Best steels for chopping knives?

[xil3]

I was just curious, what steels do you think are the best for chopping knives.

And I already know that the following are good:

SR-101
INFI

Any others?

 

[kdstrick]

The busse steels excel at chopping. Fehrman's 3V is also excellent.

 

[Mike-The-Knife]

SR-77 from Scrap Yard is VERY tough . Also properly heat treated 1095 like Rowen does with the 1095 they do for ESEE knives is very tough .

 

[xil3]

What about d2?

 

[Brian Sargent]

S-7, 5160, CPM 3v, 1075, 1085, 1095, INFI, L6 .........

 

[CWL]

Spring steel. A few million Khukuris have proven that.

You can use any expensive steel you want to make a chopper, but when it comes down to what actually gets used for real world, hard labor, it is spring steel.

 

[Big Chris]

I have had very good luck with 3V in the choppers I have made. I also made a chopper in S7 that is no slouch.

 

[jimnolimit]

3V would be really high up on the list.

 

[thegeek574]

Any steel that is heat treated for the job that it will be doing with the possible exception of ZDP189, though that is still negotiable.

 

[jimnolimit]

Any steel that is heat treated for the job that it will be doing with the possible exception of ZDP189, though that is still negotiable.

blade geometry and heat treat are just as, if not more important than steel choice, but some steels just work better under certain conditions.

 

[rkmoore]

CWL +1
I think 5160 is as good or better than any other steel for heavy work as long as the ht is good.

 

[cutter17]

What about d2?

I've read somewhere on BF that D2 is not a good chopper. Can't remember the reason, but it made sense when I read it!

 

[forcedestrike]

Nothing wrong with D2 in a chopper (Kershaw Outkast for instance).

I've read somewhere on BF that D2 is not a good chopper. Can't remember the reason, but it made sense when I read it!

 

[messermacher]

I make hatchets out of D-2. It is a die steel, it will make a good chopper.

John I.

 

[The_Guide]

In my experience, 3V is superb. It seems to be of common opinion, that 3V is in the top tier of steels for choppers...

 

[Gravelface]

Like you said already Infi is excellent, SR101 is great.

Fehrman 3v is outstanding. I have a number of customs in 5160 and A2 that are right up there near the rest.

 

[matt1987]

3v, infi, 1075, sr 101

 

[BagofDeadCats]

All the comments make this a very interesting thread. But 5160 is in "chopper of choice" and is in the "show us your chopper" thread...nothing against; 52100, 1084, infi, 1095, sr 101,(which is a variation of 52100), etc, etc, but 5160 is proven...wait for it PROVEN to be tougher than nails, cheap, holds a pretty good edge, and very easy to resharpen. 5160 is #1 choice for me...PS when the last time you saw a bar of infi or sr 101 for sale. Not saying that those steels are bad, but for the price and ease of availability, 5160 will get my vote everytime. =)
have a nice day!

 

[Iris223]

I just can't imagine a scenario where i'd have to chop a knife.

 

[The Mastiff]

5160 is #1 choice for me...PS when the last time you saw a bar of infi or sr 101 for sale

SR101 is 52100. There is plenty of it for sale in bar, rod, or sheet form. It's a great steel. A ball bearing steel. I still don't have a clue why some companies make up names for perfectly good steels. A lot of people repeat the story about SR-101 or SR-77 ( S7) being modified for whatever reason but I have seen no proof that it is anything but regular off the shelf steel.

3V is my choice in this class for the time being. 52100 is one of my favorites but I like it not in choppers as much as skinner and EDC/utility type knives. With the right heat treat at RC 62 or so it can do amazing things but I wouldn't use it for chopping like that.