Favorite Knife Steel?

In folders I really like m390, cts xhp, m4 and n690. Those are the steels that are in my favorite edc knives. Recently (6 months or so) I got vanax 75 and Nitrobe 77 and ive been a huge fan of both. N77 feels/acts like a stainless carbon steel, easy to sharpen, gets very sharp (sharpest steel I experienced yet), has great edge stability and cuts great. Im still playing with it but so far its been great.

in fixec blade I like 3v, 5160, 52100 and good ol 10xx series. Tough as hell, get very sharp with lil effort and have plenty wear resistance for any task given, well maybe not cutting rope 3000 times but how many of us do that.
 
I've used and sharpened:

3V
1095
O1
Blue #2
cpm154
M4
CTS XHP
5160
10V

All of them have their unique characteristics.

I do like these steels for these reasons:

- Out of that list, 10V has by far the best wear resistance. Great cutting/slicing steel. It can take acute geometries. Sharpening it takes time though. It takes an OK edge. It's not stainless, but it is easy to maintain.
- M4 and Blue #2 both take the finest edges I've witnessed. Personally, I can get both of these steels screaming sharp. Blue #2 is EASY to sharpen too, M4 not so much. M4 can take acute geometries.
-cpm154 is the lowest maintenance steel I've used. Simply easy. Easy to sharpen and takes a decent edge. Only OK edge holding. It can take acute geometries.

My favorite?

3V wins. It simply has the best overall mix of characteristics of any steel I've used. This steel is nearly fool proof. Drop it on a rock in the field? It will probably still be usable, and as soon as you get home it can be fixed. It CAN split hardwoods without deforming. It takes a nice edge, but not the best. Not stainless, but really close. It can take acute geometries. Decent wear resistance, but not the best. This steel has become so popular lots of makers know how to make knives out of it. Some of them really know how to make bad a$$ knives out of it. IE, there is a lot of knowledge surrounding this steel at this point in time. Bottom line, from a users perspective... It just works and it's easy to take care of.
 
CPM-154 is my favorite steel,m390 and xhp are probably next on the list. I carry folders 99% of the time and I like stainless.
Well heat treated cpm-154 gives me all I want and need out of a steel.
 
Let's see...440C, VG-10, 154CM, 420HC, 8Cr, 9Cr, M4, D2, S30V, 1095.

I'm probably forgetting a few.

I like these because they are the steels used in some of my favorite knives. I'm not a steel fancier, I'm a knife fancier. My cutting requirements are light and basic and I can't tell the difference between one steel and another in practical use. The lone exception might be H1 or one of the no rust formulas. Everything else is just a sharp edge on a favored design.
 
Zombie thread, but I might as well answer.

I like basic, proven steels like 1095, 1055, AUS8 and 420HC. I don't bother chasing whatever steel is the flavor of the week, and I don't care for trends.
 
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