Favorite steel?

I guess by default your most carried and used is your most favorite. So my most used steel in a folder is S30V. Spyderco does it well. Ive never had it rust, take a major chip or lose an edge rapidly. It maintains easily on sharpmaker stones and strops up nice. I have to say that my CruWear GB2 has been exceptional. It was the sharpest spyderco I have ever gotten out of the box and has only needed a few passes on a medium stone and a few passes on a strop and has kept the factory edge. Ide love for them to make a cru-carta OG Military. If they did, that would be it. In the Military I also have S90V, S110V, Rex45, M4 and I sold CTS 204P. Being able to compare them all with the same blade is nice. M4 seems to lose its hair popping edge when you use it in the kitchen. I think its actually corroded away from cutting acids. Then it keeps working for ever. Rex 45 seems amazing and similar to M4 but even more durable for rolling and flats. It responds really well to a strop. S110V is the most carried “super-steel” and it just never loses an edge. So far no chipping and no need for a major resharpening. S90V is carried the least just cuz the Ti/CF frame-lock version was my grail, but my new S90V/CF M2 has been getting me more time with that steel.

In non spyderco knives and fixies I have tons of CPM 3V and would love for Sal to make a 3V OG military maybe in carbon fiber. Or some cool dual color G10
 
luke2236 said:
Well it looks like I need some K390!
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Come play with us!

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S30V for me. Does it all and easy to live with. Sharpens like it’s made of melted plastic, not steel. I really haven’t had one misbehave on me.
 
Sal Glesser said:
I've always said, "No best, all good, just different".

sal
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I've always said I only have to pick a favorite wife and a favorite daughter. (I only have one daughter and one current wife.) Everything else I can pick more than one favorite.
 
JBoone said:
This is the kind of picture that tells me that I actually do not have too many blue FRN K390 models 😆 (I only have 4 but am awaiting the stretch 2 XL to drop)
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I may have gone a tad overboard when the K390 wharnies were discontinued and heavily discounted.

For me they are the best performing cardboard cutters and package openers I've ever used. I should be sorted for life...
 
Brock O Lee said:
I may have gone a tad overboard when the K390 wharnies were discontinued and heavily discounted.

For me they are the best performing cardboard cutters and package openers I've ever used. I should be sorted for life...
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I was originally going to post that that pic is the stuff of nightmares for cardboard!
I need to pick up a wharnie before they are gone

Looks like spyderco has the endella wharnie for $100
Probably cannot resist

Edit: Ordered!
 
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Funny as I was a big M4 fan (still am) but for years people kept going on about K390 and then I eventually got it and completely get the hype now, I have a ton of steels and its the best all around steel for me (corrosion resistance is not a thing for me)

I have a couple 15v but havent used it enough to really rate it fairly, other peoples tests do make it look incredible as well, Maxamet also havent used enough to comment, but already know its not going to be carried much due to its lack of toughness, but if I ever have a build up of cardboard to slay I can use it then lol even if K390 does that without skipping a beat, the Wharnie Endura at 15dps just murders it, the stretch 2 is my most carried
 
I like their CruWear, BD1, 52100, and SPY27. Super high carbide steels are enjoyable to experiment with but I prefer more sensible steels for actual use because they take a finer apex and can actually support it. BD1 takes a really nice apex.
 
I only like steels alloyed with carbon and/or nitrogen.
 
I’m one of those people that don’t have a favorite steel and pick a knife for design more than steel. I’m gaining a lot more steel knowledge so my day is coming. I drive tractor trailers and my on the road knife is an Endela in VG-10 which is a steel that has not been mentioned even once in this thread. I like the knife for the Emerson opener but it always cuts and I do treat it less than kind.
 
I find I usually buy the knife I like first, such as right size, weight, shape, ergos, country of manufacture, and then worry about the steel since just about everything made from a reputable knife maker is going to be adequate for the majority of uses. That being said spy27, s30v, and even BD1N have been great to me. I don't like VG10 as much for some reason, but since my favorite knife only comes in VG10 or K390 and I don't like patina... VG10 suffices and still does everything I ask pretty well.
 
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