Good stainless steel choice for a camp knife

awestib

awestib

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Dec 29, 2008
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I know, there was a recent thread about best stainless alternative to 52100 for a knife. I can't find it anymore. Therefore this question: If I was looking for a custom made utility/camp knife (maybe 5-6 inches, max 3/16 with a nice thin grind !!), which stainless steel would be recommended?
Thanks!!
 
Edge stability is the most critical requirement for outdoor use. Edge retention comes in far behind 2nd. Corrosion resistant dead last 3rd (at least for me).

In general (assume equal optimal ht per steel specs), I would look at C+N amount range from high stability 0.6% to more retention 1.0%+ amt. e.g. aeb-l 0.67%, zfinit 0.8%, and cpm-154 has 1.05%. Just a tradeoff some stability for retention respectively. Of course, with a well adapted blade & edge geometry an Elmax/S35VN/20cv edge can be stable enough for most outdoor non-chopping usage. Aha, why not trade in some corrosion resistant and use ubber tough & wear resistant such as 3V & Vanadis4E... :D
 
On that same note though, maybe I should consider a laminated steel construction with a stainless steel outer side and a good carbon steel core?! Any suggestions?
 
There are a few expert custom makers have done exactly that + a few production (420j + Aogami blue/Super/white). Getting a billet for your custom could be pricy. and at the end, the most important part of the knife - THE EDGE - is still naked to the elements, so lamination merely reduces corrosion for non-important part of the blade. A coated carbon or semi-stainless could be a well balance choice.
 
Mike Stewart had pretty good luck making large camp knives out of 12C27. The BRK&T Big Sky Camp Carver comes to mind. It's not nearly as glamorous as some of the alloys mentioned in this thread, but it's still widely used (think Mora and Opinel) and it may be worth a look.
 
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Elmax is the toughest stainless steel available. At 59 HRC it is 50% tougher than S30V at 57 HRC. 154CM at 54 HRC has about the same toughness as Elmax 61 HRC.

AEB-L is tough, but it is not available in the thickness you want.

N690 is another steel to consider.

I also think D2 is a good choice if heat treated correctly. Kershaw made a camp knife with D2. I've beat mine pretty good and it has not chipped.

Chuck
 
awestib said:
Thanks SS, yes, but for some reason I always connect D2 with some issues that I read about (chipping?). I don't think I have ever had a blade made from D2. What's your experience?
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I have a few customs made from D2 including this custom camp knife from Phil Patton. If you are going to use a knife like a knife and not chop through cinder block in my opinion D2 is a great steel. It is all about the heat treat so get it made by someone who knows the steel.
 
shaving sharp said:
I have a few customs made from D2 including this custom camp knife from Phil Patton. If you are going to use a knife like a knife and not chop through cinder block in my opinion D2 is a great steel. It is all about the heat treat so get it made by someone who knows the steel.
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You hit the nail on the head. Heat treat will make a simple steel outperform a supersteel with poor treat.
 
I've been using CTS-XHP for a while now, not because it's the ultimate, but because it seems to be a high quality compromise that works for most blades I make.

It did get a bad rep for chipping on some of the first production blades, but as long as you don't try to push the bleeding edge on hardness, it seems to be just fine IME.

My HT guy does a lot of straight razor work, and says those guys are loving it because it can take a nice fine edge like a good carbon such as 52100, but with stain resistance.

Daily kitchen use, my customers have seen between 2-4 months before edge maintenance other than occasional strop.

Although it is 440 family, it has been compared to easier sharpening stainless D2, which I suppose I agree with. When done correctly, it has very good edge retention like D2, but is easier to sharpen and maintain, and I suspect it does take a bit finer edge if I had to guess. I have a few blades of experience carrying and using D2, but not enough to make a hard statement about it vs. XHP.

It also doesn't hurt that it is fairly flexible with finishing, and takes a polish nicely if that is what you are going for.
 
As Chuck said ELMAX is the toughest stainless out there. Its also a great cutter and has good edge retention. M390 is a step up in edge retention but is a little less tough. M390 is currently my favorite stainless steel and IMO might be the best all around blade steel out there for 6in and under knives. Its a nasty agressive cutter and keeps a razor edge as long as any steel I've ever used.

CTS XHP is a good stainless as well thats pretty tough.
 
I have a 12C27 camp knife in the works. It should be finished in a few weeks. I'll try to remember to post the test results here when I'm done testing it. Admiral has it in thicknesses up to .196". Its supposed to be a stainless 5160. We shall see.
 
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