How important is the type of metal used on an EDC folder for the average Joe?

realg7 said:
So I constantly hear people talking about the type of steel or metal that is used to make these knives. If you're just a regular guy looking for an EDC tactical or utility blade to use for cutting boxes or rope and maybe self-defense (God forbid) should that day ever come, is the type of metal important say at the 50-75$ range?

And what is the highest quality metal for knives in the 200-400$ range?

Again please assume that the person using these knives will rarely use it unless it's for a utility purpose.

I am a Kali practitioner and I specialize with knives. It is my professional opinion that it is not the tool that matters, but the operator....

I can find the femoral, cartoid, and jugular with a fork if I need to, why would the steel matter for tactical one time use?

In terms of box, plastic, wood, and rope cutting is there a specific steel that works best for durability?

As a collector I usually by between 3 and 10 of these pocket knives per year, so I'm okay with replacing them periodically.

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Half the folk, or more, who post the expensive knives could get by quite well with a zamak or lead blade, as never even a loose thread cut with one..
Most of the guys I have worked with would have been happy with any stainless blade which could punch holes, pry open a paint can, scrape, rip, and sometimes even cut, but being able to open impressively fast a requirment...

Both groups would be well served as for actual need by anything which could be found at WalMart in the counter display...
 
DeadboxHero said:
My favorite average Joe steel for a Edc folder would be S30v with a coasre diamond edge 300-600 grit and some clean up on a white ceramic rod.
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S30V will do a good job for just about any user. Perhaps not the best steel for some uses, or the longest sharp edge...but an excellent do-anything cutter.
 
mtngunr said:
Half the folk, or more, who post the expensive knives could get by quite well with a zamak or lead blade, as never even a loose thread cut with one..
Most of the guys I have worked with would have been happy with any stainless blade which could punch holes, pry open a paint can, scrape, rip, and sometimes even cut, but being able to open impressively fast a requirment...

Both groups would be well served as for actual need by anything which could be found at WalMart in the counter display...
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You've been here a long while and it's surprising to see you have a mindset of a noobie... Plus you said M390 was a tool steel and not stainless?
 
It's also about how and when they sharpen. Do the hate doing it? Can they do it? I can't stand carrying really crappy steel. I grew up with Victorinox knives and for the longest time thought pocket knives were useless. A handful of cuts into anything and they're dull. Conversely, carrying Maximet does you no good if you have no way to get it sharp when it eventually dulls.

For most people 420HC, 14C28N, VG-10 are likely great. Maybe even up to 154CM. If they can't easily keep it sharp on something like a Sharpmaker, what's the point.

I have several super steels and like them all for a few reasons. If I had to pick one steel to live with... probably S30 because I can sharpen it. If I only had a Sharpmaker, probably VG-10.
 
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