Do you have a list of steels you like best?

a223cat

a223cat

Kuttin' Kitty!
Joined
Jun 29, 2002
Messages
608
I seem to. I like in no particular order:

1. BG-42- hard tuff and I can sharpen it
2. ATS-34- pretty and sharpens easily
3. 154CM- tuff and makes a good pry bar
4. D2- all around tuff edge defense knife stuff
5 O-1 tool easy to sharpen and not expensive
6. 420HC- spark and polishes up real nice


There are probably others. For small folders I seem to be drawn to ATS-34. and for larger blades I like BG-42 and D2. I really only dislike one steel, S30V, but that is probably because it is difficult for me to sharpen and I have had some chipping.

What about you? Favorites?
 
Whatever carbon steel the Beckers are made of.... That's some tough stuff.

I'm liking the S30V on my Manix, its holding up well.

I also have had really good luck with the 440 of the Buck 110's.

I break it down by the knife cause I've had so much variation between the same steels from diffrent makers.
 
M2
SGPS - so far
D2
Carbon V - whatever it was in the 80's and mid-90's
S30V - still up in the air
154CM
BG-42
BDS and BDC

It all really is dependent upon heat treat, and therefore dependent upon manufacturer (and sometimes lot in manufacture).
 
D2
VG-10
154cm

I like S30V but of the two S30V knives I own (Spyderco Native and Benchmade 943) I can get the BM scary sharp, but I can barely get the spyderco to shave.
 
a lot of folks do not list S30V ! I am not fond of it's hard to sharpen attribute. D2 on the other hand is a joy forever. As is ATS-34 and BG-42.

My Buck 110 custon is BG-42 and I adore the blade.
 
Forgot about 12C27.

Bad French heat treat or fine South African heat treat, I found it to be a good steel.
 
9260
S-5
S-7
5160
 
for big knives SRS15 - Japan
for small knives ZDP189 - Japan
-----------------
110X18MSHD - Russia
M2, A2, 52100,5160,Shirogami,Aogami
-----------------
BG42
CPM154, CM154, ATS34
CPM S30
------------------
Like to try but did not yet YXR7 and CPM S90V, 10V

Thanks, Vassili.

.S. So far did not see any steel which is hard to sharpen...
 
Carbon:

1084
5160
52100
M-2
A-2

Stainless:

BG-42
VG-10
D-2
S30V
ZDP-189
440-C

A quick note: I seem to have more knives in VG-10 than any other type of steel. It's an excellent cutlery grade of steel.

I'm also very partial to the two's: A-2, D-2, M-2.
 
This opinion is not borne of personal experience, mind you. I'm mainly a casual user of knives. Can't even properly call myself a knife knut. But before I bought my first good folder, I spent quite some time reading up on the various steels cuurently used. I came to the conclusion that, for my purposes, generally speaking 154CM, ATS-34 and VG10 were the steels for me. Tho I wouldn't necessarily turn my nose up at a knife that I otherwise liked if it was in AUS8, 440 or D2.
 
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