M2 vs, D2

[Cliff Stamp]

In a survival situation, wouldn't corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening (stereotypically at the trade of edge retention) be the top factors?

Edge retention in general doesn't oppose ease of sharpening, in many cases they are positively correlated to the same factors, i.e., they increase together. How much corrosion resistance is required depends on the enviroment. For an actual survival situation meaning an unexpected event in which your life is in danger, I would want 12C27M over 440C. Large carbides are never going to be a critical factor. Being able to slice 500 pieces of rope vs 50 isn't a big deal. Keeping a knife in one piece vs several when you and those around you are stressed is however of concern.

In a true survival situation, H1 is proving to be the steel that most people would choose as guys are reporting being able to sharpen it on coffee mugs.

If you have coffee mugs, it probably isn't a survival situation. In general however, what you are seeing here isn't some "ease of sharpening" ability of H1, but rather its high chip resistance and general suitability of the tasks. For example L6 makes a horrible salt water fillet knife, low edge retention (corrosion) and difficult to sharpen (pits easily). However the same steel works well in many utility blades and is well suited to large chopping blade.

-Cliff

 

[NickZac]

Very interesting...however, you would be surprised how often I have a coffee mug with me...