Favorite steel?

L

luke2236

Joined
Oct 1, 2010
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With all the different steels choices we have now what’s you favorite that you have used so far? Or have you used a type of steel that you really like and not bothered with newer steels? Mine would be M4 and cruwear those two do everything I can ask and I have never really wanted to try anything else.
 
I keep bouncing between S90V and K390. They both stay sharp and with the right tools aren't a pain to get back to sharp when they finally loose the edge. Add to that they both seem to strop back easy enough.
 
Right now? It's k390 my friend. I love the combination of being able to use it borderline carelessly and it just holding up and staying sharp and not deformed. Seki city's got their stuff dialed in. Here soon after my birthday I think I'll have 4 k390 knives. And if seki ever discontinued it, I'll be buying backup knives before they're gone. Plus patina does look kinda cool. You normally get mixed opposing views on everything on the internet, but k390 could unite everyone, every video and comment I've heard is the same positive feedback.

I have 15v too, love it but they decided to do sprints only and not regulat production. To me k390 is the best all around knife steel with the most balanced attributes.

Now, I'm patiently waiting to see what larrins new baby is going to be. This same question in 2 years might have different answers.
 
I've been using my PM2 15V pretty much exclusively for the past 4 months. Holds a working edge for a long time while also being easy to touch up. Great everyday steel.
 
CPM M4. Partly because I have the most experience with it, partly because I just love the combination of edge retention and toughness. But I will say it is the most rust prone of the typical Spydie offerings in my use. So I tend to prefer it DLC.

Cruwear is a close second.
 
I have never bought a duplicate knife until the K390 Dragonfly was released. I have another model in K390 too and have finally realized the most perfect steel for my pocketknives. I’ve done some pretty crazy things with it after putting a nice sharp convex edge with zero edge damage, not even micro chips or rolls. It does strop up right proper with ease. I now have over a year and a half EDC in and out of wilderness situations so it’s officially the finest steel for my pocket.


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Seedy Lot said:
PD#1. More corrosion resistance and better edge stability than K390.
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True. I see so much love for K390 but corrosion resistance matters to me. Sure, a little oil goes a long way. Circumstances happen though. For instance, I've spent a lot of time carrying D2. (It's far from my favorite but I've spent a lot of time carrying it.) Three seasons out of the year, just a little maintenance keeps it happy. During humid summers though, when my corrosive sweat becomes a fact of life and evaporation is hindered, there are just too many opportunities for trouble. So I don't carry it in the summer. I wouldn't willingly lean into the punch with anything less stainless than D2.

Cruwear, PD#1, and 3V might not be stainless but they are a step up from D2 in corrosion resistance. Really, they are a step up from D2 all around! So they could hold my interest in place of K390.

Still, a higher hedge will always be good for me. So MagnaCut is a major win with its constellation of properties. I like LC200N in general. I like 14C28N at the budget level and I really wish Spyderco could get their overseas producers to use it.
 
Chronovore said:
True. I see so much love for K390 but corrosion resistance matters to me. Sure, a little oil goes a long way. Circumstances happen though. For instance, I've spent a lot of time carrying D2. (It's far from my favorite but I've spent a lot of time carrying it.) Three seasons out of the year, just a little maintenance keeps it happy. During humid summers though, when my corrosive sweat becomes a fact of life and evaporation is hindered, there are just too many opportunities for trouble. So I don't carry it in the summer. I wouldn't willingly lean into the punch with anything less stainless than D2.

Cruwear, PD#1, and 3V might not be stainless but they are a step up from D2 in corrosion resistance. Really, they are a step up from D2 all around! So they could hold my interest in place of K390.

Still, a higher hedge will always be good for me. So MagnaCut is a major win with its constellation of properties. I like LC200N in general. I like 14C28N at the budget level and I really wish Spyderco could get their overseas producers to use it.
Click to expand...

Cruwear and 3v defiantly shine with the extra corrosion resistance a low temepr heat treat provides but Spyderco is using a high temper on their PD1 so not as good of corrosion resistance but still good enough for me on most days, helps I live in a cold dry climate.

I really like 14C28N as well, a wonderful steel when heat treated with a cryo treatment and hardness pushed up to 62 Rc range and higher for kitchen.
 
This is like asking me to pick a favorite child!

K390 (if I had to pick one)
M4/Rex45
M390 and variants
The above are my favorites based on experience

New to me and don’t have enough experience with yet would be…..
Magnacut
Spy 27
Rex 121 (this one seems too extreme to be a favorite but if it holds an edge like advertised and is not overly prone to chipping during my normal use, it has potential)
 
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