favorite blade steel?

So far my favorite is CPM154/RWL34 and I try to buy custom knives exclusively that use those steels.
 
Big Mike said:
Buying any knife just because of its steel is not looking at all the factors.

Big Mike
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Why not? if the factor I'm looking at is that I want to try out this steel? Maybe after you find out how that steel performs for you then you can make an informed decision for your different purposes. If I just based my purchases on how I use a knife then a china no name would be good enough. We are knifenuts and afis and that's why we like different flavors. And since we are talking about toys there is no need to have a reason for what we want. :D
 
singularity35 said:
Why not?
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Because metallugy is only one factor.


Like I have stated, metallurgy is no more important then edge geomerty and heat treatment.

And how the steel is made will effect purity and grain structure.


Buy what you want, but you can't judge any knife steel by it's metallury;

...there is much more to the equation then that.




Big Mike
 
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Big Mike said:
...there is much more to the equation then that.
Big Mike
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I do understand but I bought a ZDP Endura because I wanted one not because I weighed all the factors. It helped that it was FFG but I could have gotten a VG-10 model and I trust the maker and it's not so hard to do a reprofile. Of course I'll buy what I want but like 90 percent of the people here I won't need to use my knife in such a way that the steel matters. :D

How would you go about selecting a knife?
 
singularity35 said:
...like 90 percent of the people here I won't need to use my knife in such a way that the steel matters. :D
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Well that's too bad;

...I find steel selection, heat treatment, and edge geometry matters in every knife I use.



singularity35 said:
How would you go about selecting a knife?
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I look for a knife that is designed for the task at hand, be it hunting, camp or kitchen use.

Then I seek a well known maker that is known for this type of product; like Bob Dozier for a hunting knife or Mike Stewart for a tough camp knife.

I also like to try the newer makers like Christof Harper (Koyote Knives), Walter Davis, and many other of the fine talant showcased by this forums menbers.



Never have I been fooled into buying a knife based on some steels marketing hype.





Big Mike
 
I don't have a favorite. I appreciate the attributes of each one.
Love 1095 - takes a fine edge, develops such character.
Buck 420HC - gets so sharp so easily and holds it pretty well.
Love 440C - a good workhorse alloy
Love VG10 - lovely stuff, but have to buy a foreign knife to get it.
Love VG1 - Holds a great edge
AUS8 - Takes such a fine edge just like 1095. and it's Stainless.
AUS10 - Very nice.
N690 - One of my favorites. Takes a fine edge and holds it about as well as VG10.
154CM / ATS-34 / 14-4CrMo - Very nice
S30V - Interesting stuff. not a super fine edge, but holds it a long time.
D2 - Great stuff. Great working steel
ZDP-189 Very Cool. Takes a finer edge than S30V and holds it longer.
 
Big Mike said:
Buying any knife just because of its steel is not looking at all the factors.
Click to expand...
Well, I do it often, because that's the only factor I'm interested in sometimes. I stick with quality brands, so there's not many worries about heat treat or build quality. And you can end up with enough knives that you have a handful of choices for any task. Some people want knives in a vairety of natural wood handles, or blade profiles, or historical representation, and some want different steels. I can get most stuff done with an sak, so playing with the variety is mostly for fun.
 
My favorite steel isn't my favorite because of any particular characteristic of the steel. Rather, it's my favorite because the blade of my favorite knife is made out of it.

Since my current favorite knife is the carbon fiber Manix 2 sprint run, my favorite steel is S90V. Ask me again in 6 months and you may get an entirely different answer. Honestly, as long as it's as good as well-treated 440C, 1095 or AUS8 it's good enough for me.
 
S90V....... its just so mean and ruthless :)
 
the one that's in focus. though both are great

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I can only narrow it down to favorites for different categories. Example: choppers would be 3V, 5160, W1, 52100, etc.

Folders CPM M4, M2, ZDP,S110V, S90V, vascowear, 1095. Getting to know and like 20CV, 390, & Elmax

Medium/hard use folders and 4inches or less fixed blades: O-1, Vascowear, W1&W2, CPM D2, Super Blue, M2&M4, etc.
 
1095 is just perfekt for me
and:eek: AUS8 when it comes from SOG.
Never liked AUS8 until I handled the SOG fixed blades.
 
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