Gec blade steel

Which Gec Blade Steel do you like best?

  • 1095 carbon

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 440C stainless

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
  • Poll closed .
What about O1 and 420HC?:p

All of my GEC knives are 1095, so I'd probably have to go with it. The variety of cover options and the availability has more to do with it than the steel choice, though. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any of them.
 
I like 1095, seems like this has been beaten to death, but the way the patina ages as we age, and takes on new character makes it feel like a living thing. Take care of it and it will take care of you. It has a soul that i admire.
 
I like carbon and the patina it exhibits, but for most practical purposes I can suffice with good stainless like 440C with a good HT.
 
I like patina.

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I haven't tried GEC's 440C yet because unfortunately they haven't made a knife in 440C yet that's a "must have" for me. A few "wants", certainly, but nothing yet that I've been compelled to purchase. Too many knives that are so pretty that I want to buy them, but only available in 1095 and won't stay as pretty unless I shelve them. Sure, patina'd blades have their own beauty, but that's not always what I'm looking for.
 
I actually like them about equally, but voted for 440C just because it wasn't gettin' much love.

- 440C is more acceptable in public (looks cleaner) and is easier to care for.
- 1095 is easier to sharpen and develops a beautiful patina.
 
I didn't vote because:
1) I haven't used their 440C and can't compare, and
2) I like their O1 slightly better than their 1095 (which I also love--great heat treat).
 
Ditto on the 1095 heat-treat, it's great 1095 :thumbup: I like 440c, but prefer my traditional knives in carbon steel. I would like to try GEC's 01 sometime :)
 
Thanks for the replies guys. Like some of the others I haven't tried their 440c because they have not made anything with it that I really like enough to use. I wished they would make more patterns with 440c. I have tried their 1095 and it seems to preform well. Have any of you had problems with their 1095 rusting? I have had a few spots of red rust show up on mine but it is real humid here in KY.
 
I like variety. I have a couple of 440c GECs but most of mine are 1095 just because GEC uses it more. I would love to see them use both 440c and 01 more often. I like a nice patina but sometimes don't want to have to worry about rusting.
 
O-1 by a large margin for me. 1095 is great, O-1 is one of my all time favorites and I prefer it over most other steels both traditional as well as modern super steels. Cruwear/Vascowear, 3V, W2 and one or two very high wear steels round out that list. O-1 is good enough for costly custom knives in my knife world, though I would adjust the heat treat and final hardness compared to the GEC Farm series. Even the way they run it I get better grain structure and edges than 1095, with no noticeable loss of wear compared to 1095.

I want a Missouri trader lockback in ebony and O-1 before I leave this world. It would be as good as any $400 custom I've bought, better than most in fact.

Joe
 
I know how this poll will go. 1095 all the way. I would dig on some O1 offerings in their normal lineup though.
 
I'm certainly in for a Trapper/Trader pattern with one blade, no lock and Ebony scales. They can use any high quality steel out there (love their 1095, but would be interested by any new choice like 01, D2, ATS34 or L6, even stainless, because there are some brilliant ones around).
 
black mamba said:
I actually like them about equally, but voted for 440C just because it wasn't gettin' much love.

- 440C is more acceptable in public (looks cleaner) and is easier to care for.
- 1095 is easier to sharpen and develops a beautiful patina.
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I didn't vote but I agree with Jeff.
 
I voted for 440C because in general I prefer stainless steel and do not like tarnished blades. But, like some, I have never bought any of the 440C GECs because I don't like the way they look, especially because of the way they treat the bolsters.
 
I voted 440C. I know I'm in the minority. I just prefer decent stainless steel on all my knives, with the exception of forged fixed blades. I'd buy more GEC knives if they offered more with 440C.
 
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