Favorite steel.

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Mike Norris stainless damascus
 
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Rex 121, K294 Wilson, 10V Farid, M390 Spyderco Para, M4 Gayle Bradley, Elmax ZT, 3V GSO, Super Blue Murray Carter, White"1 Murray Carter, and Infi. These are my top 10.
 
52100 Ball bearing steel hand forged by J. Neilson
Hitatchi Blue Steel hand forged by Shosui Takeda
I mentioned the makers because their heat treat is really just as important if not MORE important than the steel.
 
For Stock removal steels
I like Kyley Harris's O1 tool steel in 60-61 RC ripple tempered and Cryoed
I like Bob's D2 as well it doesn't chip
 
Maddogg774 said:
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!
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VG1 is easily one of my favorites, along with CPM 154 and CMP M4
 
In folders, I like Reeve's S35. the BOS treated S30s from older Striders were fantastic, as well as the S30 on the original Manix.
I like all of them because of the edge retention and ability to be punished if need be.
I quantify like that, because for me, the list is just as long for S30 from makers, or later runs showing S30's performance could easily degrade, or all out suck if the heat treat was not done correctly.
Guessing the same is true for just about any steel, given you preferences / desired uses..
ATS 34 has been really good to me in the past as well for the same reasons.
Vg10 is also a good one, but haven't used it as much as the others.

Still waiting though for a 3V folder..Have a fixed blade in it; that is absolutely the best, hands down, abuse loving steel I have ever used...but again, only have had one blade, from one maker in it, and it could be an exception...I dunno..
If anyone knows of a good one, please let me know..

The Dozier D2 has been a temptation to me though for a while now, thanks to nice camera shots, and the Dozierim that keep rubbing it in my face!!!;) I am about to cave on that one...daggonit..
 
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I love this subject, even though it's nearly impossible to objectively judge a steel and compare it to others.

I have never been let down by S30V so I think that's my favorite.
Recently I bought a Delica4 with ZDP-189 and it has held up very well so far, great edge on it still.
CPM 3V has always fascinated me more than any other steel however, maybe not for a folder, but it's overall performance seems above and beyond just about anything.
 
It's hard for me to name a favorite however I am quite partial to vg-10 when it comes to a blade steel for a general use folder. It has enough in the way of wear resistance to have respectable edge retention and is still fairly tough stuff all in all while it isn't perfect I find it to be a decent compromise.
 
I would have to say S30V for it's wear resistance and the ability to take a great 'working' edge. Sharpening S30V is fairly easy and without surprises. Other steel I like are CPM-154CM, 154CM, VG-10 and 440C for it's 'toothy' edge.
 
My favorite steels are:

VG-10 Fallkniven A1 survival knife (no photo yet) Convex grind very strong good edge holding

CTS-20CP Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Incredible edge holding long lasting... takes awhile to sharpen
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S30V Spyderco Bob Terzuola Slipit my EDC
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Japanese White Steel (Murray Carter) custom knife... skinning deer, everything else you want to do
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Japanese Super Blue Steel (Japanese Fukugozai Wabocho) chops vegetables by itself... really! :)
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ElPasoTom said:
My favorite steels are:

VG-10 Fallkniven A1 survival knife (no photo yet) Convex grind very strong good edge holding

Japanese White Steel (Murray Carter) custom knife... skinning deer, everything else you want to do
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Japanese Super Blue Steel (Japanese Fukugozai Wabocho) chops vegetables by itself... really! :)
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I guessed you mis-read the OP, he asked about Folders.


Yeah, I know, that was a long and confusing sentence.




Big Mike
 
infi, 3v and good ol' 1095. Have yet to use M4 and M390 but from what I hear, I'd add those to my list right away.

Ah, this was for folders. S35vn and D2 :)
 
s30v has been good to me. I just got (like an hour ago) a ZT 560 in Elmax, so we'll see on that.. I've been hearing conflicting reports.. The Elmax claim to fame though is toughness, not edge retention.. I would love to try some m390, or s90v, or CTS-20CP or Duratech 20cv, but don't have any.. yet.
 
I prefer good old carbon steel instead of these newer steels. 1095 or something similar. There are some pretty good carbon steels here in Germany. Many of them are like the 1095, but they are not a 1095.


Kind regards
 
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