Favorite steel.

Probably CPM-10V if I had to choose one. I have been enjoying CPM M4 quite a bit lately, though. For stainless steels, CTS-20CP has been an interesting performer.
 
Spyderco did a sprint (limited) run of the Paramilitary 2 in CTS-20CP. Off the top of my head I'm not aware of any other factory folders with this steel. CPM M4 has been offered by Spyderco in the Manix 2 and Gayle Bradley amongst others. Benchmade also has a few M4 models with the Contego being the latest release. CPM-10V is almost exclusively a custom offering, and even at that only from a very limited number of makers. Others should be able to fill in the blanks.
 
Mine has to be my CPM-D2 Junkyard dog. I love D2 because of the fantastic edge retention, and it's not difficult to touch up at the end of the week. I use my blades 90 percent of the time at work, for cutting hundreds of cardboard boxes per day so D2 really behooves me to have because it makes the cutting easier. Second would be my 154CM griptilian (recently traded) because of the edge retention and how quickly the edge comes back
 
I really like VG10...

I know it's not a super steel, far from it. BUT, it's "just right" for me when I consider durability, rust resistance, cost, and ease of field maintenance.
 
retzius said:
I really like VG10...

I know it's not a super steel, far from it. BUT, it's "just right" for me when I consider durability, rust resistance, cost, and ease of field maintenance.
Click to expand...
Vg-10 is a super steel, it was one of the first to be called a "super steel"
It's my favorite because of it's balance of hardness and toughness. Edge holding and price. Love it!
 
To paraphrase Will Rogers, "I never met a steel I didn't like."

I don't have a favorite. I have a list of alloys which I find reasonable for a specific purpose. That list for folders probably has a dozen alloys. It would probably have even more if I had tried more.

There are so many other factors in selection of a knife other than blade alloy. If all the other factors are a "go" and the alloy is reasonable, I buy the knife. I seldom reject a knife just because of the blade alloy.
 
For me it's S110V and K294 (A11) at high hardness in Customs.
 
I like s90v because you can't find it in a Spyderco Para2 anymore at a reasonable price. I also like M390 and CPM M4.
Sonny
 
M390 by far (Spyd blue para 2, CF Millie, and BM 755) stays sharp and sharpens easily when/if needed.
I also have plenty of love for 1095, d2, vg-10, 154cm, s30v, and s35vn... just because they have never given me trouble either.
 
Of what I have currently: CPM-S90V & CTS-20CP(Para 2's), M390(Para 2, Military, BM 581,805,806,710), CPM-M4 (Gayle Bradley, Manix 2, Military, Ritter Griptilian), I chose these because in folders I think edge holding ability is the most important element (where as in a larger fixed blade toughness is just as important so CPM-3V and 52100 would be my choice)
 
I've really taken to ELMAX. It has great edge retention, but at the same time it's very tough and easy to sharpen. Those features usually come at the expense of the others, but ELMAX seems to be a solid performer with a good balance of properties all around. It's also stainless, which is a nice plus.

For cheaper knifes, VG-10 and 154CM are pretty nice. They hold an edge well. S30V is only a tiny bit better, but it seems to require a lot more effort to sharpen.
 
M390 so far. Takes a fine edge & holds it, very corrosion resistant...& everything else. It just seems to do it all for a folding steel. I'll probably feel the same way about Elmax if I ever get any, from what I keep reading here. But day to day, I like AUS-8 due to general familiarity as much as anything else. It takes a fine edge easily, doesn't rust much, & isn't brittle in my knives.
 
S110V, S90V, M390, VG10, BG 42

Cruwear/Vascowear, M2, CPM M4, A11 class ( 10V, K294, etc.)

3V, O-1, 52100, super blue,

and a whole bunch more. I couldn't pick 10 favorite steels any more than I can pick one favorite knife. Different tools for different jobs.
 
at first i liked m390, then I met S35vn now I am torn so much that I sneak out of bed at night so I can get time in with both
if you know what I mean
3025-if-you-know-what-i-mean.png
 
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