Carbon or stainless...

Which steel do you prefer on your traditional folders?

  • Carbon

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Stainless

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No preference

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
I'm voting "no preference" too.
It just depends on many factors, and even if, all things considered, I might have a little preference towards stainless, it's not enough to push my vote towards it. :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
I prefer carbon, but I dont discredit stainless as there are times when a carbon knife is not practical for me without doing damage to the knife.
 
I would have to say no preference. I carry stainless in the hot, sweaty summer months and love it. I carry my carbon knives in winter and love them, too. Both for different reasons.

As above, I am sure liking Queen's and Kerhaw's D2, though.

Robert
 
I voted carbon but could just as easily use stainless in most cases. I have quite a few Case knives of the same pattern in both CV and Tru-Sharp and frankly, each works for me.
 
It's stainless all the way for me. There are a few exceptions when the steel is very stain resistant, like D2. I stay away from carbon steel because of stain and rust. No patina for me, thank you :)
 
I don't really have a preferance as long as it has decent edge retention and is fairly easy to sharpen I'm fine.
 
This is a great thread, good on you Chris.
Can I ask, out of pure lack of experience with Stainless compared to Carbon....Do the Custom Makers have choices of higher carbon content Stainless Steels?... if they do...what do they demand from a certain Stainless.
I still have to learn lots and lots more about Carbon as well.
I hope this hasnt strayed too much from the op.
Have a great day.
 
Love that Carbon! I like the "toothy" edge it has
and of course a lovely patina just makes it all the better!
But I have both... But Carbon wins!...lol.

Jason
 
Campbellclanman said:
This is a great thread, good on you Chris.
Can I ask, out of pure lack of experience with Stainless compared to Carbon....Do the Custom Makers have choices of higher carbon content Stainless Steels?... if they do...what do they demand from a certain Stainless.
I still have to learn lots and lots more about Carbon as well.
I hope this hasnt strayed too much from the op.
Have a great day.
Click to expand...

It seems like 1% carbon or better is virtually mandatory in custom knives, for edge-holding. Steels like 440C, ATS-34/154CM, D2 seem to be very popular in custom knives (for stainless, anyway). Each of those is at least 1% carbon, and D2 is way beyond that, at 1.5% or so. And 440C also has a good rep for corrosion resistance, due to very high chromium content (16 - 18%). Alloying elements like Vanadium add a lot to abrasion resistance, and it also enables the steel to be finer in grain (means it'll take a finer edge). Molybdenum adds ductility (reducing brittleness at higher hardness; ATS-34/154CM is a good example). These are some of the common elements you'll see in higher concentrations, in the stainless choices used in a lot of custom knives.

Here's a good reference for comparing steel attributes & elemental makeup --->: http://zknives.com/knives/steels/steelchart.php
 
bakerg2g said:
Love that Carbon! I like the "toothy" edge it has
and of course a lovely patina just makes it all the better!
But I have both... But Carbon wins!...lol.

Jason
Click to expand...

D2 patinas? I've been using my Queen bear head for a few years and it shines like the sun.
 
Robert.B said:
D2 patinas? I've been using my Queen bear head for a few years and it shines like the sun.
Click to expand...

It patinas at least a teentsy bit. I've noticed a slight darkening of the blades on my Queen #49 Cattle King stockman, in D2. Mostly in areas that more frequently get handled/touched, like exposed blade spines when the blades are closed. Otherwise, mine stays pretty shiny as well. The polish on the blade, if it's pretty high, will itself minimize the oxidation (as with rust).
 
Campbellclanman said:
This is a great thread, good on you Chris.
Can I ask, out of pure lack of experience with Stainless compared to Carbon....Do the Custom Makers have choices of higher carbon content Stainless Steels?... if they do...what do they demand from a certain Stainless.
I still have to learn lots and lots more about Carbon as well.
I hope this hasnt strayed too much from the op.
Have a great day.
Click to expand...

Yes. 440V, CPM154, ATS-34, 440C, and several others that I can't think of right now. When a production knife company chooses a steel it does so for ease of manufacturing as much as anything. They select steels that are easy to cut, heat treat, and sharpen because it helps keep costs to a minimum. In contrast, custom makers (the good ones at least) try to make the best knives they can. In addition to superb fit and finish and beautiful handle materials, this means spending time on eye-popping grinds, a proper sharpening job, and premium steels and correct heat treating.

Some people may think that the use of premium steels is nothing more than a selling point. I'm inclined to agree, to a point. The premium steels do perform better (e.g., they stay sharper longer for one thing), but for the majority of knife owners Victorinox's mystery steel and Case Tru-Sharp are perfectly serviceable. But I'm a knife nut, and I want more out of my knife than serviceable. I want good looks and increased performance to match.

- Christian
 
Robert.B said:
D2 patinas? I've been using my Queen bear head for a few years and it shines like the sun.
Click to expand...

I thought the same thing when I went to put a satin finish on my Canoe. After I started sanding, I noticed that the blades had darkened ever so slightly. That made me decide to force a patina instead just because I was curious about how it would turn out.
dscf0245.jpg

dscf0247.jpg


I would imagine that it could get to this point through normal use, but it might take a while.;)
 
That looks pretty good! I might leave mine be though because I use it hunting/fishing...its a great bird and trout knife but yeah I've had mine in water, blood, fish innards etc and it still looks shiny. Might be cause I went over my blade with 3000 grit paper to make the blade etch less noticeable (I hate that queen etch the blades), mine is almost mirror polished and like said the polish can help inhibit rust.
 
I'm a huge fan of carbon. I feel stainless has its place but not on traditionals for me. As was mentioned I like the life of a carbon blade. It needs care and it ages with you. It makes it feel like more of a companion.

-Mark
 
I voted "no preference" because I think both types have their place. I've been very satisfied with Case's Tru-sharp and my Silver Knights have stainless blades too. I don't think stainless would be "right" on something like our 2011 forum knife though. I like the carbon steel traditional knive I have too and wish Case would give us a bit more choices.

Ed J
 
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