Large Survival Knife Steel Choice? Most important characteristic?

[tinfoil hat timmy]

HOW EASY IS IT TO SHARPEN

 

[DocJD]

we will get what we paid for

Ideally .

 

[Tafkaag]

From Larrin 's site:

Carbon steels;
High alloy steels;
Stainless steels.

 

[AntDog]

INFI

 

[rodriguezryan14]

A little late to the party on this. But I vote for A8 mod. 3 v is good, A8 is tougher! S7 may be a little tougher, but not much, and I prefer the edge A8 takes, and the fact that I don’t get much rust! It’s also tougher than 5160 in my tests! Although you can differentially harden or temper 5160, and that may give it an edge in the toughness department! But A8 is surprisingly tough steel, if heat treated right!

 

[bladerunner01]

3v without question. Super solid stuff!

 

[fielder]

But AEBL should have been in the list because it is the perfect user and beater steel.

This.

 

[Sam Wilson]

Everybody gets caught up on which steel choice in forum discussions, probably because it's like "Which knife would you take with you while Grizzly hunting" or "What's the best bandana to survive the next Red Dawn scenario" or whatever the flavor of the day survival discussion is.

Designing the knife properly is just as, if not more, important. This is CPM 154 on a 3/32" thick blade on a knife that probably has thinner edge geometry than anything else in this thread. If you scale that up to a 3/16" or 1/4" thick blade, what in the world more do you need?

Sam

 

[Sam Wilson]

These sawteeth work just fine, just need to be designed properly. Will go through a 2x4 in about 23 seconds in a controlled environment. Sure wouldn't want to do it all day though.

Sam

 

[Blues]

Wolverines!

 

[not2sharp]

I voted 5160. It’s a good tough steel that is easy to maintain and holds up well to repetitive pounding.

N2s

 

[ShaiHulud]

3v without question. Super solid stuff!

AEB-L

 

[Maroco]

I'd probably go with infi or z wear

 

[beeinak]

So many great steels. Proper heat treat, good design for intended purposes and environment, great handle and sheath are things I want in any outdoors knife.

 

[beeinak]

Deleted error

 

[Alberta Ed]

420HC is as tough as it gets. Highly stain resistant, good edge holding (half a moose),easy to sharpen, and affordable.

 

[SharpBits]

Everybody gets caught up on which steel choice in forum discussions, probably because it's like "Which knife would you take with you while Grizzly hunting" or "What's the best bandana to survive the next Red Dawn scenario" or whatever the flavor of the day survival discussion is

Or what Hawaiian shirt is best for knife making?

 

[Sam Wilson]

The only acceptable attire when quenching blades in panther juice. It's got real bits of panther in it, so you know it works.

Sam

Or what Hawaiian shirt is best for knife making?

 

[deltablade]

This one by Joe Calton would be my choice, 5160.

 

[Sam Wilson]

In addition to hiding chili dog stains from venue food, they're also good for luring in potential customers at Blade show and projecting the masculinity that I'll never have.

Sam