I get what you're saying, but "highest quality" is a term that varies. You say you want a hard use knife. To me that screams 1084, 1095, 5160 for carbons, all tool steels or ATS-34 for a stainless option. To others it may be something different. When I, personally, say "hard use" that means I'm going to beat the heck out of this blade. Therefore I want something easy to sharpen and wont deform or stress crack. S30V is a great steel, but it's not what I would choose for a hard use knife.
Honestly, I would check out Scrapyard Knife Company. They're in the busse family a 311 would serve you well. Once you really find out what you want in a knife, get a nice custom and slowly work your way into using it daily. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time trusting something until I have a lot of time spent with it. Anything in the Busse family will take a beating and if it does happen to break they'll replace it, therefore I have an easier time trusting it.
Honestly, I would check out Scrapyard Knife Company. They're in the busse family a 311 would serve you well. Once you really find out what you want in a knife, get a nice custom and slowly work your way into using it daily. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time trusting something until I have a lot of time spent with it. Anything in the Busse family will take a beating and if it does happen to break they'll replace it, therefore I have an easier time trusting it.
