steels can't be beat: A-2, O-1, D-2, L-6, 52100, and even 1095 simple carbon steel.

That otta' get the debate started.

Harv