Budget steel recommendation

rodriguezryan14

rodriguezryan14

Joined
Jan 6, 2023
Messages
208
Hey guys, been gone for a while. Just getting back into knife making. I wanted a suggestion about a budget knife steel for a few packs I’m putting together. These will be small survival/hunting/ bug out type packs. My go to steel is ztuff and cpm3v. I heat treat all these and have all the equipment for it. But in order to keep prices down, I’m looking for a cheaper alternative. I don’t want a broken knife returned to me! These will be on the small side to start. Around 3-3 1/2 inch blade. Survival type, with hunting and skinning in mind. General camp chores. I’m wanting something tough with decent edge retention. I’m looking at either 52100, 15n20, 80crv2, or A8 mod. But A8 kicks the price up quite a bit from these others!! What are you’re opinions? I have parks 50 for oil, cryo and my even heat oven. I can basically heat treat any of these rather well! I was originally under the username Rodriguez7 for years here! Any help would be appreciated. I have yet to heat treat any 52100 though.
 
Since you are so well versed in fairly decent, upper midlevel steels...... What steel did you start out with???

That's prob your low cost steel you are going to want to use.
1084
8670
15N20
AEB-L
 
Tough and not expensive?

80crv2 would work as would 15N20

8670 and 5160 would also work well....

52100 can be very tough, but a little more complex to HT well...
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Since you are so well versed in fairly decent, upper midlevel steels...... What steel did you start out with???

That's prob your low cost steel you are going to want to use.
1084
8670
15N20
AEB-L
Click to expand...
15n20 actually. I started heat treating in a crappy forge I built. And 8670. I don’t want 8670 because of the lack of edge retention. I know it’s the toughest in larrins testing, and is great for a chopper. From what I’ve read, 15n20 at 61-62 rc is decent as a skinning knife steel, and has pretty good toughness. I prefer high alloy, and all mine and my families knives are made with them. But I’m just looking for a cheaper alternative.
 
billf said:
Tough and not expensive?

80crv2 would work as would 15N20

8670 and 5160 would also work well....

52100 can be very tough, but a little more complex to HT well...
Click to expand...
I’m currently reading Larrins heat treat test articles on 52100. I can do that heat treat, but it takes more time than I have, and adds to the cost!
 
Alpha Knife Supply said:
Your existing choices Z-Tuff and CPM 3V have excellent toughness. Other inexpensive alloys with excellent toughness are:
• 8670 - In Stock
• AEB-L - In Stock
• L6
• 5160

My personal opinion is 8670 is highly underrated. It is the value leader when price is factored in.

Chuck
Click to expand...
Man it would be really cool if you could ever get some L6. I have ordered from you guys for years. I ordered some ztuff yesterday actually. But that’s for me. Lol. I love that stuff! I have some 8670, I may end up buying more of it. I know it’s good stuff! Thanks
 
DevinT said:
AEB-L

Hoss
Click to expand...
I have some. And have used aeb-l a bit in the past. I know your sons tests show very good toughness, and it has some good fine edge stability too! I guess I need to make a few test blades and send them with some guides I know. Just to get some feedback. Thanks for the reply
 
I have used AEBL for a decent number of knives now and have had no complaints from kitchen to bushcraft knives and it is a cheap steel to purchase from AKS. I usually run AEBL in the 61-62 Rc range. If there is a complaint about AEBL from people it is when makers run it soft.

I also really like 14C28N. You can buy it from Admiral Steel but with shipping it is best to place larger orders.
 
AEB-L at HRC 63-64 is great for kitchen utility knives. I used an AEB-L (HRC 62) kitchen knife made by Devin to deburr an aluminum vacuum block when it came off the mill. When I was finished deburring the knife was in great shape and I was a believer in AEB-L.

Ryan, your order was received and shipped. Thank you.

Chuck
 
If you haven’t tried 8670 at 62RC I’d definitely try it there for better edge retention, if you compare it to high alloy steels obviously there will be a difference but those high wear steels also cost more and some users don’t like the way they sharpen, myself included. 8670 at 62rc will have practically the same edge retention as 15n20 at 62, 80crv2 at 62, 1084 at 62, 1095 at 62… they will be so close no one could tell in practical use. If you want more edge retention in an inexpensive steel choice you’ll need significantly more carbon or more alloys that make heat treating more challenging or increase the cost. Everyone will have their preferences but when I can get a 4” wide bar of 3/32” 8670 48” long for $30 that’s hard to beat for a steel that performs really well when properly heat treated and good geometry. I get my 8670 from Popsknifesupplies and usually can get 10-15 of that size bar in one box for about $20-$25 in shipping.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
AEB-L all the way! Hunting/survival knifes?
No question.
It's easy to work, easy to sharpen, stainless and reasonably tough.
 
Joshua Fisher said:
If you haven’t tried 8670 at 62RC I’d definitely try it there for better edge retention, if you compare it to high alloy steels obviously there will be a difference but those high wear steels also cost more and some users don’t like the way they sharpen, myself included. 8670 at 62rc will have practically the same edge retention as 15n20 at 62, 80crv2 at 62, 1084 at 62, 1095 at 62… they will be so close no one could tell in practical use. If you want more edge retention in an inexpensive steel choice you’ll need significantly more carbon or more alloys that make heat treating more challenging or increase the cost. Everyone will have their preferences but when I can get a 4” wide bar of 3/32” 8670 48” long for $30 that’s hard to beat for a steel that performs really well when properly heat treated and good geometry.
Click to expand...
10-15 bars shipped for $25?

Clearly I'm not ordering enough steel
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Joshua Fisher said:
My last order was 25 bars, 10 1/16x4x48 and 15 3/32x4x48 shipped in two boxes $44 total shipping for both.
Click to expand...
Don't promote dealers who don't support the site. Consider this a counseling, thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top