Custom Knife: I'm Dithering on the Steel, help me out please

A

Albin

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Aug 31, 2001
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I'm having a conversation with a knife maker; he posts on this forum. I won't mention his name but he's free to chime in as necessary.

He forges makes knives in three different steels; in no particular order: 80CRV2, AEB-L and CPM-154. 80CRV2 is a 1080+ type steel whereas AEB-L and CPM154 are SS; CPM154 being the powdered steel technology version of 154CM/ATS34.

He has a recommendation, but since our previous discussions have been private, I'll again let him decide if he wants to comment.

I'm not a fan of SS, probably because a) I've never had a good one (i.e. Gerber LMF-II/Prodigy in 420HC, yuck!) and b) I don't live on the ocean and don't worry about rust. The vast majority of my knives are ESEEs, Beckers, Cold Steel i.e. some form of carbon steel, etc. I used to own a RMK #5-5 in O1 but it didn't get used too much before it was stolen.

My priorities are a) Toughness and Edge Retention, b) sharpen ability (distant 3rd) and c) corrosion resistance (distant 4th). This knife will be primarily used for general camp/bushcraft use and skinning deer and hogs.

I've spent quite a bit of time over on the Knifenerds site gathering technical data and his opinions. These are summarized in the two pics below. The three steels in question are in red; data is shown for various other knife steels most of which I have owned and/or used.

75VXecO.jpg


EVDqjiI.jpg


Comments about these three steels from the knife makers here, especially compared to each other?

Thanks, I appreciate it!
 
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I have recently fallen in love with AEB-L, Though I haven't used enough of the other two to make a good comparison.
 
great steel for toughness, cost, machineability, and ease of heat treat
8670

knifesteelnerds.com

How to Heat Treat 8670 - Knife Steel Nerds

8670 is a popular steel for being easy to work and heat treat. We did a study on how to optimize its toughness and hardness.
knifesteelnerds.com knifesteelnerds.com
knifesteelnerds.com

Ranking Toughness of Forging Knife Steels - Knife Steel Nerds

Toughness measurements of a range of popular steels used by forging bladesmiths, and an explanation for what makes one better than another.
knifesteelnerds.com knifesteelnerds.com
knifesteelnerds.com

How to Pick the Best Steel for Every Knife - Knife Steel Nerds

Which steel should you choose for your next knife? Which properties are most important? Which steels excel in the different categories?
knifesteelnerds.com knifesteelnerds.com
 
I’m not a knife maker ... that being said, I like both AEB-L and CPM 154 for my medium sized fixed blades.

However ... IMHO, it is much more important than the steel ratings on knifesteelnerds that you clearly communicate with your maker on geometry and edge grind, to match the purpose of your knife. I just basically ruined a 7” x 0.25” large blade (AEB-L if it matters) as it was ground too thin where I assumed it to be more robust. Also, the same steel processed by two different makers might be completely different (for example when heat treating before or after main grind). Just saying.
 
ashwinearl said:
great steel for toughness, cost, machineability, and ease of heat treat
8670

knifesteelnerds.com

How to Heat Treat 8670 - Knife Steel Nerds

8670 is a popular steel for being easy to work and heat treat. We did a study on how to optimize its toughness and hardness.
knifesteelnerds.com knifesteelnerds.com
knifesteelnerds.com

Ranking Toughness of Forging Knife Steels - Knife Steel Nerds

Toughness measurements of a range of popular steels used by forging bladesmiths, and an explanation for what makes one better than another.
knifesteelnerds.com knifesteelnerds.com
knifesteelnerds.com

How to Pick the Best Steel for Every Knife - Knife Steel Nerds

Which steel should you choose for your next knife? Which properties are most important? Which steels excel in the different categories?
knifesteelnerds.com knifesteelnerds.com
Click to expand...
Yep, that's articles where I got the numbers shown above; except for the 8760 article since he doesn't use that steel.
 
Lorien said:
so what is this knife going to look like? Dimensions, stock thickness, bevel geometry...
Click to expand...
Generally speaking: A RMK #28 +/-. Blade length =4.5". I have pics of the blade I want, but showing them would expose the maker's name. I want to let him decide to join or not in this discussion, not force him to go "public".

ETA: Here's the knife shape; mine will have a "flattop" upper guard/handle to blade transition.

Rnmsh9r.jpg
 
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Richard338 said:
I would pick AEB-L.
However, I would also listen to the maker since they have experience with the specific HT protocol they plan to use. If they have a convincing reason to use one or the other, then go for it.
Click to expand...
He has made a recommendation, but I'd rather not speak for him.

The numbers for AEB-L have me thinking pretty hard on it as does the CPM-154. I have a concern about CPM-154's toughness, but it's still better than O1 (RMK knives, anyone remember them?) and 1095 (ESEE, Becker et al).
 
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Albin said:
He forges knives in three different steels; in no particular order: 80CRV2, AEB-L and CPM-154.
Click to expand...

Does he make knives with these 3 steels or does he forge these 3 steels?
Not many will forge stainless, they will most likely be stock removal and the 80CRV2 would likely be forged.

Does the process matter to you?
Those choices basically boil down to do you want carbon or stainless steel.

I’d spend more time talking to the maker.
 
so is this knife's blade going to be forged by the maker?
 
Not a knife maker, but I think you need to decide which means more to you: toughness or edge retention. If toughness, go with AEB-L. If edge retention, CPM154.
 
Hands down would go with AEB-L. Plus, I highly doubt this is the last custom knife you buy because we all know that we cant just have one. 😅
Pick what will suffice at the moment.
 
May I suggest you consider the way you use a knife. The knife pictured is quite small, I cannot see how you would damage it without abusing it. None of the steels mentioned will survive abuse, yet all of them will produce a perfectly serviceable blade for normal use. I mean you no offence, just offering a different perspective.
 
I work with both (well rwl 34 & nitro v, almost identical steels).

Cpm 154/rwl 34 is a fantastic steel. I love it for my own hunting and outdoor knives, as do the hunters who use my knives.

I battoned wood just 2 nights ago with my rwl 34 test knife splitting apple for the smoker. I've had no issues with toughness or edge issues as the geometry is suitable for outdoor tasks

It hold an edge noticeably better than my nitro v hunting knife skinning and boning deer and pigs.

I prefer nitro v over rwl 34 in the kitchen as the extra toughness means it can be taken very thin at high hardness and still have good edge stability for kitchen tasks.

I prefer rwl 34 in the field for that extra bit of edge keeping.

Both sharpen and finish easily.
 
I made hundreds of knives from CPM154/154CM/ATS 34/RL34. It is a good steel.

I moved up to CPMS35VN and CPM-S45VN. which is what I make almost all my stainless knives from now. AEBL is for some lower cost stainless knives. AEBL is also a good steel.
 
3fifty7 said:
Does he make knives with these 3 steels or does he forge these 3 steels?
Not many will forge stainless, they will most likely be stock removal and the 80CRV2 would likely be forged.

Does the process matter to you?
Those choices basically boil down to do you want carbon or stainless steel.

I’d spend more time talking to the maker.
Click to expand...
Good point - I don't know. "Forge" is in his name, so maybe I made an assumption. I fixed my statement in the OP. Thanks for pointing it out.

On your last point: I plan to. I just wanted some disinterested 2nd and 3rd opinions.
 
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