Favorite steel and why

Artfully Martial

Artfully Martial

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Jun 8, 2005
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I get it, there a million and a half other factors that go into blade quality, but for the sake of this thread, assuming a quality product, what's your favorite and why. For whatever use you like. And this is NOT an S30V quality thread. If your favorite is S30V, great, post it (and why)--but let's keep the S30V issues to their respective threads.
 
For my EDC single blade one hand opener type folders I like D2 because it gets a great edge and keeps it. I like VG10 because it seems to take an easy edge and keep it almost as well as D2. I like BG42 because it can be made to get that really great 'biting' aggressive edge that I really like and it keeps that edge very well also. I would say of these three I'd have a hard time picking a clear winner but I like all three and have knives with these steels that perform very well. But, if this thread gets reposted in six weeks I may answer differently. Who knows what I'll say after the ZDP189 comes out on some Spydercos in the near future?

Truthfully though I don't want to leave out 52100, or the steels from 1045 through 1095. These are much older steels but very good steels as well as 5160 and A2 which are probably all great for strong tough knives.

Usually in a fixed blade I'd want one of these steels like the 5160 or a good strong A2 blade or a selectively hardened edge with a differentially hardened spine like certain of the 1045 to 1095 blades can be to give the best of both worlds so you have a good edge keeper and a strong tough knife also.

Most of my wood carving knives are either 1095 or 52100 or some other such high carbon steel that are great for that task and easy to maintain the edge on. .
 
1095 or 5160. Although I do like the Sandvik stainless on my little EKA 88. The carbon steels are tough and easy to sharpen and the maintenance is minimal. The Sandvik is also easy to sharpen and takes a wicked edge. I don't care if they keep an edge forever so long as it springs back quickly. I don't have the patience to reprofile the super steels.

Frank
 
Tap,tap,tap. I am with you on this one as you are dead on.! :cool:
SilverFoxKnows said:
1095 or 5160. Although I do like the Sandvik stainless on my little EKA 88. The carbon steels are tough and easy to sharpen and the maintenance is minimal. The Sandvik is also easy to sharpen and takes a wicked edge. I don't care if they keep an edge forever so long as it springs back quickly. I don't have the patience to reprofile the super steels.

Frank
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So far, my favorite steel is probably "stainless" damascus that's been turn blue. Don't own any knives with said steel (i.e. $$$) but it's is my favorite just because it's purty. :D
 
SilverFoxKnows said:
1095 or 5160. Although I do like the Sandvik stainless on my little EKA 88. The carbon steels are tough and easy to sharpen and the maintenance is minimal. The Sandvik is also easy to sharpen and takes a wicked edge. I don't care if they keep an edge forever so long as it springs back quickly. I don't have the patience to reprofile the super steels.
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What he said.

Overall, I haven't met a stainless that's impressed me yet. CS's AUS-8 was tough enough for my uses and easy enough to sharpen but it wouldn't hold an edge. My experience with 154 CM was a disaster. I recently got a Manix and while I'm extremely impressed with the ergonomics, I find myself wishing that the blade was made of 1095...this S30V isn't doing it for me.
 
I sharpen all the time for folks. I make more $ doing that than anything else involving cutlery actually and 154 CM and ATS34 sometimes give me fits also. Not sure why. Just seems to come up more and more.
 
My favorite steel is INFI (Busses proprietary steel). It holds a good edge, is very tough, rolls instead of chipping, has excellent lateral strength, copes well with heavy shocks, and is surprisingly corrosion resistant for a tool steel.

After INFI I’d choose 52100 (which is not proprietary). IMO, it comes second to INFI in all categories other than corrosion resistance (2% chrome means it rusts quite easily). My Northwoods and Swamp Rats made out of 52100 all take and hold very sharp edges. Northwoods use a 52100 variation for some knives called 52100B, which contains some vanadium, and this is a great steel.
 
I haven't had any experience with INFI.
My two favorites would be 52100 and L-6. Great combination of strength and wear resistance. Blades only rust easily when you don't take care of them. ;)

WYK
 
For stainless, VG-10. It 'bites' better than my Buck/Strider in ATS-34 for some reason. But I also like 12C27 as in Frost's stainless blades, whatever is in my SAK (which I carry more than any other knife), and (gulp!) I even like 420HC as in my Buck 110. Easy to sharpen, takes a ferocious edge and holds it well enough.

For high carbon, 52100 (as in my Marble's blades), 50100B/Carbon V, and good old 1095.
 
After extensive hard use, and owning most all of the steels, I have to say the only SS I like is Fallknivens VG-10, Fehrman's 3v, and Kershaws 440v (believe it or not).

My fav's are M2, D2, A2.
Hard to beat the "2" steels.
Love 1084 if done right, and 1095, 52100, 5160, L6.
These steels IMHO, are a league above most SS I have used.
They don't chip their edges as easily, and are easy to sharpen, and hold an edge well enough to please most people.
 
for a couple of reasons. First, I'm a city kid, so I carry mostly folders. With folders, brute strength is not paramount. But corrosion resistance is very important, so I stick with stainless.

Second, I love the edge I can get with VG10. I have a couple of knives in S30V, and while it's a great steel it sure can be frustrating. S30V develops a very stubborn burr, and VG10 is much easier to get sharp.

Finally, I love shiny edges. VG10 polishes up very nicely.
 
I used to be a stainless freak but the more I work with the "plain ol" carbon steels the more I favor them. I'm an outdoor knife nut. My hands down favorite in the large 7" to 10" blade range is 5160. You can beat the piss out of it and it will smile back and want more. In the 5" to 6" range, O1 and A2. Tough steel. For hunters and smaller utility blades, D2 is my favorite for it's edge holding and abrasion resistance. These are the steels I use to make knives and feel this line up is quite sufficent to take care of all wilderness blade needs.
Scott
 
Like some others have mentioned. I'll take carbon steel over stainless anyday. 1095, 5160, 52100 come first, then A2 or D2. If it doesn't rust, I don't want it. If I was a diver or someone who spent a lot of time around saltwater, I might feel different. Most of my knife use is done in wood. Carbon steels work better in wood. They sharpen to a higher degree than stainless. That is a function of the grain structure of the steel. Carbon steel can take a finer edge and is generally easier to sharpen. Working in hard woods means frequent sharpening touchups. Corrosion has never been a real issue for me. Take care of the knife and it wont rust away on you.
 
52100 because it takes and edge and holds it. 5160 as a close second. But if I'm not in the kitchen, I'll take any carbon steel over stainless. Benchmade 154CM chips on carboard. Sometimes I look at my stainless knives the wrong way and the edges get dull.
 
I certainly do not have the collection, nor the experience of many of you, but my BM's with D2 steel seem to hold an edge forever once I get them where I want them with my EdgePro (generally 30 degrees).
 
My favorite is VG-10. Has a good corrosion ressistance and edge retention. I also can put a fine edge on the VG-10 easily. S30V is great, but I still preffer VG-10. Serrationa and VG-10 also make for a deadly combination :D
Another steel I'm very fond of is ATS-55. IMHO it's a most underrated steel :(
I really don't like ATS-34. I have a couple knives in ATS-34 and frankly can't see why people like it so much :confused:
 
my favorite has become 1095.

THe reason, very simple, since i've started building my own (with oversized handles as i like 'em), I find it easy to forge, easy to heat treat and beats any factory knife I've ever bought.
 
I prefer any of the better non-stainless carbon steels. W-1, W-2, L-6, CPM-3V, 1084, 1095, etc. I also love wootz and pattern welded (damascus) steel. The reason is that I find this steel tougher and easier to sharpen than any of the stainless steels that I like. I have not found rust and corrosion to be a problem.
 
My favourite is INFI, because my favourite knives are all in it. It holds a nice edge, sharpens easily and is very strong. For folders, I like Spyderco's VG-10 and S30V.
 
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