Large Survival Knife Steel Choice? Most important characteristic?

Which steel would you rather see a large wilderness survival knife made from?

  • A8 Mod

    Votes: 9 9.6%

  • S7

    Votes: 4 4.3%

  • 3V

    Votes: 44 46.8%

  • 80crv2

    Votes: 11 11.7%

  • 15N20

    Votes: 6 6.4%

  • 8670

    Votes: 4 4.3%

  • 5160

    Votes: 16 17.0%
  • Total voters
    94
W

W.E.S.T

Joined
Sep 24, 2014
Messages
229
Hello,

Just trying to gauge popularity and opinions on what type of steel people here prefer in large knives (8”+ blades) intended to be used in a wilderness living/survival type role.

Should certain steels have been included or not included in the poll/what am I missing when it comes to steel choice for this type of knife?

In this role, what’s most important to you:

Toughness?

Edge holding?

Ease of sharpening in the field?

Overall cost of the knife?

Combination of these factors/Something else?
 
Should have been multiple vote option...

For something I can maybe afford, I'd pick 5160 (which I cast my vote for).
For something that is tough and has good edge holding, I'd pick CPM3V...but probably wouldn't be able to afford it. ;)

5160 is tough to beat as a steel for a survival knife that you can beat the hell out of.
 
I like A2. I've swung it on the fence, tree, and the plastic trash can. Stays sharp.

The only steel I actually had to use during a survival era of my life. No choice because it was all I had... 440c.

There's no such thing as designer survival.
 
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I appreciate the responses so far. Perhaps I should have allowed multiple votes but I guess I was trying to force a choice of one. Maybe that isn’t fair.

I didn’t include magnacut as I wasn’t thinking it would really be suitable for larger hard-use oriented fixed blade knives. But maybe I’m wrong? I know it’s the hot steel at the moment.

I suppose in general the poll choices were biased towards the steels with very high toughness from my knowledge, so A2 and 1095 and similar steels weren’t included. Again, maybe that isn’t fair. I know lots of companies do make hard use knives from those steels.
 
AEBL or 14c28N are also good choices, but are they on par with toughness of the other steel choices? Or does it matter given how you see yourself using a tool of this nature in the wild?

Availability is also a good factor to consider, we all know companies who are perpetually out of stock and though we may like to buy from them, we can’t.
 
If I were getting to choose the situation or location I might choose a specific steel, but when I am off the road system here any knife I have with me I would consider a ‘survival knife’ as I may need it to hunker down for a bit.

I love 3V, D2, AEB-L, 80CRV2, 5160, 52100, 1095 for medium to larger knives. My largest MagnaCut blade is about 6” but I love the steel. There are other steels I would like to try.

There are so many great steels, great makers, great designs. The main things I look for in a ‘survival knife’ is one that I trust, with a useful blade and comfortable handle.
 
If you're ever in the situation. You're going to treat your knife like your life depended on it.

It'll be used but extra care, it will be taken care of. It has to last you and do it's job. But only if you take care of it.

Otherwise, it's a ridiculous JoeX.
 
I've never broken a knife made of any of the listed steels (chose 3V anyway because I'm a herd animal it seems), but it has also occurred to me that in a real survival situation where I had to depend on a knife, I would be really, really careful about what I did with that knife so as not to damage it. I would need a very tough knife more in a non-survival situation where I might just beat on it a lot more than prudent.
 
I voted S7. Of the listed steels it has the lowest carbon content (0.5%) and is therefore the least likely to break/chip, all other things being equal. Using the toughest possible steel allows me to use thinner stock (less weight, better geometry) in a designated survival knife with relative confidence. I plan to chop dry wood with my survival knife, and I may not always have the best technique if I’m freezing, so toughness is a high priority.
111727BC-C48F-4BEB-B4D9-2E363C0F827F.jpeg
 
scdub said:
I voted S7. Of the listed steels it has the lowest carbon content (0.5%) and is therefore the least likely to break/chip, all other things being equal. Using the toughest possible steel allows me to use thinner stock (less weight, better geometry) in a designated survival knife with relative confidence. I plan to chop dry wood with my survival knife, and I may not always have the best technique if I’m freezing, so toughness is a high priority.
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I can't do this.


I dare you to go out back or anywhere else that has a tree. Using those teeth to cut a 1" or bigger tree branch.

Going up to 4 inches. The big logs in the fire.

Can't cut rope or nylon straps. Scale fish? Maybe.


Love, fellow knife enthusiast. That's Rambo movie inspired.
 
It is true that if you are in a survival situation it prudent to be mindful of how you’re using your knife to minimize the risk of breaking such a vital tool. Maybe prioritizing wooden wedges to split wood rather than heavily baton etc.

However, to my mind, I find myself wanting a tool in this category (8”+ bladed large knife) where the steel choice helps to minimize the risk of breakage. If, for example, the tool needed to be used in place of a hatchet. Maybe this will help explain the choices/absent steels in the poll.

The other factors that I’m considering are being able to sharpen it easily in the field and price. Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel 3V is lacking in these areas. Large knives made from 3V can exceed $500, putting them out of reach for some.

For these reasons, I shy away from 3V and towards something like S7 or A8 mod. Sacrificing edge holding for ease of sharpening and enough toughness to allow for what might be called abuse (not Joe X abuse) if needed.
 
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