Favorite knife steel

The one with the best heat treat. Lately I've had knives in S30V, with what I assume was better heat treat, outperform M390 with similar geometry/sharpening.
 
M390 and Elmax are my favs of the new steels. The advancements in the toughness and edge retention of stainless steels is awesome.

As far as the old faithfuls, I LOVE D2. Love love love.
 
Any steel that will take and hold a good functional edge. Not really into "super steels" - don't see the purpose in paying for them when a good old carbon or one of the standard stainless do the job.
Rich
 
HAP40 is my new favorite, though I only own one knife in this steel. Also love Super Blue and AUS8A. Recently been trying out S35VN and I really like it.
 
My overall favorite is M390, especially from either Shirogorov or CKF. Have had some bad experience with M390 from other manufacturers, but I still love the stuff.

For heavier use or bigger knives, I am extremely fond of 3V and 4V/Vanadis4E. Had some great experience with those as well, for their own intended uses.

Also a big fan of Elmax, S35VN, and CPM-154, but if you gave me the choice of M390 for the same blades, I would take it every time ;)
 
For folders

M390, Elmax and CPM-154 for me.

Also a fan of CTS204P which is kinda similar to M390.

For Fixed

1095 and D2
 
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1095 & Elmax!
Just wish Elmax was as widely used and widely available as other premium steels.
 
Another vote for M390/cpm20cv/cts204p here. Such great steel. Have owned TONS of knives in this (these) steel(s), and it never fails to perform. Close second would be s35vn, followed by 154cm. Love the ease of sharpening in 154cm, and I'll always take s35vn for a good "in between".
 
Toss up between s30v and s35vn and that's probably just because I don't own any blades with higher end steels yet.
 
Fallkniven' s Lam CoS - laminated cobalt - great stuff holds a wicked edge for a DAMN long time and is easy to sharpen up especially compared to the super stuff been used today.
 
3v hands down! Little known fact.. 3v is called adamantium in the movies! Lol
 
In folders I like M4. I have a lot of good steels so runners up would be S110V and D2. I've got a lot of different steels in fixed blades but haven't used them enough to develop favorites. Based on reputation I think I would really like 3V.
 
Wow, I'm way old skool...

I like 1095, I think AUS-8 is AUS-OME, and I'm a big fan of VG-10.

Not anywhere near super steels, but I can get them sharp as hell in about a minute or two.
 
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