Fixed Blade, Carbon Steel or Stainless?

[Bubbanumber1]

This is a can of worms but a valid question. I have always been of the opinion that Carbon Steel makes a much better fixed blade knife. When it comes to daggers, military knives, field knives, bushcraft knives, serious kitchen knives, or anything but the shortest of boot knifes the numbers did not add up for me to even consider using the new Stainless Steels. Maybe somebody can inform me why Stainless is valid as a fixed blade knife from a knife makers point of view?


Its understood that Stainless can make a great folding knife, this topic is strictly about fixed blades.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Doesn't have to be a can of worms

My personal choice has and will always be carbon steel, I just like it better. But if
someone needs a stain resistant steel, there are some good choices out there.

 

[sharpeknives]

I use ATS34 on alot of my military and kitchen knives with proper HT and cryo they hold up very well. The reason for useing these is that they require less maintainance than carbon steel blades. ATS34 is a high carbon SS.