Non-powder stainless steel

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Sami P

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Aug 7, 2011
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Which traditional stainless steel (non-powder) is generally perceived as having best properties for a folder?

Also, I understand that powder steel is superior. But are there any advantages to traditional steel over powder other than the production cost?

Thanks.
 
Even within the realm of non-powdered stainless steels, which is best will depend on the type of folder, intended uses, and so forth. But with that qualification, I'd second singularity35's suggestion of BG-42, which seemed to be regarded as the best all-around stainless steel for folders before CPM-S30V came along. (I'm just going on the basis of what I've read and heard, though, since BG-42's apex came before I got into knives.)

ATS-34/154CM and VG-10 also deserve to be mentioned in this conversation, though, and those steels were -- and certainly continue to be -- much easier to obtain than BG-42, at least in the relatively small quantities used for knives.

D2, while technically not stainless (its chromium content is a few percentage points below most thresholds for a stainless steel) is another that would be in the running as a very good all-around folder steel.
 
As I understand it BG-42, VG-10, 154cm, and N690 (which I remember being non-powdered, but I'm not sure) are in the top tier.

"Traditional" in this sense means that basically the raw ingredients for steel are melted in a big pot and combined together (with a few important chemical reactions taking place while the molten iron becomes steel). In comparison to powder metallurgy, it offers only a lower economic cost for production.
 
Define what you mean by "best," if you would. Your question, as it stands now, is unanswerable.

For some it may mean the steel with the best edge holding properties. Or hardness. Or stength. Or rust resistance. Or toughness. Or cost. Or ease of sharpening. Or etc etc etc.
 
One that has a good balance of the three essential qualities hardness, toughness, and corrosion resistance.
 
Sami P said:
One that has a good balance of the three essential qualities hardness, toughness, and corrosion resistance.
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I think you mean wear resistance instead of hardness. The two are often positively correlated, especially in low alloy steels, but they're definitely not equivalent.
 
Much more common in Europe , N690 is excellent [and non-powder]. 154CM and VG-10 .Those three in that order I own and recommend !
 
mete said:
Much more common in Europe , N690 is excellent [and non-powder]. 154CM and VG-10 .Those three in that order I own and recommend !
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It is nice to see that I am not the only one that has a great appreciation for N690, as it seems to take an edge second to none.
 
All the above mentioned steels are excellent.I'll even throw in properly heat treated 440C.
 
Sami P said:
One that has a good balance of the three essential qualities hardness, toughness, and corrosion resistance.
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Thanks! (But "your" three essential qualities....not "the" three essential qualities. What about edge retention? What about cost? What about stength? What about ease of sharpening? etc etc etc All are qualities of steels.)

I'm sure with the qualities your are interested in listed, the steel junkies here can help you!
 
mete said:
Much more common in Europe , N690 is excellent [and non-powder]. 154CM and VG-10 .Those three in that order I own and recommend !
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Which is more resistant to chloride corrosion, N690 or 154 CM?
I have yet to give N690 a shot.
I see that N690 trades 3% of its Mo for that amount in additional Cr compared to 154 CM.
 
A.P.F. said:
It is nice to see that I am not the only one that has a great appreciation for N690, as it seems to take an edge second to none.
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yes, I think overseas steel such as N690 is significantly underrated. I certainly appreciate using N690
 
Buck_110 said:
Which is more resistant to chloride corrosion, N690 or 154 CM?
I have yet to give N690 a shot.
I see that N690 trades 3% of its Mo for that amount in additional Cr compared to 154 CM.
Click to expand...

Mete is the guy to ask, but I would think that N690 would be better due to it's higher chromium level.
 
Sami P said:
Which traditional stainless steel (non-powder) is generally perceived as having best properties for a folder?

Also, I understand that powder steel is superior. But are there any advantages to traditional steel over powder other than the production cost?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you are looking for edge retention and are willing to accept an alloy that is a tad less than stainless, then you want D2. It holds an edge considerably longer than
154CM/ATS-34/14-4Cr Mo,
or VG10,
or VG1,
or N690,
or AUS10.
I've tested them all. I haven't tested BG-42 because it's so frickin rare. I'd bet, but do not know, that D2 holds an edge better than it, also.

If you want for-real stainless then any of the others I mentioned in the paragraph above are dandy, though I have a special fondness for N690 blades.
 
A.P.F. said:
Mete is the guy to ask, but I would think that N690 would be better due to it's higher chromium level.
Click to expand...

N690 has 3% more chromium than 154 CM, but it also has 3% less molybdenum. It may have more free Cr which acts as a passivation layer, but Mo naturally fends off chloride(half of each salt molecule, NaCl) corrosion.
 
I've been using diamond so long that my first Eze-Lap is made in California ! I use 1200 grit rod freehand mostly !!
N690 is one I've played with convex edge .Very quick to sharpen with 600 grit wet/dry paper and a computer mousepad.

I haven't played much with corrosion .Mo is added to 304 to get 316 and gives better pitting corrosion resistance .But Mo is added to knives to get Mo carbides for wear resistance.Keeping your blades clean and dry will eliminate most corrosion problems.
 
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