Forgiving stainless steels for medium fixed blades?

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ivanhoe

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Sep 11, 2014
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Can someone give examples of forgiving stainless steels for medium (5-7"), general purpose fixed blades?
By forgiving I mean that they won't chip, are tough and can easily be resharpened.

How does AUS-8A fare in this category?

Thanks!
 
[video=youtube;v-91pBgnZEk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-91pBgnZEk[/video]

440C? I dont own one but the Feint seems like a sleeper.
 
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id look for cpm 154 great all around stainless not chippy holds a edge for a long time and is pretty easy to sharpen
 
AUS8A should do well in that regard. Tough, resists chipping, easy to get edge back and fairly corrosion resistant.
 
Randall makes a few chopping knives. They use 440-B for their stainless models. Probably any medium Carbon stainless would work.
 
Elmax
s35vn
154cm
440 series (a, b, c)
Aus8/8cr13mov (7cr13)
420hc
even s30v

Much will have to do with the heat treat. Of the steel, especially the higher grade stuff. Leaving it a tad on the softer side for a larger blade will be more forgiving in chipping then going for max hardness as one would typically expect in a smaller folder maximizing edge holding.
 
How is AUS-10 for durability? It holds an edge noticeably longer than AUS8.

440C is good.
D2, if you'd consider a semi-stainless.
 
The laminated cobalt steel (Lam CoS) that Fallkniven is using in a lot of their current models fits that description to a T. I've been totally impressed with it and is my favorite steel. It's used in fixed n folders, it is kinda pricey but totally worth it imho.
 
ivanhoe said:
Can someone give examples of forgiving stainless steels for medium (5-7"), general purpose fixed blades?
By forgiving I mean that they won't chip, are tough and can easily be resharpened.

How does AUS-8A fare in this category?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

IMO, AUS-8A is the best stainless steel available for this. Buck's Bos-treated 420HC is also fantastic.
 
I have a bunch of mediums sized fixed blades in stainless steel. The reality is, a lot of SS will work just fine on these knives (with a decent HT...I know, but legally I had to say it). My knives though are in CPM-154, S35VN, S90V, 20CV, & ELMAX. I've never had any chipping problems or otherwise with any of them, AND they don't rust/pit/discolor or get dull - ever!! And yes, I'm being completely literal, they never ever discolor or get dull, it's a fact.

Seriously, don't worry about going with a stainless for these knives, just buy from companies/people that you trust are using clean steels with good HTs, & you'll be a happy man.
 
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