Favorite steel? Why?

Cliff Carter Knives

Cliff Carter Knives

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
May 30, 2011
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Seeing as I have a hawk coming from John in May, I've been thinking about how excited I am to try out a new steel (O-1). In that regard, what is your favorite steel and why? This is a general question, and should not be task specific. If you had to pick 1 overall, what would it be?

2 categories
1) favorite steel in a knife?
2) favorite steel in an impact tool (hatchet, axe, tomahawk,etc)?

For me it would be H1 and 154cm tied for knife purposes. I can put a mean edge on 154 and I LOVE that H1 is almost no maintenance.

As far as an impact tool goes, I don't have many so I will withhold judgement until I get my hands on some of John's O-1 in May!
 
Haven't tried the H1, thought about a spyderco salt a few times to see what it's about, 'rust proof" sounds like a great idea to me. I like the my mini grip in 154cm and esee 1045(?) and of course John's o1 has never been any trouble, I like the idea behind a carbon steel. Honestly I think I'd leave detailed answers to those who know more I sharpen on stones and recently picked up lansky but other then getting it sharp enough (cutting paper is my test) I don't do enough with it to notice much of a difference.

But I would say that I kind of like the o1 because you have to maintain it, feels more traditional and I like that, also I like getting them out now and again for cleaning even if I haven't used them recently, :)

Edit: sorry,

1.) 01
2.) I don't know, whatever my hatchets made out of, which by june will be also o1 in the form of a JK Belt Hawk
 
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I've always been happy with 1095 and O1 but the SR101 that Swamprat knives use is awesome stuff !

For impact tools I'd go with S7 !!!
 
I like carbon steel, 1095 or O1 for fixed blades and traditional folders. For "modern" folders, CPM440V and D2 has been good and I also like Spydercos VG10

Impact tools I would go carbon as well.

My Benchmade Grip is 154CM and I have kind of mixed feelings about it.
 
Favorite carbon steel is O1.
Favorite stainless steel is S30V.
Not really sure on impact tool steel. I don't really know what they are made out of. As long as it isn't made out of something brittle like D2, most carbon steels and some stainless would work.
 
Interesting to see not many steel snobs here. I was expecting a lot of "s90v, zdp189" responses, but very cool to see everyone enjoying the carbon steels and some of the more "old school" options.

Oh and kyenglish, you definitely should try out a salt. Entire knife is rustproof, needs no maintenance, and the serrated versions hold an edge longer than any other steel spyderco has tested. Definitely something to try out (I'm a huge hawkbill lover as well)!
 
I personally don't really care that much as long as it's not d2. lol that is my arch enemy steel. I just can't get it sharp for some reason, no matter how hard I try. I really like 5160, 01, cmp154, 3v, m390, and s30v. those seem to be what most my blades end up being made in.
 
pmbspyder said:
Interesting to see not many steel snobs here. I was expecting a lot of "s90v, zdp189" responses, but very cool to see everyone enjoying the carbon steels and some of the more "old school" options.

Oh and kyenglish, you definitely should try out a salt. Entire knife is rustproof, needs no maintenance, and the serrated versions hold an edge longer than any other steel spyderco has tested. Definitely something to try out (I'm a huge hawkbill lover as well)!
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Thanks for the advice, we're going to Tennessee this weekend and I was going to stop by the Smokey Mountain knife Works, I'll check one out.
 
KYenglish said:
Thanks for the advice, we're going to Tennessee this weekend and I was going to stop by the Smokey Mountain knife Works, I'll check one out.
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If you have any trouble finding SMKW it's between Walletkiller and Visabill TN.! :)
 
I like 1095 or O1. I have one knife in A2 and another in D2. The toughness of D2 is amazing but it sucks to sharpen, as mentioned above.
 
I like O1, 1095 and 52100 best. If you can find a steel that sharpens better and more easily than Shrade's 1095 I'd love to try it. John's O1 is a joy to use and 52100 gets unbelievably sharp.
I was recently given a Benchmade 710 in D2. I have really wanted to try it too.
 
favorite carbon - A2,, super tough, takes and holds a great edge, easily maintained, cheaper than D2.

favorite stainless - CPM 154, do I even need to explain this one?

favorite impact - S7, with the right HT, is ostensibly indestructable

and hey, there are a lot of great steels out there,,, these are just my own personal top tier
 
Hi pmb -

I don't have nearly the experience that some of the folks here have, but....

I love ZDP189 - I can put a great edge on it and it stays sharp a long time, and does not impart any odd flavors or smells to food.

I can get my best edge on D2 - my HEST F has the sharpest edge of anything that I have sharpened.

John's 01 is easy to sharpen and takes impact shock without chipping. It is the steel I have the most experience with. It has to count as one of my favorites.

best

mqqn
 
As on overall steel, probably 1095. As an impact tool, possibly L6 (or something similar - it was a saw blade) I have two choppers with it, and they are fantastic.
 
01,1095,5160,SR77,SR101 & INFI.
01 because I like the way it sharpens up easily & it's tough enough for most any task.
1095 because it's tough enough for most tasks also.
It takes more sharpening,but thats part of the fun of using a knife.
I like 5160 for my big choppers because it is very tough,takes a good edge & is cheaper than the next three.
SR77 for toughness.
SR101 for edge holding.
And INFI for pert near indestructibility.
 
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It's a tie between 1095 and O-1 carbon steel. In my experience these two steels are usually most rewarding to sharpen- not too soft and not too hard or toothy (the goldilocks steel!). I also like the blue/brown patina they can develop when used and properly cared for. I am not as into stainless steels- to me they tell no stories and can seem lifeless- but for folding pocket knives I do like S30V and have a couple benchmades with it.
 
mqqn said:
Hi pmb -

I don't have nearly the experience that some of the folks here have, but....

I love ZDP189 - I can put a great edge on it and it stays sharp a long time, and does not impart any odd flavors or smells to food.

I can get my best edge on D2 - my HEST F has the sharpest edge of anything that I have sharpeneOd.

John's 01 is easy to sharpen and takes impact shock without chipping. It is the steel I have the most experience with. It has to count as one of my favorites.

best

mqqn
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I've never used zdp 189, but I'm kind of intimidated by it. I'm no master of knife sharpening and I hear this steel can give people fits. How do you find it?
 
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