Find my ideal steel!

dkb45

dkb45

Joined
Dec 16, 2012
Messages
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I have tried out a lot of steels but just cannot figure out my ideal steel. I want something that is corrosion resistant enough to not require normal maintenance like carbon steels. It also has to take and hold a fine edge well, but not rely on an abundance of vanadium carbide likes Elmax or S30V.

I'm basically wanting something like D2 with lower carbide content and slightly better corrosion resistance. Does such a steel exist?
 
It is a good steel, but not used in much of anything. Another steel I like is VG-10 but it is not too common in more affordable knives.
 
I don't know if it fits your criteria but I've recently found M390 to be very good all around.
 
Cynic2701 said:
What have your experiences with ZDP-189 and CTS-XHP been?
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Only had XHP in the Domino, and ZDP in the Endure but I like them both. ZDP has that razor edge quality that nuts like, and XHP is well rounded.
 
What about a cpm d2? Though it will still have a higher carbide than you are looking for, they will be sneaker and more evenly distributed.
In true stainless you have ats34 and 154cm and cpm 154cm.
 
NJBillK said:
What about a cpm d2? Though it will still have a higher carbide than you are looking for, they will be sneaker and more evenly distributed.
In true stainless you have ats34 and 154cm and cpm 154cm.
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I'm thinking I may just have deal with old 154cm. To my knowledge CPM-D2 is out of production and exists on nearly no production knives except the sprint PM2.
JDunn709 said:
What he said! Commonly compared as 'stainless d2'
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I like the steel, but it is another steel used on few production knives. I know the Techno, the Domino (Dice), and a few other knives that match the Techno in being unfriendly to a lefty. Since my budget is $200 tops, all the sprint runs are out. It sounds like knives need more diversity for standard production runs.
 
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You haven't said what size knife you prefer, but the Spyderco Chaparral (top knife in photo) comes in CTS-XHP, if you can live with a lefty friendly lock back. Sells for about half of your budgeted price and is a solid little slicer.
 
Have you looked at PSF27? Don't have a clue if it's being produced in knives within your budget. I know Strider has made some with this steel.
 
OP, what type of jobs and environment will your knife see?

Pretty much every stainless steel will have greater corrosion resistance than D2 because D2 is on the low end of the stainless spectrum. Pretty much all stainless steels on the market will also have smaller carbides than D2. So the choices are abundant.
 
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dkb45 said:
It is a good steel, but not used in much of anything. Another steel I like is VG-10 but it is not too common in more affordable knives.
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I don't know your definition of affordable, but vg-10 is used in a crap ton of reasonably priced spydercos.....
 
What will you use it for specifically? VG 10 is made in very affordable blades... Other wise you want super steel category.
Infi is basically in my opinion the best all arounder.
 
I find the original post to be asking a question just to hear yourself talk in a way... Why are you looking for these qualities? You say VG 10 is not used in affordable knives but you have budget of 200 dollars?......
 
lobo9er said:
I find the original post to be asking a question just to hear yourself talk in a way... Why are you looking for these qualities? You say VG 10 is not used in affordable knives but you have budget of 200 dollars?......
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I was thinking this....
 
Fallkniven uses vg 10 in their fixed blades. Also their laminated cobalt is great and 3 g even better. Have a look n good luck
 
I'm wanting folders only, but even an Opinel is overkill for my uses. I just like to have something nice.

As for Spyderco with their VG-10 use, only a handful of their models really strike my fancy.
 
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