- Joined
- Oct 2, 2005
- Messages
- 547
S30v
Infi
154 Cm
1095
H2
Infi
154 Cm
1095
H2
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List your favorite steels
- Thread starter Macchina
- Start date
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,957
D2 is my overall fave I think. I also like 1095 too but D2 being so stain resistant and overall a pretty good cutter its hard for me to use anything else. I carry a D2 something quite a bit lets put it that way. I've bead blasted D2 many times and never seen any problems with it rusting. Its so close to stainless that I guess you can get away with it.
For stainless I have a new fave. I've grown quite fond of 12C27 and find it to be a very good folder steel. I also like VG10 and ATS 55 though.
When it comes to S30V I don't want to say I dislike it. In fact its a fine cutlery steel and does take and keep an edge quite well but I've just never quite taken to the steel. Perhaps it was the chipping issues I had read about with it. I do have a Spyderco Dodo in it but its the only knife in my collection currently with that steel. I'm not real fond of ATS34 or 154 CM. BG42 is a great steel but I've rarely found it in any knives I liked and then those came and went, not deemed as keepers.
STR
For stainless I have a new fave. I've grown quite fond of 12C27 and find it to be a very good folder steel. I also like VG10 and ATS 55 though.
When it comes to S30V I don't want to say I dislike it. In fact its a fine cutlery steel and does take and keep an edge quite well but I've just never quite taken to the steel. Perhaps it was the chipping issues I had read about with it. I do have a Spyderco Dodo in it but its the only knife in my collection currently with that steel. I'm not real fond of ATS34 or 154 CM. BG42 is a great steel but I've rarely found it in any knives I liked and then those came and went, not deemed as keepers.
STR
It depends on the application. For large knives, I like Infi, 52100, SR101 (almost the same), Carbon V, and 5160. For smaller knives, I like D2, CPM 3V, O1, VG 10, and M2. These comments all depend upon the proper heat treatment. Even the best steel can be ruined by bad HT.
I really dislike S30V. The only knife that I've ever had in S30V that would hold an edge worth a <insert word here> was professionally re-hardened to 60/61 HRC. YMMV.
I really dislike S30V. The only knife that I've ever had in S30V that would hold an edge worth a <insert word here> was professionally re-hardened to 60/61 HRC. YMMV.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2005
- Messages
- 4,761
Yeah, everything but the cabela's minigrip, which cheated (had a black coating). But even then, the edge was where all the specks were appearing on the S30Vs, quite minor though they were. I can't imagine what it is...these S30V knives were over two different manufacturers too (Spyderco and Kershaw).
And my first two D2 knives have been in my rotation for significantly longer than the S30Vs too. Difficult to count my two brand new ones, for obvious reasons.
And my first two D2 knives have been in my rotation for significantly longer than the S30Vs too. Difficult to count my two brand new ones, for obvious reasons.
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
That is interesting, S30V blades have been HRC tested to be as low as 55/56 HRC and at that point there is quite a possibility for a loss of corrosion resistance depending on how it was achieved. Do your S30V blades feel softer than the D2 ones, can you file them?
-Cliff
-Cliff
