Favorite Folder Blade Steel

I like BM D2 & Spyderco's VG-10

These steels might behave differently, when offered by different companies no?
 
GEC's 1095 is pretty darn good. Queen's D2 is good too. For modern side: VG-10, S30V etc. Aslong the knife is comfortable and reliable.
 
I don't have enough knives to know what I don't like. I even like the mystery steel on a POS KO because I can get it hair whittling sharp very easily. Maybe when I have enough knives, I will know what I don't want.
 
I've owned blades in 420HC, 154CM, VG-10, CPM-S30V, 1095, ZDP-189, CTS-XHP, and CPM-10V, so ranging from basic to exotic. There's specific characteristics I like about 10V and ZDP-189, but a big part of it is the novelty of it being exotic.

S30V would have to be my favorite. Great corrosion resistance, very tough, easy to sharpen IMO, and seems to cut forever.

PS: CTS-XHP may give it a run for it's money, seems to take and hold a very fine edge even longer, while being a breeze to sharpen. I simply haven't had time to put XHP through nearly as much hard use as S30V yet.
 
I wouldn't know the difference in any blade steel if it wasn't stamped on the blade :(

Hey I'm learning!
 
From a performance standpoint:
I have had such great experiences with my Spyderco Gayle Bradley in CPM M4 -- at this point I love the steel for almost everything.

If CPM M4 is not tough enough -- 3V is my happy fallback. One of these days I want to make a 3V balisong; do it up in the style of the CIA Vietnam knives...very robust design for a folding survival knife.

From a personal enjoyment standpoint:

Of all the steels I have personally worked with nothing is as fun to work with, sharpen, or use, as 1095 heat treated to ~64hrc. Especially in some sort of zero-ground configuration. I have made three of these guys so far -- and they are just such a pleasure to sharpen and grind. On the final sharpening when they come out of heat treating the thing just 'feels' like it KNOWS that it's a knife and not just a bar of steel; and it wants to help you make it razor bleeding sharp. Tough to describe exactly. Very compliant burrs and very high edge stability, I suppose. The steel also patinas beautifully and finishes gorgeous on water stones (don't get me started on hamons).
 
154CM. It is an excellent steel for corrosion resistance, edge holding and ease of sharpening. 154CM can be found in high end manufactures like Spyderco, Benchmade, Protech, Pirahna, Microtech, Emerson, and Kershaw.
 
S90V is easily the best steel I've ever used. S30V is pretty comparable and more readily available... Swamp Rat's SR101 is the best I've come across in a Fixed blade... but I prefer stainless in a folder/edc. Honestly I was not impressed with the CPM-M4 w/ Benchmade's heat treat. Edge retention was not even close to Spyderco's S90V, but it was still a b!tch to sharpen.
 
Gator stated it pretty well in my case:
ZDP-189 65-67HRC, M2 64-65HRC, M4 64-65HRC, CPM 10V 64-65HRC, CPM 3V 62-63HRC, CPM S90V 60-61HRC, CPM S110V 64-65HRC.
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I'll add Vascowear RC 61-62, BG42 RC 60-62, VG10 RC 60 ish. 1095 and O-1 are ok too at around RC 60 on up.
 
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The Mastiff said:
Gator stated it pretty well in my case:

I'll add Vascowear RC 61-62, BG42 RC 60-62, VG10 RC 60 ish. 1095 and O-1 are ok too at around RC 50 on up.
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CPM-154 if it was made more available. Takes the sharpest edge known to man and holds it a very long time. Very easy to sharpen too.
 
CPM-154 if it was made more available. Takes the sharpest edge known to man and holds it a very long time. Very easy to sharpen too.
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Yep, I should have it on my list. You're right. It is a really great all around stainless steel. These powder steels to me seem to have less burring problems and actually sharpen better at the higher range of hardness for that steel.
 
I must say i agree to oxbld. 420HC and 8Cr13MoV are easy to sharpen with simple tools in the field and their edge holding capacity is generally sufficient for me.
When I'm working in the field those steels can be resharpened quickly between the shower and the bar with just a green compound strop and a small fine stone.
And yes, i've got s30v, 154cm, 1095, D2.
 
Actually, again based on my own use experience, I'd add Hitachi Shirogami 1, 2, Aogami 1, 2, and Aogami Super. All work very well in kitchen knives light/medium cutting, so at 64-65HRC those would make excellent folder steels. Sadly nobody outside of Japan uses them.
 
adamantium, the shiznit never corrodes or loses an edge and can baton through a dump truck :p... but seriously im edcing a gold class griptilian with m4 and im liking it alot.
 
So what would you guys recomend or prefer for a hard use large folder?
What about CPMS90V or CPM S110V i havent been able to find alot about them on the internet. Is there any new news on these super steels yet?
 
I probably have more folders with S30V than anything, but thats not my favorite. I really enjoy touching up my blades. Probably more often than needed. That being said, AUS-8, 420HC, BG-42 are my favorites for the simple reason, I can make the knives I have in those steels pretty sharp. S30V is a great steel and I do alright getting an edge, but the others I mentioned have always been my favs!:D
 
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