stabman
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Do you really need a "super steel"?
- Thread starter Screwdriver
- Start date
Knife makers have their marketing down well.
Most of us probably have a set of knifes that are perfect for our everyday uses, but then new models in trick steel come out, and we buy them up.
M4 and M390, I love them for folders!! Don't need, but I'm glad I have them!!!
Most of us probably have a set of knifes that are perfect for our everyday uses, but then new models in trick steel come out, and we buy them up.
M4 and M390, I love them for folders!! Don't need, but I'm glad I have them!!!
+1 on this.
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There was a time not too long ago when D2, A2, 440C, and 154CM were all considered exotic "super steels". Now they're common place, and IMO even slowly becoming somewhat obsolete due to the new "super steels". Sometime not too far off some of the newer steels will be in the same boat.
Do you need em? Nope. But technology always improves, new "better" things always come along. Some old timers might remember when there was an amazing new technology called stainless steel.
Do you need em? Nope. But technology always improves, new "better" things always come along. Some old timers might remember when there was an amazing new technology called stainless steel.
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Nothing prevents you from putting thinner edge on S30V, to match "touch up" frequency with other alloysAdded benefit being better cutting ability...
Besides, on abrasive materials little touchup won't help much...
P.S. I am quite sure S30V won't complain if you touch up whenever you want...
Haha you got me there, buddy
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Need? No
Want? Sometimes.
I only have two S30V blades, the majority of my knives are AUS8 or 8Cr13MoV and they still do the job I need them to. I suppose the important question is, does it make you happy?
If so, let no one question your hobby.
Want? Sometimes.
I only have two S30V blades, the majority of my knives are AUS8 or 8Cr13MoV and they still do the job I need them to. I suppose the important question is, does it make you happy?
If so, let no one question your hobby.
I agree with this.
We don't need super steels. On the other hand, most people on this forum don't "need" the number or quality of knives that they buy. We buy them anyway because we enjoy them. If you like older standbys, that's fine, but some of today's supersteels are going to be tomorrow's tired and tested materials.
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Do we need threads like these? Nope, but we get them around 3 times a year anyway. 
I guess there's things we don't need but get anyway.
I guess there's things we don't need but get anyway.
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Do we "need" anything more than a VW beetle? No, but we all want something different.
Ah, but many call that a super steel.
Which you apparently don't need.
Of course, someone the other day said I don't need a knife, which he "proved" by tearing open a box with his keys.
I'll just keep on going with these things I don't need, like indoor plumbing, super steels, and heat which can be adjusted with a knob rather than shoveling coal.
Yet, without one of the above your life would be no more difficult. Can't say the same if without the others.
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I'm kinda on the fence in regards to this question.
Do I really NEED something like S30V or better in a knife? Not really, the steel used in commonplace Moras of all ages, 420HC, 1095 etc. all work very well and in essence I could have all my knives in those steels and still get good results. Then I start thinking "Hey, I paid $40 for this knife in 420HC and in a year of rough use (read: abuse) I've had to sharpen and touch it up so many times that I've removed 5-10% of the stock material just doing that while the other knife I paid $60 for in S30V has only required small touch-ups every so often while doing the same things as the other knife.", making the longevity of the knife a factor too.
Then again, do I NEED a smartphone? Not really, but it's very convenient. Do I NEED a specific brand of shoes? Not really, but they outlast all others. Do I NEED a Space Pen? Not really, but unlike cheap Bic pens they actually work when I need them to, without smudging.
Do I really NEED something like S30V or better in a knife? Not really, the steel used in commonplace Moras of all ages, 420HC, 1095 etc. all work very well and in essence I could have all my knives in those steels and still get good results. Then I start thinking "Hey, I paid $40 for this knife in 420HC and in a year of rough use (read: abuse) I've had to sharpen and touch it up so many times that I've removed 5-10% of the stock material just doing that while the other knife I paid $60 for in S30V has only required small touch-ups every so often while doing the same things as the other knife.", making the longevity of the knife a factor too.
Then again, do I NEED a smartphone? Not really, but it's very convenient. Do I NEED a specific brand of shoes? Not really, but they outlast all others. Do I NEED a Space Pen? Not really, but unlike cheap Bic pens they actually work when I need them to, without smudging.
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If we had to we could get by without steel, or bronze and copper. We could all use stone cutting implements like our ancestors did. I sure can't figure any reason to want to though. I'll keep my steels, including my "super steels". I still do use O-1, and 1095 and enjoy them, as well as VG10, and Super Blue. High end, but not "super steels" IMO. Those begin with S90V and go up from there. I'm not really keen on calling M390 and CPM M4 super. Premium yes. Super? Not so much. That begins in the realm of steels that couldn't exist without powder process. ZDP, though maybe less wear resistance than some others is a bonifide "super steel". It would not exist if dome in conventional ingot form with that much carbon. It would become cast iron at 3% carbon if I'm not mistaken. The 9% vanadium steels are there because of sheer wear resistance alone.
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This, totally.
Nope, I've done fine with entry level steels, but "super steels" won't wear out as quickly. I've worn out a couple of knives, and really wish they were made of a better steel because I enjoyed them and didn't want them worn out so quickly. I can't afford the real super steels, but one day if I have the money and justification (That's the important part, JUSTIFYING the expense), I'll buy a knife with a super steel, but for now I'm ok with 7Cr17MoV, 420 (not even HC), 8Cr14MoV, 1055. I get by, and so do billions everywhere with worse steel.
Most people just want a sharpened plate of steel with a handle to hold to cut whatever they need to and they happy, the said sharpened plate of steel is probably not even that sharp to begin with. They don't care about how long the steel sat in an oven for, or what the composition of the steel is, they just want it to separate material. But I'm sure they would appreciate a super steel's capabilities given the chance to use it, but also the average person (non-knife nut) doesn't know how to sharpen a knife properly, so a softer steel would be better for average people because a simple back and forth scraping on a suitable brick will produce a cutting edge far easier and quicker and they will be happy
Most people just want a sharpened plate of steel with a handle to hold to cut whatever they need to and they happy, the said sharpened plate of steel is probably not even that sharp to begin with. They don't care about how long the steel sat in an oven for, or what the composition of the steel is, they just want it to separate material. But I'm sure they would appreciate a super steel's capabilities given the chance to use it, but also the average person (non-knife nut) doesn't know how to sharpen a knife properly, so a softer steel would be better for average people because a simple back and forth scraping on a suitable brick will produce a cutting edge far easier and quicker and they will be happy
Before I joined BF, I had no clue that there were different steels used or that it even made any difference. I confess that I have bought knives with high quality steels just because someone else here said they were the shizznit, not because I thought I needed them. 8Cr13MoV is probably all I need, but I do enjoy owning some in VG10, S30V, and Elmax.
I'm sorta in the same boat. Before I joined BF I knew about fairly decent steels like VG-10 and ATS-34 and owned a few knives with them, but I had never heard of S30V or considered using something like D2.
What I really learned from other members here is that there were a lot more good knives than just Spyderco, Benchmade, and CRKT's offerings. Now I've discovered Brous Blades' production knives, seen Sebenzas and Griptilians and Izulas, and for the first time in my life am seriously considering have a custom knife made.
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As a metallurgist , yes I want super steels !! I've been USING knives ever since I was about 7 years old. Carving hardwoods for example ,do you want to spend most of your time sharpening or carving ? The metallurgy improvements over the years have facinated me. BTW the CPM system started about 1970 .improvements there and development with other systems of "powder metals" has had great influence in industry not just your EDC.
So bring on the newest super steels I want to test them !
So bring on the newest super steels I want to test them !