Is there a best overall steel?

Thanks for all the responses. I know a few of the steels, but I don't know Elmax. I have always liked D2 as well. I don't know anything about the CPM steels, except that they are not rolled stock? They are pressure pressed together from powder? No grain direction bothers me but it must be fine since so many companies are using it now.
 
As others have mentioned, it all depends on the use. A thin slicer cutter can go to higher Rc and more wear resistant steel, but a hard use chopper will need a tougher steel. For an overall good work knife, the steel you mentioned is a good steel, D2. 440C and ATS34 are also good steels. Going tougher, go to 52100 or 5160, O1 1080, but you loose corrosion resistance. Like others said there is always a tradeoff.
 
lovemysteel said:
Thanks for all the responses. I know a few of the steels, but I don't know Elmax. I have always liked D2 as well. I don't know anything about the CPM steels, except that they are not rolled stock? They are pressure pressed together from powder? No grain direction bothers me but it must be fine since so many companies are using it now.
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1) That's an odd screen name for a guy who really doesn't know much about steel. :confused:

2) The only way to learn what is best for you is to try. It is SO subjective. I mean, I am entirely satisfied with AUS-8. To me...its the best. Not stupid expensive, holds an edge reasonably long, easy to sharpen....love it. But that all has nothing to do with what anybody else, or you want. Though maybe it does! You never know 'till you try stuff until you are satisified. And even then, maybe you want to continue to try...maybe you don't.

Good luck and have fun. :thumbup:
 
lovemysteel said:
Thanks for suggestions. I have lots of reading to do.
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Reading will not teach you what steel will work best for you. The only way to find out is to put some blades in your hands and get after what you will be doing with them. You will learn quickly what steels you will prefer after using them, reading won't do that for you.
 
For many companies, there is one best steel. For example, Case it's TruSharp, CRK it's S35, Randall has one but I do not remember, Benchmade loves CPM154, Dozier it's D2, Spyderco-Japan it's VG10.
 
brownshoe said:
For many companies, there is one best steel. For example, Case it's TruSharp, CRK it's S35, Randall has one but I do not remember, Benchmade loves CPM154, Dozier it's D2, Spyderco-Japan it's VG10.
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Benchmade doesn't use CPM154, they use 154CM.
There's a difference.
 
From my experience s30v is the best all around steel to date based on

corrosion resistance, edge holding, keenness, ease of sharpening, toughness,availability,and price point.

its the first stainless were the price increase shows noticeable performance increases moving up the price ladder from 8cr13mov to vg-10 etc


There are better steels for specific uses however as an all round, general knife steel, s30v is the current champ.

Perhaps s35vn is better but it is not as available and the price is higher. for marginal performance.

I still love my VG-10 but it needs neurotic touch ups on the strop to maintain the edge.
 
Well that's a more specific knife that requires a more specific steel.

Are we talking about a survival chopping knife, a competition blade,a kitchen knife?

Toughness and edge holding are an inverse relationship.

s30v meets all the points that make it a great multipurpose knife steel. Key word here is knife, not a froe, axe, machete or throwing tool

Make no mistake, there no way in hell would it be the best at each one.

I here great things about INFI but the cost and supply and demand meens its out of reach for most. Which to me is a huge factor for what makes a knife steel great, can I even obtain it?
 
As stated, steel are compromises of attributes. Wear resistance, toughness and corrosion resistance. For me I like the 3V, Cruwear, PD#1/Z wear, M2, CPM M4 and 4V class steels. They are tough, wear resistant and a little bit of corrosion resistance compared to some other non stainless steels. Less tough, less wear resistant, and less corrosion resistant but fun to make wickedly sharp is W2, O1, 1084/85, 52100, up to Super Blue.

All steels are pretty good at something. Some are designed so specifically they are not good at a lot of things. Some are decent at a lot of work, but great at none. It's all about finding what your needs are. Once you do that it's easy to narrow down steel choices. Heat treats are as important as steel choices too. First though figure out what you want out of a knife.
 
lovemysteel said:
For a folder? But are they adequate for a large fixed blade?
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Depends on the intended actual use of the knife, although a lot of it can be compensated by geometry.

Actual use meaning is it to be used as a knife or a pry bar, hammer, splitting maul, cold chisel, or other various forms of abuse.

For those uses the lower alloy steels are better suited and cost much less so that will keep the cost down.

For use as a knife, well there are more options that give a more balanced performance range.
 
I want to chip in that I think the heat-treatment, and overall construction are going to make more difference than the steel. I know there are going to be limits, as some steels, even if done poorly are still going to be "better" than others. But that can be misleading as some companies can get good performance out of otherwise really cheap steel. I'm thinking Buck and their 420HC, Rowen and their 1095, and I'm sure there are others. Yes there are better steels, but I would say that these are competitive at the price point. Mostly this just serves to muddy the waters when it comes to trying to decide whats "best". Some steels are well suited to thin slicing blades and some to monster choppers, not that one could not do the other, but there are other practical limits that come into effect.

If I tried to blind test two steels that I'm reasonably familiar with, 1095, and 154CM, I highly doubt I could find much difference. I think the closest anyone has ever come to true comparisons has been spyderco with the mule team series, but even then, there are other variables that are hard to control for.

I think the only way to define the best steel is the same way we define the best survival knife, or the best EDC knife. Its the one that works for you.
 
There are many sites with links on steel type and intended use. I don't know if there is a sticky for this but I know I and others have posted this in the past.
 
Depends on primary use of the knife. If it's going to be your edc and one and only knife that you use for everything. I would say S30V. It also depends on if you maintain it and clean or oil it. I haven't tried M390, CPM154 (I love 154cm but also know there is a difference), ZDP-189, A2, CPM 3V,4V,10V, etc., S110V, S90V because for the price point and my use, I'm completely satisfied with S30V, S35VN, ELMAX (I only have the ZT0566bw, in it and I'm not too impressed.. but it works), VG-10, D2, 154CM. Oh and H1, I love this steel only because I know I don't need to wipe it off after using but need to sharpen it at least once a week depending on use. IMO it is just as good as any 8CR_MOV I've tried in edge retention but a heck of a lot better corrosion.

Basically you need to buy all kinds of knives for a different variety of uses and tell us which one suits you the best once you find out.
 
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