I Hate Stainless!!!!!

[Big Ugly Tall Texan]

Except for some very limited applications... such as those display knives that I plan to close up in a display box and hang on the wall, I HATE stainless steel knives. What makes it worse is I have a hard time finding carbon blades.

 

[David Schott]

Most wallhangers are stainless. There are not many production knifes that are carbon. I am not sure if its the necessity to quench in oil vs air, the ability for them to rust in the production environment, or some other factor...

 

[GoodGuy]

C'mon... tell us what you really think about stainless steels!

Why do you "hate" stainless steels? In many applications, I would think you'd find them superior to the more traditional carbon steel alloys. I love carbon steels, too; but the stainless steels certainly have their roles to play.

 

[buckg]

Well, if it was just a factor of blade quality, there wouldn't be any stainless knives. When I lived in Texas, rust wasn't an issue. Now I live in western Washington. Salt air and salt water, high humidity, bogs, a green slime that covers everything, days of constant rain and drizzle. It's impossible to stay dry and it's a harsh environment for knives. Metal seems to rust and corrode right before your eyes. I have to work to keep my stainless knives healthy. I'm not a fan of stainless steel and synthetic stocks for firearms, but I'm switching to them because it's almost impossible to keep traditional wood and blued steel from degrading on an extended hunt. Yes, stainless steel makes for a blade that isn't so great, but it can survive the harsh elements here. I have sadly become a fan of 440A, AUS8, and 420HC. Even 154CM has become a "sunny day" steel for me.

 

[David Schott]

Keep in mind that there is a huge difference between some stainless steels. High end stainless as compared to the junk thats used for most wall hangers, is a very different beast. Maybe we should specify what steel we are talking about here....In the end, "stainless" might be like saying you HATE carbon steels because the mild steel knife you have won't hold an edge....

 

[Hair]

I like good steel. Good steel can be carbon, stainless, or tool steel.

I pity anyone too close-minded or inexperience to agree.

 

[Redguy]

I like stainless in a folder.

Big Ugly Tall Texan would you care to tell us what is your problem with S30V, BG42, 154CM or VG10? Have you ever used a quality stainless blade?

 

[oldrifleman]

Come on Western washington is not that bad. I carry a D2 blade every day and it looks like new. My hunters are all Carbon steel and I just clean them off when I get back, put a little oil back on and they are good. My rifles (carbon steel barrels) are mostly shot using black powder and with a little cleaning they are good as new. I believe that carbon will hold up fine with a little care and stainless is almost worry free. I personnally prefer the tool steels:thumbup: . Steven

 

[kamagong]

I HATE stainless steel knives.

Then why did you buy a bowie made from mystery stainless?

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I dunno 'bout all that.....


I've got a rather thin bladed Leuku made outta 12C27 that I'm quite sure I could make a decent living off the land with. It's been great for hikes in the forest and mountains, as well as for general purpose yard grubbin'. It's been pushed pretty hard, with never a problem.

Incidentally, my beloved SAK is also stainless.

And that's without getting into the super S30V,s60V,ZDP189 stuff.

 

[stevekt]

Why do you hate stainless? You listed no reasons. Sounds like steel prejudice to me. You're a steelist!

 

[Thomas Linton]

I would understand, "I hate junk knives."

I would understand, "I hate overpriced knives."

Heck, I would even sorta' understand, "I hate orange knives."

This thread's title, with respect, I do not understand. Sure, it's hard to beat some carbon steel for toughness, but some stainless, properly treated, does a great job of holding an edge and is, of course, corrosion-resistant.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

I Hate Stainless!!!!!
Except for some very limited applications... such as those display knives that I plan to close up in a display box and hang on the wall, I HATE stainless steel knives. What makes it worse is I have a hard time finding carbon blades.

I have absolutely no trouble finding carbon steel blades. There are tons of production and custom fixed blades available in high carbon steel.

For a pocket folder, stainless is vastly superior, unless you like rust.
Stainless is excellent for folders. (quality stainless, that is) Wall hangers are made out of pure crap.

Why do you hate stainless steel knives?
Maybe you should try one not marked "Surgical Stainless" or "Rostfrei"- I think you would change your tune. . .

 

[beefangusbeef]

Maybe you have a hard time finding carbon steel blades because stainless is better . I have a hard time finding model t's at the local ford dealership too..... Stainless is great for pocket knives you can't beat it, well you can, but that's not the point. If you're in a wet environment for a long time than stainless is a must especially if something is in your pocket and your clothes are constantly damp or you're diving or this or that. If anything carbon steel is really good at certain limited applications

 

[Doug C]

B.U.T.T.,
I love carbon blades also and there was a time I had nothing but disdain for stainless.A year here and you learn so much,consider how much was learned from your Bowie threads.About Bowie's,the various styles,the pretenders,some incredible,antique Bowie's(Paw Paw's knife,the Searles).Anywho,
I'd be willing to bet ya' change your mind about Stainless someday.Maybe not.We'll see.
Trying to help.There is some very nice stainless around.

Doug

 

[Ebbtide]

That Northwoods Cowboy Bowie is still out there waiting for you BUTT.
1095 n' real stag

 

[WadeF]

How superior are some of the better carbon steels to the best stainless steels (s30v, D2, etc)? Will they take a vastly sharper edge? Be a lot tougher?

 

[Franciscomv]

I live in an environment that eats carbon steel for lunch, and I work in places that are sometimes worse (a week of relief work in a flooded area will make you love stainless). Even my stainless blades need constant oiling and cleaning, the only carbon steel blades I can keep are coated ones (which I hate). I have to keep carbon steel in such a heavy coat of oil I can't really take them on one of my two week long trips outdoors, where rain is constant and I can't always take all the time I'd like for knife maintenance.

I, for one, am gratefull for quality stainless steels.

 

[buckg]

Come on Western washington is not that bad. I carry a D2 blade every day and it looks like new. My hunters are all Carbon steel and I just clean them off when I get back, put a little oil back on and they are good. My rifles (carbon steel barrels) are mostly shot using black powder and with a little cleaning they are good as new. I believe that carbon will hold up fine with a little care and stainless is almost worry free. I personnally prefer the tool steels:thumbup: . Steven

How long do you stay out? I did say an extended hunt (a week or more). In my experience, water gets between the stock and the action, then the stock starts to swell. I'm switching to synthetics. My friend's rifle developed rust on the underside of the action from a three day hunt. He got home, pulled the stock off and discovered he needed to break out the steel wool. Over on the coast, if you shoot in the morning you can have discolored bluing by the evening unless you clean by noon. No joke. As for knives, I've had a couple of folders develop rust under the scales and I've had 154CM blades develop spots from coastal trips despite nightly cleaning. Wading through brackish water will do that. Sorry, but salt water and high carbon steel don't mix (even high carbon stainless) and it happens quick. Perhaps you're hunting closer to the Cascades.

 

[Walking Man]

Then why did you buy a bowie made from mystery stainless?

LOL!!!!!
WE TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!
NOW START TAKING OUR ADVISE OR QUIT ASKING A BILLION QUESTIONS!!!!!