help with choosing steel

6

639674

Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
22
Hellllooooo people,
I know there have been a lot of threads about the types of steel, but I couldnt find one that suits me so I started a new one.
I don't know which type of steel to choose!!!
I want a knife with steel that is easy to sharpen, that is water resistant (well stainless more or less) that is sharp and can hold an edge for while, i also want it to be tough, and not break that easy. and it needs to be able to operate in every weather/climate, especially colder weather because i live in canada and it can get quite cold up here. I wouldnt mind sharpening it every month or so, but the steel should be able to hold a sharp edge.
I like the 1095, but it isnt that corrosion resistant......i think.
any ideas??
thanks
 
What is wear resistance? Well as of now I would say toughness and corrosion resistance
 
639674 said:
Hellllooooo people,
I know there have been a lot of threads about the types of steel, but I couldnt find one that suits me so I started a new one.
I don't know which type of steel to choose!!!
I want a knife with steel that is easy to sharpen, that is water resistant (well stainless more or less) that is sharp and can hold an edge for while, i also want it to be tough, and not break that easy. and it needs to be able to operate in every weather/climate, especially colder weather because i live in canada and it can get quite cold up here. I wouldnt mind sharpening it every month or so, but the steel should be able to hold a sharp edge.
I like the 1095, but it isnt that corrosion resistant......i think.
any ideas??
thanks
Click to expand...

There are many many alloys that work just fine as a knife blade. I'd focus less on the steel and more on the rest of the design. Choose a knife from a top maker and I'm sure the steel the maker uses will be satisfactory for your use.

1095 is not corrosion resistant.
 
Fixed blade, I am thinking of a sog seal team elite, and it is using AUS 8 steel, but idk if that steel will do for outdoors and in the army with possible combat.
 
639674 said:
Fixed blade, I am thinking of a sog seal team elite, and it is using AUS 8 steel, but idk if that steel will do for outdoors and in the army with possible combat.
Click to expand...

AUS8 is as close to the performance of 1095 as any stainless I can think of off hand. If both are hardened to the same hardness, 1095 holds an edge maybe a wee bit better. AUS8 takes a very fine edge with about the same level of effort as 1095. I'd guess that 1095 is a bit tougher. AUS8 is pretty corrosion resistant.
 
The perfect steel would have extremely high toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance.

Alas, in reality, a steel will only really excel in two of these categories. The more wear resistant a steel becomes, it becomes correspondingly less tough, and also becomes more difficult to sharpen. Likewise, martinsitic steel is less corrosion resistant than austenite.

What do you plan on doing with the knife? If you are going to be around salt water a lot, Spyderco offers some good fixed blades in H1 steel--a steel that is impervious to rust.

Otherwise, sharpness doesn't mean a whole lot. Your knife will only be as sharp as the skills of the person sharpening it.
 
AUS8--It's a fine steel that will take a good edge and hold it reasonably well. Pretty easy to sharpen too. It's not one of the "in" steels anymore, but most people who use it don't complain about it much.

Any steel is a compromise of performance features. Any steel in a quality branded blade will do well enough for what's asked of it. Pick a knife you like and unless you REALLY beat on it, I think you'll be satisfied.

I really prefer carbon steels over stainless most time, especially in a fixed blade. A coated blade will provide enough corrosion protection that the only part you'll have to worry about is the edge (unless you lose the coating in other places) but a quick wipe with a oily rag or Tuff Cloth occasionally will take care of it.

$$ for $$ I feel you can get a better carbon steel knife for the same money as a mediocre stainless one. Just my opinion though.
 
AUS-8 is tough, takes a great edge, easy to sharpen and it's very corrosion resistant. :thumbup:
 
CPM3V steel is the only one that is capable of what you are asking. 5 times tougher than S30V. Problem is not many knife makers use this steel as HT is complicated.

639674 said:
Hellllooooo people,
I know there have been a lot of threads about the types of steel, but I couldnt find one that suits me so I started a new one.
I don't know which type of steel to choose!!!
I want a knife with steel that is easy to sharpen, that is water resistant (well stainless more or less) that is sharp and can hold an edge for while, i also want it to be tough, and not break that easy. and it needs to be able to operate in every weather/climate, especially colder weather because i live in canada and it can get quite cold up here. I wouldnt mind sharpening it every month or so, but the steel should be able to hold a sharp edge.
I like the 1095, but it isnt that corrosion resistant......i think.
any ideas??
thanks
Click to expand...
 
Toughness could truly be a factor, I used to work with a guy from north Minnesota that said he witnessed axe bits shattering when striking trees in -20F to -30F weather, And that's a long ways down from the border yet.

Ever think about Hawaii? :D
 
tiger_blade said:
cpm3v steel is the only one that is capable of what you are asking. 5 times tougher than s30v. Problem is not many knife makers use this steel as ht is complicated.
Click to expand...

ZT 0100.

How big of a fixed blade do you want and how much do you want to spend?

•Blade length: 5.75 inches (13.6 cm)
•Overall length: 10.5 inches (26.7 cm)
•Weight: 11.4 oz

It also comes with a sheath.
 
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