Pick a metal and defend it!

I'll have to represent CPM-D2. Easy to sharpen, takes a great edge and holds that edge like a champ.
 
SekiCity421 said:
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......
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knarfeng said:
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.
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I think the above quotes pretty much say it all.

But if I HAD to pick just one; VG-10. (largely because of my sharpening abilities)
 
01.
If I had to pick one steel for pocket knives, and fixed blades, I would choose 01.

I like carbon, tool steels, and I prefer a bit of vanadium in a steel.
I have had custom pocket knives with 01 blades, and they preformed extremley well. These are all gone now

Currently I am using a Small Skinner, by DL Knives, with 01, with Micarta handles and Lifter's Sheath.

My custom fixed were lost as well, and my rule was to always use a carbon , tool steel fixed knife.

I have had some customs replaced:

-I have another custom fixed blade made of W2, actually a Bastard File, with Elk handle, in a classic hunting design, with a blade just shy of 3 1/2 inches, and boy will it perform!

-I am using a Spyderco Mule, made of 52100, which is doing extremely well.

Other steels I like and have decades of experience with, are 1075, 1095, 5160, Vacowear, W1 , A2 and Case Chrome Vanadium.

If I could not have 01, I would most likely go with 1095.

Steel is just one aspect, geometry and heat treat are two others.
01 and what can be done with heat treat, and the ability to work geometry , is what I like about it.

1095 and the ability to mess with heat treat, allows one some versatility for tasks, depending on what they are asking of the steel to do as well

From "general purpose" heat treat to "hard as woodpecker lips" heat treat.

Just me mind you.

Steve
 
I'll pick one no one else will. Vascowear/cruwear.

It's wear resistant, tough, not bad to sharpen, and will rust, but not as fast as O-1, and 52100. More wear resistant and tougher than D2, but not far from that category. Similar in some ways to 3V, but not as tough.

I don't imagine too many knifemakers will agree. It is tough stuff though. Joe
 
The Mastiff said:
I'll pick one no one else will. Vascowear/cruwear.

It's wear resistant, tough, not bad to sharpen, and will rust, but not as fast as O-1, and 52100. More wear resistant and tougher than D2, but not far from that category. Similar in some ways to 3V, but not as tough.

I don't imagine too many knifemakers will agree. It is tough stuff though. Joe
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Interesting.....I was thinking CPM 3V myself:thumbup: My K-9 Dingo is made of CPM 3V and I am very impressed. Corrosion resistance may not be it's strong suit, but I wipe my blades down with a Tuf Cloth fairly regular anyway, so no biggie.

The edge retention of this steel is mind blowing. Chop away all afternoon and the edge is still there. I love it.
 
For all around use, INFI.

For a steel that I can actually afford:D, and is commonlly available, 5160. It's tough, takes a good edge with minimum effort, holds it plenty long enough, and is plenty corrosion resistant.

If I HAD to pick a stainless steel, it would be 12c27, with VG10 close behind.

Assuming all are properly heat-treated, of course.
 
The edge retention of this steel is mind blowing. Chop away all afternoon and the edge is still there. I love it.
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Those Dingos are some very nice knives. I followed the process through reading the forum, wishing the whole time I had the extra money. I do have the ZT 0100 in 3V though.

Vascowear is about the same, maybe a tiny bit better in wear resistance than 3V. It is not going to stand up to the shock as well as 3V though. I think 3V is purer, and has smaller carbides due to it's process than the original vascowear, which is no longer made.

Crucible makes Cru wear, which is very close to the original recipe. I do have a couple of customs in real vascowear. For an ingot steel, I love it. I typically like steels with a bit of tungsten in them. Aogami "super blue" is another one with tungsten in it, but is higher carbon, and more brittle. It wouldn't make a good chopper but a super thin slicer puts it in it's element.

I can't wait to try that new super steel that Kershaw will be priemering. CPM S110V, If I recall.

We are living in the golden age of knives right now. I love it! Joe
 
Steel is almost irrelevant, IMO. Anything over about Rc 50 with a good profile works for me.
 
Hmmmm, for pure sharpness, I would say carbon v. But I don't know if it is actually good at keeping that edge or how easy it is to re-sharpen.
 
How about SG2? takes a FREAKY sharp edge, holds it for enternity, and is somewhat easy to sharpen all things considered. great for slicing. i think it RCs around the mid 60s
 
SG2 has amazed me too. The JYD Ti/SG2 I got came out of the box tied for sharpest knife I've ever seen. Without changing anything it would whittle hairs. It never microchipped on plastic clamshell packages like another quality steel did for me ( used to have a bed rep but that's pretty much cleared up. I've had several knives since then in that steel that were fine. Not trying to start debates but It's S30V I am talking about)

For a very hard steel ( RC64), it keeps intact very well, and takes a great edge. I wouldn't exactly chop with SG2, but it's tough to beat as a slicer. It's up there with ZDP, and very hard M2 ( RC64-65) IMO.

I've tried a bunch of other steels such as OU31, R2, 20CV, etc. that have some reputations as good steels and I've found the SG2 holds up, or out do's them in many respects. It , and ZDP are probably my current favorites for folding knives. Joe
 
axtalan0 said:
Hmmmm, for pure sharpness, I would say carbon v. But I don't know if it is actually good at keeping that edge or how easy it is to re-sharpen.
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But unfortunately Carbon V is a discontinued steel. If you have noticed Cold Steel used to use carbon V on their SRK,all of the throwers and a few others I cant really remember off the top of the dome, but now they are AUS-8A for the SRK and 1055 for the throwers..
The company that used to ship them their Carbon V is now gone unfortunately..
 
CPM 3V is some serious stuff. Anything you like in steel besides rust-proofness it's got.

CPM M4 is another steel that ought to be used more in knife making. If wear resistance is your thing it's worth a look.
 
Like D2's similar properties to CPM-3V in hardness and edge retention they are both great, but corrosion resistance is a problem. They usually put a coating on these blades to prevent rust because it's such a problem..
 
The Mastiff said:
SG2 has amazed me too. The JYD Ti/SG2 I got came out of the box tied for sharpest knife I've ever seen. Without changing anything it would whittle hairs. It never microchipped on plastic clamshell packages like another quality steel did for me ( used to have a bed rep but that's pretty much cleared up. I've had several knives since then in that steel that were fine. Not trying to start debates but It's S30V I am talking about)

For a very hard steel ( RC64), it keeps intact very well, and takes a great edge. I wouldn't exactly chop with SG2, but it's tough to beat as a slicer. It's up there with ZDP, and very hard M2 ( RC64-65) IMO.

I've tried a bunch of other steels such as OU31, R2, 20CV, etc. that have some reputations as good steels and I've found the SG2 holds up, or out do's them in many respects. It , and ZDP are probably my current favorites for folding knives. Joe
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In about a month or so, i will be the proud owner of a SG2 JYD2. I will then own a VG-10 Lahar, a ZDP-189 Leek, and a SG2 JYD2. IMO, the trifecta of steels. VG-10 is my fav, no question, but i will be interested to see how it fairs against the dawg. Im already convinced that the VG-10 is even with ZDP-189 as i have used both reguarly. Gonna be a fun time when the new big boy gets home :D
 
Surprised there's not more votes for S7?...With it's impact resistance & overall toughness.
 
1095. Properly forged blades are tough, easy to sharpen, hold an edge well and you can make any size blade with it without worring about it being brittle. Who cares that it stains....its character.
 
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