H1 Edge

[Lil Timmy]

For those that have used knives with H1 blades, how well does H1 hold an edge? Compared to things like VG10, 440C, AUS6, 420J; where would it place, just as far as edge holding goes?

 

[Carl64]

I have recently found that H1 has relatively low wear resistance, but does not get a rough or burred edge as much as other steels during use or sharpening, suggesting high hardness, at least compared to how easily it wears down. In general, H1 wears down faster than many other high-end steels, but tends to take a smoother, straighter edge really fast and maintain it longer. The edge wears down, but doesn't get bent up so much. This makes it hard to rate as being exactly like most other steels.

We can start with it definitely not being VG10. I would most likely pick my VG10 Delica over my Salt 1. However, my VG10 Delica and Calypso are currently the best knives I have ever had as far as cutting ability, bested only by a hand-made blade of super hard tool steel by Alvin Johnson and probably the Fallkniven U2 made from a fancy powder steel at 64rc. So don't think ill of it because of that.

I think H1 might be a little better than a well-made AUS8 blade. The Salt 1 has a short hollow grind (not a very good shape for cutting all the way through things), while my Dragonfly has a nice flat grind all the way to the spine (very good for slicing through things). I just did a brief junkmail-hacking test because I had not compared these two steels directly yet. They did similarly well despite the Salt 1's inferior blade shape.

Note that there are some not-so-great AUS8 knives out there. The Dragonfly holds its edge longer than my Cold Steel Voyager.

AUS6 and 420j2 are both definitely my last choices for this list.

 

[HoB]

I have recently found that H1 has relatively low wear resistance, but does not get a rough or burred edge as much as other steels during use or sharpening, suggesting high hardness, at least compared to how easily it wears down. In general, H1 wears down faster than many other high-end steels, but tends to take a smoother, straighter edge really fast and maintain it longer. The edge wears down, but doesn't get bent up so much. This makes it hard to rate as being exactly like most other steels.

I think that pretty much sums it up.