newbie here. asking questions probably covered. best knife steel and folding patterns

[raptorvan]

Ok. What are the best kitchen knife making steels as far as hardness toughness and ability to keep its edge and ability to resist damage or heavy wear from daily use? I apologize if this has been covered 3000 times. Also can i achieve the fine watermark look by simply folding the steel over and over on itself or does there actually have to be another steel welded in with it? Like perhaps....1060 and 5160?

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

 

[Patrickknives]

Your question covers alot of turf, about steel, there is not just one steel which you can choose, there are many I will discuss a couple of my favorites. Early kitchen knifes used a simple carbon steel, no additives, holds a good edge, easy to sharpen, but will stain (pretty much no matter what you do) and could rust in not properly cared for.

I like 440c, and 154cm stainless steels for kitchen knives, high chrome prevents staining and rust, keep a good edge (similar to carbon steel) and pretty easy to sharpen.

The more exotic steels contain valadium and other metal additives which will make the edge retention really good, but these are harder to sharpen and have very good stain resistance.

The watermark you reffer to is probably a hamon which is most noticible when you use different steels, I have not done this but I believe something like 5160 as a center steel (will be the edge) and a simple carbon steel (1060) on the outside will give the effect you seek, there are steels that have figured how to fuse stainless to the carbon steel core, giving the best of both worlds

 

[kalaeb]

Wow, this question has as many answers as there are forum users. I really like w2 hardened to 59-60, one of my all time favorite carbon steels. I also really like to use Cru Forge V.

Of the stainless I like CPM 154 and AEB-l.

 

[NJSteelBaronShop]

AEB-L, 52100, W-2(oh we'll pretend this slipped out by accident, there will be 1/8" and 3/16" available early this spring), 440-C, 154CM, CPM 154, S35-VN, and even CPM D-2. Also 1095 works well too.