favorite blade steel?

[smitty1505]

whats your favorite all around folder steel?

 

[allenC]

S30V for me.

Runner up choices:
ATS-34
154CMP
VG-10
H1

 

[IUKE12]

S30V in a folder for me.

 

[woodysone]

I like BG-42 for folder and VG-10 for fixed. Also have both in M4 but just don't use my knives that hard to see the benefits of such a long lasting edge.

 

[ForestRoamer]

I've really been into VG 10 lately but I would say S30V takes the cake

 

[J a K]

RWL 34 is great steel either for folder or fixed blade. Or maybe Elmax...

 

[MORIMOTOM]

my most used has been s30v.

not so sure i could pick a favorite.

 

[dinozzo]

of the steels i own currently, S90V with S30V being in second place

 

[Razorsharp1986]

For EDC purposes, hands down, S30V, followed closely by VG-10 and surpassed only by my one knife with CTS-XHP. :thumbup:

 

[Alberta Ed]

CPM154, as in BassPro 110.

 

[babakanoosh45]

VG-10, S30V and I happen to really like Bucks 420HC.

P/S I'm kinda fond of INFI as well!

 

[James Y]

S30V and H1, followed by VG-10, 154CM, and that steel that Victorinox uses, too.
Jim

 

[axtalan0]

VG-10
ATS-34

S30V seems like a popular choice. I have not had the pleasure of owning a knife of that steel yet, but seeing how many people here endorse it, I certainly plan to buy one in the future.

 

[RevDevil]

I'm on a ZDP-189 kick as of late. But I would have to include:
CPM-M4 - Spyderco has a great forula for heat treating this stuff amazing edge retention
CPM-D2 - Spyderco again did amazing things with this stuff, too bad nothing has shown up since the Military and Para.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

ZDP 189 is probably my favorite but I also really like S90V and M4 that has been hardened to around 64 HRC. I only have one example of Sleipner but so far it is VERY good. From my general uses I think it is lasting longer than S90V.

 

[Lon Humphrey]

i love the preformance of good old W2 and 5160

 

[Bill86]

I've yet to try some of the nice wonder steels
CPM m4
CPM d2

etc etc

So for me S30v is good, and I also don't mind D2 as long as its coated.

 

[termiteslayer]

CPM M4 - outstanding edge, easy to sharpen
N690Co - great edge, easy to sharpen
VG 10 - great edge, easy to sharpen
D2 - great edge, not the easiest to sharpen
ZDP 189 outstanding edge, pain in the arse to sharpen
S30V - great steel, but a pain in the arse to re-shape or sharpen

 

[Chewy1]

S30V - My Native was the first to whittle hair. And it holds the edge a long time.
VG10- Delica whittled hair.

I've got ATS34, which I also like, and SGPS by Fallkniven in my U2. Those are nice, too, but the S30V and VG10 knives are out in front of everything else I own.

No experience with BG42, ZP189 or the other high end stuff.

 

[Big Mike]

whats your favorite all around folder steel?

The best one for the task at hand.


Of course I realize that edge geometry and heat treatment are just as important as metallurgy.




Buying any knife just because of its steel is not looking at all the factors.





Big Mike