Pick a metal and defend it!

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Jul 23, 2008
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I have quite a thorough knife metal selection here, I have opinions of my own but I want to hear other opinions as well. Pick a knife metal and tell me why its best....:thumbdn::thumbup:
 
154cm, vg1, vg5, vg10, titanium, zdp189, 12c27, h1, 3g, ats34, bg42, cpms30v, cpm(t)440v, d2, dnh7(hc), 1600(hc), 1660(hc), 4116krupp, 420j2, 440, 440a, 440b, 440c, n690, n690co, x15t.n, m2, n690co, 3cr13, 8cr14mov, 9cr13comov, aus-4, aus-4a, aus-6, aus-6a, aus-6m, aus-8, aus-8a, aus-10, aus-10a, 1055(hc), 1065(hc), 1095(hc), Sk-5, Carbon-5, Damascus,
I'm sure I missed something, but very few......
 
VG-10.

Great edge holding, great corrosion resistance, easy to sharpen.
 
VG-10.

Great edge holding, great corrosion resistance, easy to sharpen.

+1 on that, but the steel I like the most is S90V it has the edge retention I have hoped for ever sence I started collecting, and its easy to sharpen(for me).
 
For all round performance, INFI. Although 52100 is not far behind. For woods use, I also like O1, easy to sharpen, very good edge retention. All are tough.

That's 3, sorry! :D
 
I have quite a thorough knife metal selection here, I have opinions of my own but I want to hear other opinions as well. Pick a knife metal and tell me why its best....:thumbdn::thumbup:

... the one that is 58HRC+ and used to form the best edge profile.
 
(non-stainless)S7(for very large blade or sword) or 3V--- (stainless)154CM or VG-10

....if I had to pick just one,it would be the 3V




....this is of course assuming a proper HT
 
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I have quite a thorough knife metal selection here, I have opinions of my own but I want to hear other opinions as well. Pick a knife metal and tell me why its best....:thumbdn::thumbup:

Best for what?
Chopper?
Skinner?
fishing?
EDC?
Taking an edge?
Best at being easy to sharpen?

There is no bad steel. Just some are more appropriate for some uses.
 
I was going with 1095 but it was already mentioned so i'll go with aus8, as used by spyderco a few years ago in their endura exc edge holding, relatively easy to sharpen and just basically made me smile. also in a couple of older crkt's pretty much the same results. i'll buy aus8 anytime.
 
Nothing wrong with 1095, but for pure edge retention you have to hand it to M2 at about 65 hrc
 
One of my favorites that is slightly different form the normal steels you see used all the time is 5160. It is a great steel that is very tough in my experience, and not too expensive. Plus sides are that it will generally be tougher than 1095 and have slightly better corrosion resistance. It may not hold its edge quite as long as 1095, but I have not been able to notice any difference here, in my experience with the two steels. Great all around steel in my opinion, for regular and hard use.
 
Well, not for any particular use, just your favorite all around steel for general use whether it be for cutting boxes or people...
 
Sandvik 13C26 stainless-steel is my favorite for all around. takes a razor edge and sharpens back up with only a few swipes of the sharpening steel
 
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