Favorite knife steel

Don't have just one...that's why I have so many of these damn things! (or at one of the reasons...) :p
 
M4 and M390/CTS204P/CPM20CV and CPM-154 are my favorites. But if was told I could only buy and use one forever I would probably go with CPM-154, great overall steel and super easy for me to maintain.
 
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Heartland_edc said:
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".
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I love my s35vn. I just got a new knife in cpm20cv. I expect to really like it.
 
KAEDC said:
M4 and M390/CTS204P/CPM20CV and CPM-154 are my favorites. But I was told I could only buy and use one for ever I would probably go with CPM-154, great overall steel and super easy for me to maintain.
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Every knife that I have in CPM154 seems to end up in my pocket. Amazing what a "small" upgrade can mean in quality.
 
cpm s35vn. Holds an edge for a good amount of time, about twice as long as vg10 in my experience. But more importantly, it takes a keen edge very easily. I have a blade in s90v and it holds an edge longer but at the cost of much more time in sharpening. I like to keep keen edges on my knives and that means routine touch ups and this is where s35 pays in dividends.
 
my favorite so far is s35vn takes a nice edge and last well, however I am looking forward to trying some INFI from Busse (ASH1) and 3v from Survive!(GSO 7/7) I read so many good things about both hopefully they are true. I have both knives coming my way both blades look like they will show up close to the same time same time and give me a chance to compare them. Unfortunately that is a few months away....so here I wait.
 
S35, m390 (cts 204p), d2, and zdp189!
Recently steels with tremendous carbides have been used a lot (I'm talking about you s90v...) I truly can't see the purpose of these! I have a benchmade 484-1 and it has a 2000 grit edge that has been diamond stropped and nomatter what I do I can't get it sharp! I don't care if it stays moderately sharp forever I want it really sharp...
 
I like Buck's 420hc and for woodworking I like 1095 , and or chrome vanadium 1095 .my ca 1964 western black beauty f48a uses a chrome vanadium high carbon steel that I believe is 1095 and takes the most wicked edge with minimal work.
 
Man, I spent some time sharpening a Microtech Scarab with elmax last month and now I'm in love with it! Literally razor sharp with not too much effort and it has stayed that way.
 
Heat treat suited to the steel, and the grind and application all combined to give great knives or crappy ones...

My current favorites: CPM10V,S35VN M390, AEB-L, Z-wear, 3V, S90V.......

ok so like I said it has a lot to do with the correct combination of steel selection, heat treat and grind geometry... If they are all right then most decent steels will perform exceptionally, when compared to knives where those aren't as well matched.
 
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