Least favorite knife steel

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Lennyo3034

Joined
Nov 27, 2012
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Everyone has their favorite knife steels, so I'm posting a thread so people can share their least favorite. I'm not talking about bottom of the barrel gas station knife steels, but rather steels that are generally accepted at good that you just plain don't like.

Mine is S30v. Every single knife I've owned in it has chipped when it really shouldn't have. A BM 530 had its tip chip off in sharpening. This is partially my fault as I bumped it against the stone on accident, but I've done the same with other steels without the issue. I also had a ZT350 chip in multiple locations despite not being used for anything harder than opening boxes. And cutting at the tape, not cardboard.

Anyone else have a least favorite steel?
 
Charlie_K said:
420J2 stainless steel. This stuff has no redeeming qualities as far as I've seen.
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i have a case peanut knife in stainless steel and i believe they use 420 but not 100% sure. anyway i haven't had any problems with it. it's not a big knife but it cuts, stays sharp, and hasn't given me any reason to dislike it.
 
Lennyo3034 said:
Everyone has their favorite knife steels, so I'm posting a thread so people can share their least favorite. I'm not talking about bottom of the barrel gas station knife steels, but rather steels that are generally accepted at good that you just plain don't like.

Mine is S30v. Every single knife I've owned in it has chipped when it really shouldn't have. A BM 530 had its tip chip off in sharpening. This is partially my fault as I bumped it against the stone on accident, but I've done the same with other steels without the issue. I also had a ZT350 chip in multiple locations despite not being used for anything harder than opening boxes. And cutting at the tape, not cardboard.

Anyone else have a least favorite steel?
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I had the same problem with my 0350, it was a chipping machine. I'm not sure if it was because it was an early production knife, I got it when they first came out, but it would chip so easily that it turned me off to S30V completely. I'm just now getting to the point where I'm willing to trust S30V again after having a couple Ritter Grips and a BM 940 that have performed very well. It seems that at times, ZT's various steels have been problematic.
 
I don't have a 'least favorite' steel. Each steel serves it's purpose when heat treated and profiled properly.
 
S35vn. I love my S30v knives and my 154cm. I can't tell any difference over them with s35vn, but I sure did pay a lot more for them.
 
I've had the same steel in knives of different makers and had them exhibit very different qualities.
One example, I won't mention brand names but right now I've been working on a new S30V blade that I'm having difficulties getting an edge. On another brand I have no trouble at all getting a durable hair whittling edge with the same steel. My guess is improper heat treatment.
 
8Cr13MoV, I suppose, or the ones that are less good than it but share the same naming scheme (eg: 3Cr13) but I'm fine with most production steels to be honest.

Edit: Forgot AUS-8. Not a bad steel but I find that a lot of companies seem to use it as an excuse to mark up their otherwise unremarkable knife to $100+ by billing it as a "premium" steel.
 
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440A and 8Cr13MoV, seriously get AUS-8 instead of 8Cr13MoV, it may not be the best but it is better in my opinion, also the steel used on the recent KaBars, I think 1095 Cro Van? Those Ka Bar blades snap off like twigs, shame...
 
But then again heat treat is a huge factor. Every, well most steels serve a purpose if properly heat treated
 
Lennyo3034 said:
A BM 530 had its tip chip off in sharpening. This is partially my fault as I bumped it against the stone on accident, but I've done the same with other steels without the issue.
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Don't really think it's the steel (in regards to the 530), it's the blade/tip thickness and width.. The 530 is a delicate knife, not a *fair example of proper steel strength IMHO.
 
I'm not sure there is a worse steel than S60V (440V). Its super chippy and to counter that, some companies ran it around 55-56Hrc so it greatly sacrificed wear resistance. Plus its a pain to sharpen. All around terrible.
 
A.P.F. said:
I don't have a 'least favorite' steel. Each steel serves it's purpose when heat treated and profiled properly.
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+1

There's also a "hype factor" behind some steels. I for one could use 154CM for the rest of my life and be happy. I find happiness in the use. If it cuts, it works.
 
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