Choosing between specific steels

[Noah123]

I’m interested in buying a Brisa Trapper 95. I don’t know loads about knife steels and was interested in finding some further information on which ones people prefer. It comes in:
K460
Elmax
N690co
12C27

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

Elmax is decent and is stainless. Not familiar with the others.

 

[ShaiHulud]

I’m interested in buying a Brisa Trapper 95. I don’t know loads about knife steels and was interested in finding some further information on which ones people prefer. It comes in:
K460
Elmax
N690co
12C27

I would choose 12c27
It's not a "super steel" so people tend to disregard it but it's a wonderful users steel and brisa does a fantastic job of it

 

[Seedy Lot]

K460 is an 01 type steel so will have much lower corrosion resistance than the others, like almost zero, but will be easiest to sharpen.

12c27 will be a little harder to sharpen but has much better corrosion resistance than K460, it is a stainless razor blade steel. Would also be my pick.

The other 2 steels are also stainless with much more carbide volume so might be better for you if you are mainly doing slicing cuts on rope or cardboard and need the edge to last longer. They will be noticeably harder to sharpen and have poorer edge stability.

 

[Therom]

In your list I like Elmax more. It is stainless and has a good mix of edge retention and toughness
I still have a Shirogorov is from ax (similar to Elmax) that is a user and the steel is good

12c27 and n690co are ok but IMHO not in the same league. However they are easier to sharpen and 12c27 can take a great edge.

I had a Manly Wasp in 12c27 and I have really enjoyed it

 

[JJ_Colt45]

As said K460 is similar to 01.

Elmax can be good, but it can be finicky to heat treat and is a bit more difficult to sharpen.

12c27 is a good steel, is easy to sharpen and stainless. Takes a very keen edge.

N690 is a little tougher than 12c27 and will hold an edge a bit longer. It's also very easy to sharpen. It's similar to VG10.

N690 may get a slight edge over 12c27 ... but either would be a decent choice IMO. Most users wouldn't notice much difference in the way these two perform and sharpen.

Elmax if done right could have an edge over both, but of all the knives I've owned in Elmax most were not well heat treated and didn't perform like it can if done right.

 

[XtianAus]

Elmax if done right could have an edge over both, but of all the knives I've owned in Elmax most were not well heat treated and didn't perform like it can if done right.

This is also my thoughts and experience. I have only owned one elmax fixed blade but was not at all impressed. Ultimately I snapped the tip off of it.

 

[Seedy Lot]

12C27 is similar to AEB-L but with less carbon so does not have the same hardness potential.

12C27 has 1/3 of the carbide volume of N690 so is going to be a much tougher steel. If you look at micrographs of N690 you can see it has large large chunky carbides like ingot D2.