Need simplistic/basic opinion/advice on blade steel

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gqllc007

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Oct 16, 2007
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150
So I have been searching these forums and clearly don't know how to search for what I am looking for. I have read through these complex tests and am completely lost. I understand what is important for one person isn't for another so I am trying to list what is important for me.

Is there a simplistic way to list what blade steel is considered the best for general overall EDC use say for cutting small rope/boxes/paper/ease of sharpening, holding an edge, steel for every day use. Not for kitchen knives/fishing/fighting/fancy but for a folding knife like a Spyderco or an automatic knife like microtech. I have seen same models listed with different steel and would have no clue which properties would be better for my needs. I asked about salt water and got some great advice for corrosion resistance. I like knives like the microtech troodon/ultratech...like the Spyderco para2, Kershaw Blur. blades between 3" and 3 3/4". There are so many steels I am lost...
 
Consider:
Corrosion & maintenance - Stainless vs. plain carbon
Ease of sharpening vs. edge retention
Ruggedness or toughness of the steel

A lot has to do with the use of the knife (cutting vs. prying and pounding), the blade geometry (slicey vs. rugged) and the maker's heat treating and steel source.

As for folding knives, the overall package comes into consideration, not just the blade. Durability, fit, ease of deployment ... Whatever you are looking for, it's probably out there. What do you need?
 
It appears you’re already considering a Paramilitary 2. It’s regarded as one of the greatest all-around EDC knives for a reason. Too small for my hand, but I am a giant after all. I’d say the standard S30V variant (or S35VN if you can find it and you’re feeling saucy) will serve you quite well. Reasonably straight forward to sharpen, relatively stain and rust resistant, open-back construction for ease of cleaning. Recommended!
 
SO perfect response about the PM2 as I bought one of the Tanto versions but what properties does S30V/S35VN have that make it good? What is S110V? I only bought it as I liked the way it looked.
 
gqllc007 said:
So I have been searching these forums and clearly don't know how to search for what I am looking for. I have read through these complex tests and am completely lost. I understand what is important for one person isn't for another so I am trying to list what is important for me.

Is there a simplistic way to list what blade steel is considered the best for general overall EDC use say for cutting small rope/boxes/paper/ease of sharpening, holding an edge, steel for every day use. Not for kitchen knives/fishing/fighting/fancy but for a folding knife like a Spyderco or an automatic knife like microtech. I have seen same models listed with different steel and would have no clue which properties would be better for my needs. I asked about salt water and got some great advice for corrosion resistance. I like knives like the microtech troodon/ultratech...like the Spyderco para2, Kershaw Blur. blades between 3" and 3 3/4". There are so many steels I am lost...
Click to expand...

There is no "best" alloy. There's a lot of alloys to which, "Good steel for that use" applies.

My general advice is to go to a top line knife house, such as Spyderco or Benchmade, find a pattern you like that appears to be suited for your purpose, and let them worry about the steel. It's what they do for a living. I've never known either of those companies to produce a knife with a steel which is not suitable.
 
That is great but when they have the same style with different steels I wouldn't know which one to get for my needs. Like PM2 has S30V and S110V....no clue what is the difference
 
Some of your requirements are contradictory, such as ease of sharpening and ability to hold an edge.

But if you want a simple answer, M390 is probably the best all-around, widely available EDC steel going. It holds an edge for a long time. And if you go with a thin edge, it's easy to resharpen with a diamond stone. It's also nicely stainless.
 
USMCPOP said:
Consider:
Corrosion & maintenance - Stainless vs. plain carbon
Ease of sharpening vs. edge retention
Ruggedness or toughness of the steel

A lot has to do with the use of the knife (cutting vs. prying and pounding), the blade geometry (slicey vs. rugged) and the maker's heat treating and steel source.

As for folding knives, the overall package comes into consideration, not just the blade. Durability, fit, ease of deployment ... Whatever you are looking for, it's probably out there. What do you need?
Click to expand...

gqllc007 said:
That is great but when they have the same style with different steels I wouldn't know which one to get for my needs. Like PM2 has S30V and S110V....no clue what is the difference
Click to expand...

So for s30v vs s110v, we'll compare what USMCPOP suggested.
S110v will be more stain resistant than s30v.
S110v will hold an edge longer but is more difficult to sharpen.
S30v will be tougher, meaning you will be able to use it harder before it breaks.

In reality, s110v will stay sharp and slice longer. I don't own any myself, but it's reputation is that it's difficult to impossible to sharpen without diamond stones. I do own some s30v and for my uses, which are almost exclusively slicing soft materials, I don't have any complaints. FWIW, I'd be much more likely to purchase another s30v knife in the future.

As the 2 posters above me stated, m390 is awesome. My Bradford Guardian 3 in m390 spends more time on me than any other knife. For EDC, it's the best steel I've found so far. Maybe the one thing that I don't love about m390 is that it's not US made.
 
Probably 95%+ people will never use a blade to its full potential, so worrying about the steel is a waste of time. Measure your needs honestly, find a steel which has the attributes you require, and go for it. For a folder, steel type is basically a non-issue. For average users, VG-10, 14C28N, CPM-154, D2, etc, are all good all-around folder steels. Easy enough to sharpen, they'll hold a good edge for a decent amount of cutting, and have fairly good corrosion resistance. Cutting technique is more important than steel type.
 
S30V should work great for you.
If you are just getting into the hobby that will serve you well. Its plenty tough and has pretty good stainless properties. Edge holding will be suitable for EDC.

I would avoid S110V as as a starter blade. It will be more corrosion resistant, but much much harder to sharpen. CBN or Diamond abrasives only for that steel.its also less tough than S30V/S35VN.

More detail below.
Great starter steels would be
1. AEB-L, NITRO-V, 14C28N
2. CPM154, CPM S30V S30V/S35VN, .
These are all stainless and are relatively easy to sharpen.

Steels in category 1 are very easy to maintain. Easy to sharpen, tough, stainless properties are pretty good.
Steels in category 2 are particle grade steels. These will have added corrosion resistance, edge holding and wear resistance. They may take a little longer to sharpen but aren't that bad.
 
gqllc007 said:
That is great but when they have the same style with different steels I wouldn't know which one to get for my needs. Like PM2 has S30V and S110V....no clue what is the difference
Click to expand...

Don't over think this. Either of those will make you a good knife. If you want to get a little more into it or have specific needs, just do a google search of which would you prefer for a folder S30V or S110V and you will land up back here with some answers to those steels qualities- I find it easier to use google for the search.
 
I chased steels for awhile. Then my wallet told me to stop.

For a budget steel, I like Sandvik 14C28N. I consider that a serious entry level budget steel.

154CM is my next choice. CPM154 is basically the same steel but made a little different.

S30v is considered a step up but very similar.

S35v is much like S30v but it is considered a step up from S30.

Personally, I use all of these except S35 and have had very good luck with all of them. All will work well for general purposes with Sandvik being the poorest, IMO. Still, it is an amazing steel for the money.

Spyderco and Benchmade both do S30v very well.
 
justjed said:
Probably 95%+ people will never use a blade to its full potential, so worrying about the steel is a waste of time. Measure your needs honestly, find a steel which has the attributes you require, and go for it. For a folder, steel type is basically a non-issue. For average users, VG-10, 14C28N, CPM-154, D2, etc, are all good all-around folder steels. Easy enough to sharpen, they'll hold a good edge for a decent amount of cutting, and have fairly good corrosion resistance. Cutting technique is more important than steel type.
Click to expand...
^^This

Strictly on a practical level, if you just want an EDC that gets used lightly/moderately, it is a complete waste of money to pay for the super steels out there. I get it that a lot of people(and probably the majority of Bladeforum members) don't buy knives on a strictly practical level though.

Unless you are using your knives all day every day, and the edge retention is a must for what you are doing, I would recommend just buying something that suits you and don't worry too much about the choice of steel. Just buy from a reputable brand in a style that you like.
 
IMO S30V/S35vn is the best steel for the average person, though not my personal favorite. It has a good balance of edge holding, shareability (that was a typo, but relevant so I'm leaving it), ease of sharpening, corrosion resistance, and toughness. It isn't too expensive, you won't need anything special to sharpen it and you can learn how to sharpen it without feeling too bad if you mess up. I think anything "better" will include compromises that you may not be willing to accept. Again, just my opinion, but I wouldn't recommend a steel that requires diamond stones to sharpen unless you are already skilled in this area. The PM2 in S30V is excellent, I can't comment on the other knives you are interested in, but I'm sure any of them would serve you well.
 
Probably the most balanced production steel currently would be LC200N in regards to edge retention, corrosion resistance, toughness, and price.

While M390 is a current favorite among enthusiast, I'd still bargain that LC200N is a bit more forgiving when it comes to sharpening for a newer user simply due to the lower carbide volume and lower hardness (compared to the hardness of M390 that companies generally hit for their production knives). Per third-party testing, edge retention is more than acceptable for EDC use. Plus, LC200N is practically corrosion proof.

That being said, not many companies are using LC200N. Spyderco and QuietCarry are the two that I can think of. *Crossing fingers for LC200N PM2 in near future.
 
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For edc use and cutting boxes s30v and the like, are all great you can't go wrong.

I disagree with m390/cv20/204p
I really don't notice that big of a difference with edge holding.
They are a bear to sharpen. I don't care for this steel.

S30v D2 14c28n cpm-cruwear lc200n- carbon steel have more interest for me.
 
Like any other tool, buy the one that fits. Don't overthink it. You will do more with, and to a higher level of workmanship with, a knife that fits you than with the latest super-dooper, high tech, thing that doesn't. Comfort in the hand, ease of carry, ability to cut and stay sharp, it's not that hard, but you have to kiss a few frogs as the saying goes. Odds are you'll never wear out a knife, even in old, reliable, 1095. Look for fit, quality of craftsmanship, and the small details. The exact composition of the steel in a quality knife is rarely worth worrying about.
 
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