Do you really need a "super steel"?

Screwdriver

Screwdriver

Joined
Feb 27, 2010
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I know I don't. I like them and they do sell me knives, but I do not need super steels. Some of the most mundane steels work well for that odd situation when I need a knife.

I do cut my fair amount of cardboard boxes, but I use a cheap box cutter. Food prep, I use a chef/kitchen knife. Cutting wiring/network cable I use electricians scissors. My EDC blades are more for those times when I need them in a pinch. If I am going to a job, or situation where I need a tool, I bring a tool for that job.

Just curious....Do you really need a super steel?
 
Well, probably not. In truth, I could be happy with Buck's 420HC. But I do enjoy the super steels we have today: D2 (OK, D2 has been around a long time but performs so well I consider it super), S30V/S35Vn, CM154/ATS34, VG-10, CPM154. I could also live very happily with about any high carbon steel blade; my top choices include 1070 (humble but very tough), 1095, Carbon V/50100, and my all-time first choice, 52100.
 
Screwdriver said:
Do you really need a "super steel"? ?
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Nope, good ole carbon steel is fine for me.












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But I like (some) so called 'super steels' for their different properties:D

I dont 'need' more than a small number of knives, but I 'like' to have several.

I dont 'need' modern 'wonder' steels, but some of them sure are nice.

It goes along with the territory of being a knife geek, that you are interested in innovative steels as well as the time proven ones.

Here my 'sophisticated' box cutter, now that you mentioned those
 
Not really, but I have many things I don't really need.
I have them because I want them.
 
Of course not. Otherwise human civilization would not have gotten this far. It's just another step in the evolution of blade materials.
 
No. Super steels exist because customers demand them by choice, not because their usage requires them. It's a hobby for people to buy overbuilt stuff and then talk about its shortcomings on forums where four billion cuts through cardboard with zero edge wear is somehow not sufficient because some other steel can do four billion and six.

Nice Opinel pic, by the way! I think I need to get one.
 
Don't need it, but I like it; I'm proud of a nice steel; I respect it and the technology behind it.
I'd rather drive a Lexus to work than a beater...
 
Nope. However, I do need a steel that will hold the edge for at least a week of everyday work and will only require a touch up. In this regard, S30V fills the role well, as well as vg-10, 154cm, 1095, 1075 etc. I do like m390 and m4, because they seem to require less effort to sharpen versus extreme edge retention. Unfortunately, not many knives are yet made with these steels. S30V is my comfort zone.
 
I have a lot of different steels but the knives I use most are not. My favorite steel is 52-100 by far. With advanced heat treating it is about as good as it gets.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I'd rather drive a Lexus to work than a beater...
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That sums it up quite nicely. I'd prefer a beater to a Lexus. Costs 3x less, less to insure, less to fix, more fuel efficient, no one wants to steal it, still gets you from point A to point B. I know the Lexus offers an "enhanced" driving experience, but that is not worth the overhead, IMO.
 
Haven't really tried, tbh. "Best" steel I own is RWL34, and I like it a lot. But usually its 1095, AUS8,440C and the Sandviks for me
I like steels that I can easily resharpen, 14C28N is a great compromise between edge holding and sharpening IMHO, so that is my "super steel"
 
Taken to its logic conclusion- a steel that would hold a 15 degree edge forever, as an example, would drive most of the same persons nuts. I like different steels but I like fussing with edges too. If the Dilbert nextdoor to me could buy a knife that is forever sharp and works better than anything in my collection then I will lose interest.
 
dogstar said:
That sums it up quite nicely. I'd prefer a beater to a Lexus. Costs 3x less, less to insure, less to fix, more fuel efficient, no one wants to steal it, still gets you from point A to point B. I know the Lexus offers an "enhanced" driving experience, but that is not worth the overhead, IMO.
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I bought a 2005 BMW 325i new....when the warranty was over, I ended up paying around $5k the last year I had it. VANOS went out, and three window regulators in less than 12 months. Sold it and bought a KIA.
 
Well, depending on what kind of steel would you consider "super".

In my opinion any powdered stainless with extra ordinary amount of carbide are not really fit for a word super, they just perform great on some specific job.

Top 3 most impressive steel I have ever try are well heat treat 52100, Strider's PD#1 and Mule team K390.
 
I don't even 'need' a knife. Everything we care about in terms of knives is just an option.
 
I own several knives that use what might be termed "super steel" (depending on one's definition) such as M390 or M4. They are nice. But most of my users are much simpler steel, everything from as advanced as 154CM to as simple as O1. I like to be able to easily sharpen my knives and to develop and keep a great edge on my own.

So - I see a place for both and I own far more knives without super steel than with.
 
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